My name's Marcy. I’m forty-two years old, single, and live alone. I had knee surgery six months ago, and I didn’t plan to have a professional help me after surgery. What a mistake! I made it a total of one day home alone before calling in a home health care professional. I had family and friends who were available to help, and they were great when it came to cooking and cleaning. However, when it came to helping with personal hygiene, caring for my surgery site, and helping me move, I needed more than family and friends. I’m going to share more about my home health care experience. I hope you find what I share to be helpful.
Home Health Care after Surgery
Things To Consider When Dealing With People With Memory Loss Or Cognitive Issues
Ngoc Volkers
In-home memory care is specialized support and care for individuals with memory issues, such as dementia or Alzheimer's, that allows them to stay in their own homes. This type of care seeks to help individuals maintain their independence and quality of life while receiving the support they need.
General Support And Care
In-home memory care may include assistance with daily living, medication management, behavior and mood changes, and social and cognitive stimulation. Trained caregivers or healthcare professionals specializing in memory care provide support for individuals in need and may come daily, weekly, or stay in the home full time. Each situation is different, so the care plan is tailored to the person in need of care. A doctor is often involved, and the caregiver may report to them directly and discuss any care plan changes that become necessary over time.
Daily Activities
In many cases, the person needing in-home memory care can do most things but may need help remembering when to do them. Caregivers may assist with tasks such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and other daily activities that would otherwise get forgotten or missed. The care is not always physical, but in extreme cases, someone with Alzheimer's or other memory issues may forget things that require the caregiver to reteach them or assist them with.
Medication Management
Caregivers may help ensure that individuals take their medications as prescribed and at the correct times. For many patients with memory issues, the medications they need may get forgotten, or it can be confusing when the medications have to be taken at different times.
The in-home memory care plan may require the caregiver to sort medications and give them to the patient at specific times to ensure they take them. In the early stages of memory issues, sorting the medications and setting timers for them may be enough, but eventually, the caregiver may need to monitor the medications and ensure the patient is getting them when necessary.
Behavior Monitoring
In-home memory care may include monitoring for changes in behavior or mood that could indicate a decline in cognitive function. In some cases, how someone is acting, or the things that start to become more of an issue for them, can indicate the severity of their memory issues progressing.
For people with conditions that are not going to improve, it is essential to monitor them to ensure they can remain in their homes. Often, as their condition progresses, other arrangements may become necessary, or the level of in-home memory care may need to increase to full-time nursing and support.
Contact a local in-home memory care service to learn more.
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