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How Homecare Helps Dementia Clients with Independence

The moment Donald was diagnosed with dementia, he felt like his life was over. He knew things were going to change. He also understood there was no cure for the disease at that time and probably wouldn’t be in time for him and the rest of his life.

He didn’t want to turn to homecare because his wife of 40 years was right there. Also, his adult son lived right down the road and he knew he had somebody to turn to for help if he needed it.

As the years progressed, though, and his memory, thoughts, and mental function was beginning to wane, he understood just how much stress and pressure this was placing on his wife.

He was also feeling like he had lost a great deal of independence. Everything he had to do, every struggle he faced, was with his wife struggling right along with them or having to wait for his son, a neighbor, or close friend to stop by and assist him.

He wanted to regain some feeling of independence and autonomy. He wasn’t sure how to get that until a close friend talked about homecare.

Below are a few ways that homecare can help an aging senior with dementia regain some semblance of independence, or at least the sense that they have autonomy once more.

Physical support

Even though dementia is a disease that primarily affects the brain, it will affect balance, coordination, and motor function. Having an aide to support a senior can allow him or her to continue doing certain activities.

Donald wanted to go for walks, but with his son getting out later and later because of a career and his wife having difficulty with her own mobility, it was a waiting game.

Homecare could help him do the things he still wanted to do with the right type a safe physical support.

Transportation

Donald didn’t want to be beholden to anyone for a ride to the store, to visit with friends, or anything else. An aide could help with some of this.

A focus on activity and quality of life with homecare help

Family is often most concerned about safety, and while an aide is certainly concerned about that, but they also care about helping the senior maintain as high a quality of life as possible. Donald realized when he finally turned to homecare just how much he had been missing out on life. It was a great decision and one he wished he had made earlier.