September is World Alzheimer’s Month. Here’s how home companion services can help your loved one.
Every September, we collectively recognize World Alzheimer’s Month and shine a spotlight on the needs of those suffering from memory loss—and on the needs of their loved ones.
Memory loss from age-related dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can often be a struggle for both the individual and their loved ones. As memory becomes inconsistent and unreliable, it becomes harder and harder for individuals and their caretakers to manage day-to-day necessities. And when routines begin to slip, the disease can worsen and complicate matters even more.
And as much as we may love someone who has Alzheimer’s and/or memory loss, the responsibility to look after them, especially as their behavior is affected by the disease, can take a significant toll. It can be difficult—borderline impossible—to provide memory care as your own mental and physical health is affected by the strain.
Often, a team effort is the best approach.
At Grateful Hearts, we offer a team of professional home companions who understand the necessities and nuances involved in supporting people with memory loss. We’re happy to join your support team to help care for your loved one while also providing you with much-needed assistance throughout this journey.
Here are some of the ways a home companion offers support for memory care.
Consistent Routine
When memories fade, it becomes difficult for someone to adjust to new circumstances. Confusion is bad enough, but this uncertainty can quickly turn to agitation, exacerbating an already fraught situation.
A home companion offers consistency throughout the whole, familiar daily routine: Activities, medications, meals, TV shows—you name it, we’re here to help the day go exactly as expected, providing comfort in an otherwise distressing situation.
Supportive Social Stimulation
In cases of memory loss, even the most dedicated, well-meaning family caretakers can become frustrated when their loved one doesn’t remember longstanding shared experiences. The interactions often become strained.
As professional home companions, we’re able to offer the cognitive and emotional benefits of social interaction without the complications that come from longstanding family relationships. Our priority is the here and now.
A Safe, Supervised Environment
Memory loss can turn even the most familiar home into a perilous place. As home companions, we’re trained to interact with our clients while also scanning their environment for potential hazards.
We can help to ensure that risks in the home are addressed, and that any activities—like food prep, cooking, cleanup, and even gentle exercise—are performed in the safest ways possible.
Home Companions: A Dedicated Support System
In cases of memory loss, family members often have to support their loved one while simultaneously handling any number of additional responsibilities in their own lives. But a professional home companion is able to focus entirely on our responsibility to the client.
And while we focus on the person we’re supporting, we also know how important our services are to the larger support system as a whole. We want our client to have a safe and meaningful quality of life, and we also want their loved ones to be reassured that reliable, professional support is on hand.
If your loved one is suffering from memory loss, understand that you don’t have to handle this alone.