Alzheimer’s disease is a cruel and crippling brain disorder that slowly eats away at a person’s memory and thinking skills, and will eventually even take away the ability for them to carry out the simplest and most basic of tasks. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, and despite what you may have heard, is not a normal part of the aging process.
Sometimes people who develop Alzheimer’s notice the changes in themselves and their mental faculties before anyone else does. And for other people, their friends and family may be the first ones to see the changes in their memory, behavior, or abilities. The Alzheimer’s Association lists ten early signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s.
- Memory loss that disrupts daily life
- Challenges in planning or solving problems
- Difficulty completing familiar tasks
- Confusion or disorientation with time and place
- Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
- New problems with words, either with speaking or writing or both
- Misplacing things and losing the ability to think back and retrace steps
- Decreased or poor judgment
- Withdrawal from work or social activities
- Changes in mood or personality
While each individual experience with Alzheimer’s is different, there are several key details that are common across cases. Some of the benefits of in-home care for Alzheimer’s patients include
- Comfort and security offered by familiar environments
- Daily routines to help bring a sense of normalcy
- Sensory stimulation can offer positive effects on health
- Assistance with the daily tasks of living, such as eating, bathing, dressing
- A much needed break for family caregivers