Getting Help for Dementia
The Family Caregiver Alliance estimates that 44 million Americans are caregivers. And the Alzheimer’s Association, in its latest Facts and Figures report, states that 15.5 million of those are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease.
Caring for a loved one with dementia can be a very challenging journey. Often you will see the quality of your loved one’s life begin to diminish. This can take a serious toll on you, as their caregiver, as well. Simple acts of daily care are often combined with complex end-of-life decisions and painful feelings of bereavement. You are likely to feel overwhelmed at times, but the more information and support you gain, the more confidence you will have. Since individuals with advanced dementia cannot report their symptoms, these symptoms often are untreated, leaving them vulnerable to pain, difficulty breathing and other conditions. And their families often struggle alone in their attempts to care for their loved ones with advanced dementia.
Hospice Care of the Southwest can help. With our holistic, multidisciplinary tradition of care, we can make a dramatic difference in the lives of dementia patients and their families. With our strong emphasis on safety, comfort, and support for the patient and you as their caregiver, you can begin to regain hope for your loved one’s quality of life and your own peace of mind. It becomes about easing discomfort and providing meaningful connections to family and loved ones.
Care at home, education, support and counseling are provided by our nurses, social workers, counselors, and chaplains. A certified nursing assistant can provide assistance with personal care. On-call nurses are available 24 hours a day in the case of a medical crisis. Hospice Care of the Southwest volunteers can give a break to the caregiver, allowing them time away to do needed errands or enjoy some downtime with friends [liking meeting for coffee or going to the movies].
The quality of life for dementia patients and their families can improve as the Hospice Care of the Southwest care team, in cooperation with your loved one’s physician, develops a care plan to meet the patient and family’s specific needs and share in the care.
Our care focuses on both comfort and dignity. We bring care and support services that can be of great benefit to people in the final stages of Alzheimer’s and other dementias and their families.