When is a nursing home appropriate for the Alzheimer's patient?Written by William G. Hammond, JD
Caring for an Alzheimer's patient can be a huge burden. When it becomes too hard and too time consuming for you to take care of your loved one, it may be time to look for a nursing home.When you feel comfortable, then you can start planning ahead which will help avoid crisis situations later. You may not ever need a nursing home, but act in a proactive manner just in case day comes. It is well known that making decisions in a crisis situation can be very difficult and stressful on everyone, so make sure you plan ahead of time. You may find information and a list of nursing homes in your area from your local Alzheimer’s Association, or an elder law firm. They are most likely to have a list of facilities that offer dementia care or at least a dementia unit. When you find nursing home that will be most appropriate for your loved one with Alzheimer’s, make sure you check following: §What is its appearance? When was their license accredited? §Is facility location convenient for you and your family for frequent visits? §How does staff react to questions -- are their greetings warm and welcoming, do they interact with your loved one? §How well do resident participants socialize with other people? §Are visits allowed and are they encouraged? §What is staff ratio per patient? It should be at least 1 staff member for 8 persons. §Is it possible to take a tour of facility and rooms? §If there is a waiting list, how long will it take before your loved one can be accepted? §Do they have a single room or do they share with another patient? §Are these rooms furnished or unfurnished? If unfurnished, you will be able to bring your own furniture and decorate your room as wanted. §Are there elevators? What kind of emergency plan do they have if a patient needs to be evacuated promptly? §How do they handle patients that wander and what kind of security do they have? These are some of questions you can ask on your first visit. You can always come back later or give them a call later if you have other questions. Another aspect of nursing home to take into consideration is financial issue. Most insurance companies will not cover these costs. When your loved one is being admitted in nursing home you selected, admittance staff will be able to assist you and discuss payment options with you. Make sure to ask what is included in fees or contract: ·Is there an ongoing process for assessing a resident's need for services and how often are those needs evaluated? ·What additional services and staff are available if resident's needs change? ·Is there an agreement available which discloses healthcare, accommodations, personal care and supportive services, all fees, and admission and discharge provisions, emergency services if necessary?
| | How to cope with agitation in your loved one who has Alzheimer’sWritten by William G. Hammond, JD
Many times, understanding meaning of a word can give us great insight into issue at hand.What is agitation? ·Extreme emotional disturbance. (The American Heritage Dictionary of English Language) ·A stirring up or arousing; disturbance of tranquility; disturbance of mind that shows itself by physical excitement. (Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary). ·A mental state of extreme emotional disturbance, feeling of being agitated; not calm. (WorldNet 1.6). Many Alzheimer’s patients experience agitation in addition to memory loss. In early stages of illness, people with Alzheimer’s may encounter changes in their personality, such as irritability, anxiety or even depression. But as disease progresses, these symptoms can worsen and become more difficult to live with. They may include sleep disturbances, delusions and hallucinations. Many times Alzheimer's patients cannot get in touch with or express their feelings. So when they experience agitation, it is often difficult for caregivers to understand and to help. When a person with dementia displays agitation or other “symptoms,” you must try to determine what they are trying to communicate. Good communication is an important part of any relationship. When caring for a person with dementia, ability to communicate becomes more and more difficult. Both expressing and processing information becomes impaired. This inability to express and process can be frustrating and can manifest itself as agitation. Following are some suggestions that may allow you to improve your communication with your loved one who has Alzheimer's: ·Approach from front to prevent startling him or her. ·Maintain eye contact. ·Lower tone of your voice. A high pitch may indicate that you are upset. ·Smile and be pleasant. ·Talk with a calm presence. ·Speak slowly, clearly and directly. ·Identify yourself. ·Use short, simple sentences.
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