Visiting Angels provides at home care for Alzheimer’s in Port Orchard, Bremerton, and Nearby Cities

Is your loved one in Bainbridge Island, Poulsbo, or the surrounding area showing signs of Alzheimer’s? Proactivity is key, so it’s important to get them to the physician as soon as possible in order to gather a diagnosis, develop a care plan, and explore at home care. 

First, know these 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s:

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life: Some common signs include not remembering recent events, names, where things go, and other new information.
2. Challenges in planning or solving problems: If your loved one has difficulties concentrating or takes much longer doing tasks that used to be easy, you should take it seriously. 
3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home or at work.
4. Confusion about time and place: People with Alzheimer’s can lose track of dates, seasons and the passage of time.
5. Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships: Be sure to look for difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast.
6. New problems with words in speaking or writing: Some tell-tale signs include trouble finding the appropriate words, completing sentences, and following directions and conversations.
7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps: People with Alzheimer’s may put things in unusual places or accuse others of stealing.
8. Decreased or poor judgment when making decisions: There may be issues with monetary scams or less attention to grooming and hygiene.
9. Withdrawal from work or social activities.
10. Changes in mood or personality: Signs include increased depression, fearfulness, anxiety or suspicion, rapid and persistent mood swings, withdrawal and disinterest in normal activities.

If someone you love has been recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, there are things that you can do to help them cope:

1. Educate yourself about the disease. The more you know, the more you can be prepared. The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America and the Alzheimer’s Association are two great resources.
2. Take care of financial, legal and long-term care planning issues. Discuss wishes related to future at home care and end-of-life issues.
3. Employ cognitive stimulation. Listening to music, word puzzles and memory games can help and can provide a positive experience for the patient and caregivers.
4. Arrange respite and/or regular professional senior care. Even if you are willing and able to be a primary caregiver for an Alzheimer’s patient, you will need help, if only to take a short break. Plus, it helps to introduce a professional caregiver while a person is still in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, because once the disease progresses it can be more difficult and upsetting to change routines. When looking to hire at home care help, try to find a person who has Dementia Care Professionals of America training or experience with dementia care clients. Visiting Angels, for example, the nation’s leading network for quality, compassionate at home care, is one local senior care franchised agency that provides this training to its staff.
5. Build a support system. Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s can be stressful and overwhelming. Find people to talk to, reach out for help, and always make time to maintain your own physical and mental health. Many local hospitals and departments of aging offer free support groups, along with sites like the National Family Caregivers Association) and Caring.com.

If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia, know that you are not alone. For more information or to explore at home care, call Visiting Angels of Kitsap County at 360-602-0609 or request Alzheimer's care here to learn more.