Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By First Light Home Care
Did you know that 1 in 9 people ages 65 and older has Alzheimer’s disease? Worldwide, 47 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias and behind every person fighting this disease is a family member and caregiver battling it too.
Caregivers and family members living alongside a person with Alzheimer’s also need to care for themselves. This is harder than most people think. Some caregivers fear it is a sign of weakness, when in truth it actually shows your strength. We all have limits and when you ask others to step in and help, you in turn will be stronger. Build a support system for you and for the person living with Alzheimer’s and you both will benefit from your support groups.
Watching a family member struggle with memory loss can be stressful. Stress management involves a multitude of tools but one approach that can be helpful to dementia caregivers is taking advantage of support services and respite care so they can get a chance to recharge their batteries.
One way to do that is to work with a company like FirstLight HomeCare, which can provide state certified and insured Alzheimer’s/dementia caregivers. These FirstLight HomeCare employees can offer family caregivers a much needed break. They can also provide tools and tips for caring for your loved one.
FirstLight HomeCare has developed dementia care plan to help people who are suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s cope with the anxiety, depression, confusion and isolation that is often associated with the disease. The unique programs for dementia care services at home help not only the dementia sufferer, but the family as a whole.
If you have met one person with dementia, you’ve only met one person. That is, each individual will talk, act, remember, and behave differently, not simply because of what stage of dementia they are in, but because they are who they are.
That’s why FirstLight HomeCare has developed a unique Dementia Program—building dementia care services around the individual, not the disease—incorporating who they were, not just who we see today. It’s a personalized and engaging dementia home care approach, where our goal is to make sure those affected by this disease live the rest of their lives with purpose. Many people with dementia want at home care, to keep at least their surroundings familiar in a world suddenly filled with uncertainties.
One of those tools provided by FirstLight HomeCare is the “Who I Am” booklet that contains much more than a basic history. It helps both you and those who care for your loved one understand the intangible things that make your mom or dad who they are. We ask questions like:
• What makes you happy?
• What makes you laugh?
• What makes you feel accomplished?
• What distresses or frustrates you?
Using this information, the FirstLight HomeCare dementia care coordinators and caregivers build specific and individualized dementia care plans for daily care. This information is also used to match the best caregiver for your family member.
If you have questions about in-home care for family members living with Alzheimer’s disease, respite care services, or you would like to learn more about local support groups in your area, please contact FirstLight HomeCare at 239.940.0614 or banderson@firstlighthomecare.com.
Naples 239-451-8185
Fort Myers 239-940-0614
www.firstlighthomecare.com