Memory care solutions

Alzheimer's and dementia care

We are all defined by the bonds we make and keep in our lives; it is how we connect to the people around us. This is what life is about. And that is why facing dementia as a family is so personal. Memory changes, as with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other conditions where memory is affected, can leave a person and a family feeling lost. Like you, we at SYNERGY HomeCare want to delay the decline in memory and maintain function. Our caregivers are here to guide and support.

There are few diseases that have as profound an impact on the families of the patients as Alzheimer's disease. As the family caregiver, you may feel overwhelmed by the growing need to protect the safety and health of someone you love who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. If so, you are not alone. According to the Alzheimer's Association, as of June 2017, there are more than 15 million people in the United States providing home care to a loved one with Alzheimer's.

To minimize the impact of Alzheimer's disease on you, the family caregiver, there are a number of steps that you can take to help take care of not only your parent but yourself and other family members as well.

Why SYNERGY HomeCare?

Memory can be sustained longer when things remain familiar, like being able to stay in one’s home longer. New, unfamiliar surroundings like a new residence or assisted living facility may be too much to adjust to. Adjusting to a facility schedule that guides when to take medications, when to shower, when to eat, etc can be the exact opposite of how your loved one wants to do things. At SYNERGY Homecare, our caregivers will work with you and your loved one to pick the right time in the day to get the day’s activities done. At SYNERGY HomeCare, with the help of our detailed and personalized care plan, our caregivers will know how frequently each non-medical activity will need to be done to maintain good health, enhance their quality of life and bolster their independence.

One on one attention

For many living with memory troubles, staying active and engaged is key. Our caregivers are wonderful at this. We seek and retain social, friendly, compassionate caregivers who can keep a conversation going and memory patients engaged. Having someone to talk with during the day is so important for your loved one to feel engaged. We can help provide the one on one attention that helps them be comfortable and adjusted. Many of our clients have us create a calendar of social outings and adventures to take your loved one on. We can do that for yours, too, if appropriate.

Specialized training

While there are universal components that our caregivers understand when working with any of our clients, our SYNERGY HomeCare team members receive extensive and specialized training around Alzheimer’s and dementia which allows us to offer a tailored approach to care.

Our care team members can assist with:

• Adapting the home environment to enhance safety and independence
• Provide transportation for medical, community and social appointments
• Reminders for medication
• Provide enhanced social activities appropriate to the needs of the client
• Offer meal planning and preparation to ensure good nutritional support
• Light household tasks

Dementia care

If you're looking for dementia care you can trust for your loved one, then the last thing you probably want is to place your loved one in a nursing home or assisted living facility. Fortunately, dementia care from SYNERGY HomeCare is a viable alternative that can assist your loved one with daily activities. And the wonderful big difference with home care is that your loved one will have one-on-one care, instead of sharing a caregiver with seven other memory patients. Our caregivers are specially trained to assist those with dementia in a compassionate, caring manner, and we perform extensive national background checks on all of them to put your mind at ease.

Let us help you with:

• Live-in care
• 24-hour care
• Managing difficult behaviors
• Errand and transportation assistance
• Making mealtime more enjoyable
• Light housekeeping
• Companionship
• Respite for family caregivers

It takes a compassionate and caring person to spend time with someone affected by Alzheimer’s or dementia. We wanted to show you our memory care playbook that our caregivers use. Add the specialized memory care training our caregivers have and we’re a trusted solution for the disruption Alzheimer’s or dementia can have on a family.

Activities

Knitting- Someone who has been a skillful knitter may still be able to knit squares for a blanket.

Puzzles- Someone who has enjoyed doing crosswords may still enjoy a simple puzzle book.

Social Activities- Play cards or board games, or do some gardening or baking together.

Around the Home- Men and women alike can enjoy helping with washing and drying up, laying the table or making beds. The end result may not be perfect, but it can give an important sense of achievement.

Music- Even when other abilities are seriously affected, many people still enjoy singing, dancing and listening to music. Record a tape of the person's favorite pieces of music or songs for them to listen to.  

TV and Radio- Many people with dementia enjoy listening to the radio. Television, however, can cause problems. Try watching television together, and choose programs with small sections of action or humor, rather than a program with an involved plot. Even a favorite soap opera may become confusing.

Enjoy Nature- Go to the park, go walking, bird watching, etc. Many people with dementia and Alzheimer’s seem to connect with the outdoors.

In the later stages

• Break directions for an activity into small, manageable chunks, and make sure each task is very simple.
• Try to think of activities that have just one step, such as sweeping, dusting or winding wool.
  

Tips for finding an activity

• Look for activities that are stimulating but that don't involve too many challenges or choices. People with dementia can find it difficult to process options.
• A sense of humor survives in many people with dementia, so look for activities that you will both find entertaining. Having a good laugh will do you both good!
• Dementia often affects people's concentration, so that they can't focus on what they are doing for very long; they may need to do activities in short bursts.
• Dementia can affect a person's motivation, so you may have to help them get started - don't be disheartened.

Reminders of the past

• Talk about the past together, while looking at old family photos or books with pictures, or listening to old music.
• Make up a 'rummage box' of old objects that the person with dementia is interested in. Physically handling things may trigger memories more effectively than looking at pictures.
• Talking about the past in this way can trigger strong emotions in the person you care for, so it's important to be sensitive. You may uncover painful memories as well as happy ones. Dementia damages the memory and the thinking and reasoning parts of the brain, but the emotions still remain intact.

How to get started

Give your loved one the compassionate dementia care he or she deserves. Trust SYNERGY HomeCare of East King County for the help you need. It is what we do. Contact us today to learn more and see if home care is the best solution for you.

Call your locally owned home care agency
(425) 988-3759