Senior Care in Bethesda: The right home care support can make a big difference for Alzheimer’s patients!
Roger had his suspicions for quite some time. When his father started using the wrong word in certain sentences, and never really seem to pick up on his mistake, Roger started wondering what was going on. He didn’t know much about his father’s personal life, so he wasn’t aware of missed appointments, his father’s confusion at times, displacing certain items, and other struggles he was beginning to deal with.
His mother and father were private people for the most part; they didn’t share their challenges openly, especially with their children. It didn’t matter that Roger was in his 40s and had already raised his own children; his parents still saw him and his brothers and sisters as young children.
Over time, though, Roger became concerned that his father was dealing with something a lot more serious than simple memory loss. He realized his father might be dealing with Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia.
After repeated efforts to get his father to the doctor for proper diagnosis, his mother agreed and they encouraged him to go in for a checkup. Within a couple of weeks, Roger’s father had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Even though Roger suspected something was going on, he didn’t think much about Alzheimer’s. He thought it was related to certain prescription medications or the simple process of aging. When he reflected on it later, he realized he simply didn’t want to acknowledge the possibility that his father could be dealing with some form of dementia.
Roger felt as though his father’s life was over.
Roger doesn’t really know how his father felt in those weeks before he found out he had Alzheimer’s or the several weeks and months after getting that news. He never really talked to his father about it.
Roger simply believed the best years of his father’s life were well behind him and now it was simply a matter of handling the situation, keeping his father safe, and making his father’s life as comfortable as possible.
Roger discouraged his father from traveling, going out to play golf with his friends, even though he was physically still capable and most of the time mentally aware of his surroundings. Roger discouraged his father from working on the house out of fear of some safety issue.
Ultimately, his father relented because he assumed Roger knew better. The sad reality was Roger’s father missed out on some wonderful opportunities. That’s because people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s can still live positive, productive lives, and even maintain a high quality of life for several years.
It all hinges on the right type of care and support as early as possible.
Sometimes, missed opportunities can linger for far too long after the fact. Roger learned that truth too late. It doesn’t have to be that way for others who have a loved one diagnosed with this or some other form of dementia. Proper home care support makes all the difference in the world.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering in-home senior care to help with memory loss issues, please contact the caring staff at Trusted Touch Healthcare today. We make seniors’ lives better! Call today (301) 272-5140.
