After your dad’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis, you’re not sure what to expect. How long before he needs 24-hour home care services? Will he ever need that level of care?
It’s hard to tell how Alzheimer’s will progress. Some people live with the disease for upwards of 20 years. For others, the disease moves rapidly over a few years. Here are the average spans for each stage.
Early Stages
Experts believe that Alzheimer’s disease starts up to 15 years before the official diagnosis. When your dad received his diagnosis, he was probably becoming very forgetful. He couldn’t remember where he left his keys and often forgot people’s names.
As the months and years pass, your dad may find it hard to stay organized. He makes appointments, but he forgets that he has them and fails to show up for his doctor’s appointment or haircut. He may still be working and forget aspects of his job.
Towards the end of the early stages, he’ll forget what day or time it is. He may not realize where he is. He may not recognize his home and start wandering. Insomnia can appear at this point. He may also have a hard time understanding the season and appropriate clothing for the weather.
Middle Stages
In the middle stages, your dad becomes dependent on others. He can start seeing things that aren’t there and believing things that are not true. He may become paranoid and accuse family members and friends of theft.
He’s not going to remember how to make a phone call. He starts forgetting words. Anxiety heightens, and he may become clingy as a result of the fear.
Late Stages
In the final stage, his brain deterioration is causing impairment. He may no longer be able to walk around without assistance. He may stay in bed all day. His risk of infection increases. Eventually, he may be confined to a bed or a wheelchair. His fall risk skyrockets.
Over time, he may struggle to eat. He can’t hold a fork or spoon, so he’ll rely on finger foods. When he can’t swallow anymore, there’s a risk of aspiration pneumonia.
You can’t stay awake 24/7. That’s when it takes extra help. If your dad’s waking up in the middle of the night, he needs someone to supervise his activities. You don’t want to get a call that the morning caregiver arrived and can’t locate him.
Now is the right time to arrange caregivers. He can take time to become familiar with his caregiver, and you have peace of mind knowing he’s supported. Call a specialist and learn more about pricing for 24-hour home care.
If you or an aging loved one is considering 24-hour home care in Englewood, CO, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Denver today. 303-756-9322
