Alzheimer’s disease is an incredibly debilitating thing, and one that impacts the lives of many people, from those who have been diagnosed with the condition themselves to those who are caring for family members who have received such a diagnosis. In fact, Alzheimer’s is ranked number six in the top ten leading causes of death that have been identified here in the United States. And of those causes of death, it is particularly debilitating, as it is the only one that not only does not have any cure, but has no treatment or prevention either, making it nothing more than a ticking time bomb in the brains of the afflicted – and of those who are genetically predisposed to develop Alzheimer’s disease as they age.
Of course, Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most prevalent types of dementia, but it is certainly not the only one. In fact, Alzheimer’s disease is one type of dementia out of more than one hundred types, all of which are typically diagnosed in the elderly population. Dementia is so common among the elderly of our country that one third of all deaths of those who are over the age of sixty five can be directly attributed to Alzheimer’s disease or to a different type of dementia.
For those who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a type of dementia, there are many decisions that will need to be made. For while they might still be able to care for themselves and live independently, this is not likely to be the case for long. As their disease progresses and they lose more and more of their mental faculties, it’s likely that they will need to be taken into the care of a loved one. But when family members take a dementia patient into their homes and their care, life can become difficult for all parties.
For one, the strain put on the shoulders of the newfound caretaker can be truly immense, and an entire restructuring of their life often becomes necessary. Said family members are often simply not equipped to care for a dementia patients whose conditions is progressing rapidly, and, as some dementia patients can even become violent, it is likely that they will be able to handle all aspects of the disease. And perhaps most importantly of all, more than fifty five percent of elderly people fear nothing more than becoming a burden to their family members as their condition begins to deteriorate.
This is why, in many cases, it is a good idea to look into alzheimer care homes. These alzheimer care homes and other such assisted living facilities can provide such a person who has been diagnosed with one of the many types of dementia with the care that they are in need of. In fact, the average patient of alzheimer care homes or memory care centers typically needs help with around three activities regarding daily living, such as showering, eating, and even other basic personal hygiene needs. For up to forty percent of patients, this is the case.
Twenty four hour supervision is also commonplace at alzheimer care homes, and is something that is often essential for the safety of the typical dementia patient. When a dementia patient is being cared for at home, such high and intensive levels of supervision are often just simply not possible, making it difficult to ensure the safety of the afflicted person at all times, leading to the heightened potential for injury and even death.
On top of this supervision, the basic essentials of living – and more – will be provided, from plentiful food and nutritionally complete meals to recreational activities for the residents. Many residents of alzheimer care homes and memory care assisted living facilities find that they actually connect more to people their age than before living in such alzheimer care homes.
Getting a dementia diagnosis can be difficult to deal with – after all, it’s a difficult diagnosis. But moving into alzheimer care homes can help to make the progression of such a disease as bearable as possible for patients and families.
