Alzheimer's and Dementia Care
Caregiving for Alzheimer's and Dementia: Some Insights*
WeCare provides
on-going care to many clients with Alzheimer's and support to their families in each of the 800 communities that we serve
across Canada. WeCare provides on-going care to many clients with Alzheimer's and support to their families.
Alzheimer's
and other dementias are the most demanding of chronic diseases affecting our elderly population. Alzheimer's is the most common
form of dementia, the generalized condition of progressive loss of memory and mental function. Alzheimer's accounts for 64%
of all dementias.
There will be a substantial growth in Alzheimer's and dementia in the coming decades
as the Canadian population ages. In 2006, there are an estimated 435,000 Canadians over the age of 65 with Alzheimer's and
dementia. This represents:
Twice as many women suffer from
Alzheimer's and dementia as men. Medical researchers are continuing to study the reasons for this higher incidence among women.
Half of all persons with Alzheimer's and dementia live at home, half live in seniors' residences and other caregiving
institutions. Of those living at home, 97% have a caregiver.
70% of family and informal caregivers are
women, most frequently adult daughters and wives. Half of the informal caregivers are over age 60; 36% are over the age of
70.
Homecare Program for Alzheimer's
and Dementia
The homecare needs for Alzheimer's differ considerably in the early, middle
and late stages of the disease. Here are some key goals of WeCare's plan of care at each stage of Alzheimer's disease.
Early Stage of Dementia: Quality of
Life
The primary care goal in the early stage of Alzheimer's is to improve the client's
quality of life and to keep the client as mentally active as possible by:
Reducing
periods of isolation.
Offering opportunities for socialization either one-on-one
or in group activities.
Supervising and support for outings, hobbies, music,
movies, pet care, reading and so on.
Giving feedback, praise, answers and validation
of decisions during times of disorientation.
Middle
Stage of Dementia: Supervision
Encouraging, reminding and
supporting as needed for daily activities.
Helping when vision and/or mobility
are affected.
Engaging in cooking, baking, cleaning and doing laundry.
Re-directing behaviours into purposeful activities.
Giving
comfort measures - gentle massaging, foot care, personal grooming.
Providing
a personalized routine that gives structure for daily living.
Ensuring safety
and security, especially for stoves and other home appliances, electrical outlets, smoking, door locks and valuables.
Late Stage of Dementia: Personal Care
For care provided either at home or in a long-term care residence:
Ensuring attendant care during peak busy periods: morning or evening, meals, bath day.
Giving skin care, mouth care, bathing, nutrition and hydration.
Offering
reassurance during periods of restlessness, challenging behaviours, and anxiety.
Providing
end-of-life care.
The
Best of Care for Alzheimer's Clients and their Families
WeCare serves both clients and
family members with trained and experienced home care staff. Our caregivers are available for duty 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. We make every effort to find the right caregiver for each client and family, whether in our client's home or in a
long-term care residence.
All our caregivers are supervised by WeCare's skilled and experienced nurses.
We teach families how to navigate the healthcare system and how to plan for the future care of their loved ones.
Respite is Essential for Family Caregivers
Respite
for family caregivers is a vital part of an on-going Alzheimer's care program. It is common for family members to have feelings
of loss and helplessness. WeCare offers families a program of regular respite support. We work to maintain continuity in our
WeCare staff so that the client and family become familiar and comfortable with every member of their care team.
Listening... Perhaps the Most Important Part of Alzheimer's Care
At WeCare, with over 20 years of caring for Alzheimer's clients, we have come to understand the importance
of taking the time to listen. So that we can work to understand everyone's needs. Our goal is to bring the best possible quality
of life to both our clients Personalize - Name and their families.
