Assisted Living & Dementia: Q&A
Q. “ I have been taking care of my husband for years and promised I would keep him in our home. His dementia has gotten to the point of him being incontinent and I am having a difficult time keeping up with his care. How do I honor his wishes?”
A. First, know you are not alone and I would suggest finding a local support group through the Alzheimer’s Association. Having some in-home care assistance will help in the short run, but as your husband’s care level continues to increase, you will find your-self to be in a crisis. It is always better to make decisions when there is time to explore options. One that has surprised some folks is the Certified Family Home which is certi-fied with the State and can care for 1-4 residents. It has been a fit for some couples that want to stay together.
Q. “My spouse has severe dementia and I’m wondering if I shouldn’t seek some sort of help.”
A. The key is to know when to release some care control in order to better serve your spouse and yourself. Remember, this is a disease of the brain that can change a personal-ity and it truly isn’t their fault (or yours). Their words or actions are resulting from a dis-ease process, not an intentional choice they can control.
It is tragic that nearly 45% of the caregivers of a spouse with Alzheimer’s pass before the loved one they are caring for. Stress plays a major role. I strongly encourage you to call for support resources, education and options for care services.
Q: “I have noticed several memory slips (aka Senior Moments) and it is really concerning me that I may have Alzheimer’s! How do I know if this is a warning sign?”
A: After retracing my steps and not finding my misplaced credit card, I had my own similar thoughts!
Normal, typical aging “slips” or perhaps something more concerning to be brought to the attention of a doctor, is actually well explained in a handy easy-to-read brochure produced by the Alzheimer’s Association called 10 Warning Signs of Dementia. It can be found on their website, www.alz.org or can be requested by calling our North Idaho Inland chapter at 208-666-2996.