There are many valuable benefits seniors with Alzheimer’s can gain by having their disease diagnosed early on. Given this disease is a progressive and irreversible one, controlling the symptoms during its earliest stages can have a marked impact on quality of life and longevity. Following are some advantages seniors can gain from timely identification and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.
Emotional Relief
Alzheimer’s disease is characterized by feelings of frustration and confusion, and having the symptoms validated by a medical diagnosis can be a tremendous relief for seniors. Understanding what’s happening to their bodies and learning more about strategies that can effectively allay some of the symptoms may relieve tension and fear and give seniors greater peace of mind.
Hiring a professional caregiver is a good way to ensure your loved one makes healthy lifestyle choices that can delay the progression of cognitive decline. Caring for a senior loved one can be challenging for families who don’t have expertise or professional training in home care, but this challenge doesn’t have to be faced alone. Family caregivers can turn to Align Home Care for the help they need. We provide high-quality live-in and respite care as well as comprehensive Alzheimer’s, dementia, stroke, and Parkinson’s care.
Reduced Risk of Harm
Once your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, strategic action can be taken to limit his or her risk of self-harm as well as unintentional harm he or she might cause to others. These preventive actions can include conducting driving assessments, arranging alternative forms of transportation, and anticipating the need for home care.
Early diagnosis also allows family caregivers to take measures to make their loved ones’ living environments safer. As your loved one’s Alzheimer’s progresses, cognitive impairment could put him or her in danger. Getting lost and wandering behavior are common among older adults with Alzheimer’s disease. You could install door locks that are out of your loved one’s reach or use simple motion sensor alarms to prevent him or her from going outdoors without a companion.
There are many reasons seniors might need assistance at home. Some may require regular mental stimulation due to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, while others might only need part-time assistance with exercise and basic household tasks. Align Home Care is a leading Portland at-home care provider. Families rely on our expertly trained caregivers to help their senior loved ones maintain a high quality of life.
Medication Management
Manageable symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be identified and addressed by physicians to slow the progression of the disease. Factors that heighten or exacerbate the illness can be eliminated, and a review of the senior’s current medications can be performed for optimal treatment benefits.
Future Planning
Aging adults who are diagnosed early have the opportunity to plan for their own futures. An Alzheimer’s diagnosis can lead to early retirement or a reevaluation of how the senior’s retirement lifestyle has been structured. Early diagnosis gives seniors and their loved ones the opportunity to plan ahead for continued safety and security after the disease has progressed. Older adults can have living wills prepared detailing their wishes about their future medical care, and they can decide who will make medical and financial decisions for them when they no longer have the ability to do so themselves.
Access to Resources & Services
Once a diagnosis has been received, seniors and their families gain access to a wealth of helpful resources and services for handling the disease and optimizing quality of life. This can be as much of a relief for family caregivers as it is for the aging adults who have Alzheimer’s. With ample resources and information, creating a comfortable and safe living environment for seniors becomes infinitely easier.
Alzheimer’s can be challenging for seniors to manage without assistance, and it can be just as challenging for families who don’t have experience in providing Alzheimer’s care. Portland Align Home Care provides Alzheimer’s care seniors and their families can depend on. Our proprietary Cognitive Therapeutics Method was designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other memory-related conditions live happier and healthier lives. Call one of our dedicated Care Managers today at (207) 835-3490 to learn about the high quality of our in-home care services.