June is Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month, and now is a great time to make sure that you and your senior parent understand how Alzheimer’s impacts seniors. The biggest risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s is age, so as your senior parent gets older their risk of developing Alzheimer’s goes up.
If your senior parent does have Alzheimer’s, getting Alzheimer’s home care can help them continue to live independently. Alzheimer’s home care is specialized care developed to meet the unique needs of seniors who have Alzheimer’s. A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s doesn’t mean that your senior parent has to give up their independence.
Some other facts that family members and seniors should know about Alzheimer’s and Alzheimer’s home care are:
Alzheimer’s Is the Most Common Form of Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia in older adults. It slowly affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Over time, it can make daily tasks difficult or impossible. While some memory loss is normal with age, Alzheimer’s causes serious changes in the brain that get worse over time. It’s not just forgetfulness—it’s a disease that needs care and support.
Early Signs Can Be Easy to Miss
Many people think Alzheimer’s always starts with major memory loss, but early signs can be subtle. Your parent might repeat themselves often, lose things, forget the names of everyday objects, or have trouble planning or solving problems. They may also get confused in familiar places or struggle with time.
Paying attention to these changes can help catch the disease early, when treatments and planning can be most helpful.
Alzheimer’s Gets Worse Over Time
Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, which means it doesn’t stay the same—it slowly gets worse. At first, your parent may only need a little help remembering things. Later, they may need support with bathing, dressing, eating, and other daily tasks.
Understanding this can help you plan ahead. It’s a good idea to talk with doctors, get legal documents in place, and think about future care needs early on.
Routines Help with Memory and Comfort
People with Alzheimer’s often feel better when they follow a regular routine. Doing the same things at the same time each day—like meals, medications, and bedtime—can reduce confusion and anxiety.
Keeping familiar objects around the house and avoiding too much change can also help your parent feel more secure.
Communication May Become Harder
As Alzheimer’s gets worse, your parent may struggle to find the right words or understand what others are saying. They might repeat questions or have trouble following a conversation. You can help by speaking slowly and clearly, using simple words, and being patient.
Nonverbal communication—like smiling or gently holding a hand—can also make a big difference.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Caring for a parent with Alzheimer’s can be overwhelming and exhausting. It’s okay to ask for help. Alzheimer’s home care providers, support groups, adult day programs, and respite care services can all give you a break and help your parent stay safe.
Taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your loved ones. You can’t pour from an empty cup.
If you or an aging loved one is considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Bryn Mawr, PA, please contact the caring staff at Better Care Home Health Services today at (267) 766-5218
Better Care Home Health Services is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Philadelphia, Germantown, Glenside, Elkins Park, Bryn Mawr, Roxborough, Wyncote, Broomall, Upper Darby, Yeadon, Lansdowne, Narberth, Wynnewood, Penn Wynne, Fairmount, Ardmore, Chestnut Hill, and the surrounding areas.
Better Care Home Health Services is a family-owned agency dedicated to providing excellent and comprehensive home health care to individuals and families of Philadelphia, Delaware, Montgomery and Bucks counties. We are honored that God has blessed us with the opportunity to positively impact and change people’s lives. It is our mission to ensure that we provide the very best of care to our clients.
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