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Assistance with Care
Caring for an Alzheimer's patient can be very challenging. Use all available resources to not burn out and compromise your health. Have an emergency plan ready for a fill-in caregiver in case something happens to you. See Caregiver Help Guide.
The average length of the disease is ten years which could be a very long time for a spouse or family member to watch over them. You can't do it alone. Where to look for help -
- Contact your church for people to stay with them once a week, for a few hours while you run errands. Changes in surrounds and routine are hard on a person with Alzheimer's so this is actually going to be better for them.
- Adult Day Centers are available for up to 8 hours a day to give you a break and them be in an ideal environment. Many of them are medical models that they can even bathe them if needed. Some of them even offer transportation to and from. This is one of the least expensive care services available and you might qualify for Medicaid Wavier benefits.
- To keep yourself sane try going to your local Senior Center for lunch and an activity. In the early stages take them with you. This will help you refresh your mind. Most Senior Centers also offer respite, homemaker services (cooking and cleaning) and transportation.
- Utilize Homecare providers (non-medical) to help with light housekeeping, shopping, medication reminders and transportation.
- Respite care is available through Hospice, Home Healthcare, Homecare and Skilled Nursing Facilities. It can be utilized from one day up to 30. Most respite is private pay (averaging from $20 per hour to $150 per day). Stays at a Nursing Home must be arranged several days in advance because they will need a chest x-ray, tb test, history and physical and orders for their medications.
- Assisted Living Alzheimer's facilities are secured with apartments and common areas. The staff is specially trained to work with Alzheimer's patients. Food, transportation, laundry and activities are included. Medications are administered by nurses. Most of these are licensed by the state and are private pay at an average of $3500 per month.
- Secured Alzeimer's unit in a Skilled Nursing facility provides the same services as an assisted living does but patients are usually in a shared room and require more physical care. Although Nursing Home care seems expensive (average $5000-7000 per month) 24 hour care in your home would run a minimum of $10,000 per month. See How to Pay for Long Term Care.
Although no one wants to leave their home sometimes it's necessary to ensure their safety. There is no prediction when they might lose their sense of safety, understanging that it is not safe to stick a fork in a light socket. Most staff that work with Alzheimer's patients have a special place for them in their heart and take good care of them. Most settle into the change in environment within a couple of days. They are usually less effected by the change than the family is. Even though you might hear them say that they want to go home, they usually are referring to their childhood home. Try not to let this get to you, they really are ok.
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