Alzheimer’s & Dementia Home Care
Heart of the Carolinas offers customized, in-home dementia care for seniors and family caregivers. With Heart of the Carolinas as your partner, you can feel at ease and focus on what matters most.
Our Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Services Include:
- Companion Care
- Personal Care Services
- In-Home Safety
- Overnight Awake Caregivers
- Full-Time Care
- Part-Time Care
Dementia poses unique challenges for seniors and their loved ones. As memory loss, confusion, and other symptoms emerge, daily life becomes increasingly difficult to manage independently. Seeking assistance is essential, but moving into a care facility may feel overwhelming. For many families, dementia home care provides an invaluable middle ground – delivering specialized support in the comfort of home.
In-home assistance allows families to enjoy time together rather than draining every ounce of energy attempting all care alone.
Heart of the Carolinas provides the security, oversight and resources needed to maximize quality time during a compassionately difficult journey.
Understanding the Basics of Dementia
Dementia is an umbrella term, used to describe memory loss and cognitive changes significant enough to impact daily functioning.
Well over 50 different disorders fall under the dementia designation, with symptoms ranging widely in severity.
However, common experiences include:
- Memory loss impacting ability to perform familiar tasks
- Impaired communication skills and difficulty finding words
- Confusion about time, people, or locations
- Inability to reason, poor judgment, and changes in mood
- Challenges with visual perception and spatial awareness
Alzheimer’s disease represents 60-80% of all dementia cases, making it the most prevalent cause. Other major contributors include vascular dementia, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal lobe dementia, and mixed dementia – the co-occurrence of multiple disorders.
Regardless of the specific diagnosis, dementia remains a progressive disease, worsening steadily over months and years. While symptoms correspond with growing brain changes, the rate of decline varies significantly based on lifestyle factors like diet, exercise, sleep quality, and mental stimulation. Understanding dementia equips us to make informed care decisions.
At Heart of Carolinas, our goal is to positively and expertly guide our clients and their families through the transitions of aging in a way that brings safety, happiness, and hope, and improves quality of life.
Providing Alzheimer’s & Dementia Home Care for seniors and families in Greenville, Greenville, Mauldin, Greer, Spartanburg, Anderson, Pawleys Island, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head Island, Charleston, Columbia, Simpsonville, and surrounding areas.
Why is Dementia Care at Home So Beneficial?
Caring for a loved one with dementia poses extraordinary physical, mental, and emotional demands. As Alzheimer’s Association’s Stress Check survey revealed, a shocking 91% of caregivers feel burned out. Hiring an attentive home care agency transforms quality of life for families by providing:
Specialized Dementia Care
Safety & Supervision
Transportation Assistance
Healthy Nutrition
Personal Care
Respite for Family Caregivers
Ongoing Support System
Finally, Heart of the Carolinas serves as invaluable resources for families throughout the dementia journey. Take advantage of consultations, community referrals, and caregiver support groups.
Dementia assistance at home keeps loved ones safe so families can cherish time together rather than constantly stress over expanding care duties. Now let’s review actionable suggestions for identifying first-rate home care in Greenville.
Common Dementia Care Challenges and Solutions
Sundowning Behavior Changes
As afternoon fades toward evening, people with dementia often grow increasingly agitated and confused. Termed “sundowning”, symptoms peak around dusk and last into night. To minimize disruptions:
- Stick to consistent daily routines to provide security through predictability
- Avoid noisy crowded environments in late afternoons
- Draw curtains at dusk to minimize shadows known to trigger reactions
- Play soothing music and serve decaffeinated tea to encourage calm
- Gently redirect attention toward positive discussions
Wandering Risks
- Secure exits with new locks and alarms.
- Utilize monitoring devices providing alerts.
- Frequently check-in and provide supervision during waking hours
- Ensure proper footwear.
- Consider GPS or tracking devices on shoes or clothing.
Combative Reactions
Dementia leaves some feeling threatened, reacting with increasing aggressiveness. Care teams compassionately diffuse turmoil.
- Identify triggers that result in negative responses to avoid sparking confrontations
- Redirect to happy activities instantly shifting focus
- Remain calm with slow movements, low volume and non-threatening body language
- Seek medical advice to ensure reactions don’t stem from medication interactions or physical pain
Inability to Perform Daily Activities
As dementia relentlessly progresses, once simple tasks like dressing, bathing, and eating require assistance. In-home caregivers lend hands and preserve dignity.
- Break activities into simple step-by-step instructions providing guidance
- Allow extra time for dressing, bathing, and step by step guidance.
- Allow the senior to choose their own clothing as long as their choices remain appropriate.
- Offer verbal prompts and reassurance to encourage positive participation
Mastering dementia care techniques, like those above, keeps loved ones smiling even as the disease slowly robs independence.
Choosing Exceptional In-Home Dementia Care
Attentive Communication
Compassionate Caregivers
Customized Care Plans
Experience with Dementia Clients
Timely Assistance
Caregiver Security Checks
Liability Coverage
Ensure appropriate insurance policies protect clients in case of unlikely accidents.
Once identifying an agency like Heart of the Carolinas, that exudes professionalism and compassion, you can finally relax knowing your loved one rests in the most capable hands.
Our goal with each client is to provide a care solution, not just a caregiver. To do that, it takes a coordinated team that can solve challenges as they arise…
Our goal with each client is to provide a care solution, not just a caregiver. To do that, it takes a coordinated team that can solve challenges as they arise, communicate with family members and evolve the care over time. At Heart of the Carolinas we provide a care manager, staffing manager and team of caregivers. And you can always reach a Heart of the Carolinas care manager 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Heart of the Carolinas Home Care is committed to maximizing the independence and autonomy of our clients. Care begins with a Free RN assessment visit. During this visit, a Care Plan is written. The Care Plan addresses the client’s needs in Activities of Daily Living (ADLS) (such as bathing and dressing) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLS) (such as managing meal preparation and shopping). The client and family members are encouraged to assist with the Care Plan formation. This free service usually takes an hour to complete and gives everyone a clear path of duties and responsibilities.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dementia Home Care
What safety checks ensure responsible caregivers?
How are home care plans customized?
Can home care improve dementia symptoms?
Special cognitive stimulation activities – like memory therapy reflecting over photo memories – strengthen neural connections slowing symptom progression.
Physical activity, healthy diets, and nourishing social connections also dramatically improve brain health according to research.
