Joan was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It was a bit of a shock, especially considering her history. No one in her family had ever been diagnosed with this or any other type of dementia. She was a voracious reader, loved doing the crossword puzzle every day, and was basically mentally engaged in life.
She thought she did everything she could to avoid developing Alzheimer’s, but when she started recognizing some of the earliest signs and symptoms, she became worried. She held off visiting her doctor until it was no longer avoidable.
She began missing appointments, completely forgetting about conversation she had with her adult daughter the previous day, and kept losing or misplacing items around her house. Reluctantly, she went to her doctor and took part in a variety of tests. When the diagnosis came back, she couldn’t help but worry about the future.
That worry did not go away.
Joan did not want to move out of her house. However, she was living alone, her husband having passed away more than three years ago. It felt lonely at times, but it was home. It was surrounded by memories and comfort.
Any time she thought about moving, she could only envision a sterile facility where she would be essentially bedridden, waiting for the final moments of her life to mercifully arrive.
When her family began talking about long-term care options, she hunkered down and dug in her feet. She wanted to be home, even though they kept telling her that wasn’t reasonable.
So, she got it in her mind to show them it was possible. She made a few modifications to her house as a means of improving safety, but she kept worrying. She worried she might wake up from a nap, be completely disoriented, and wander out of the house. She heard about those stories all the time.
She worried she might forget her own daughter, grandchildren, and other family and friends. She brooded over these things so much that she stopped living her life. It reached a point when she was afraid to go anywhere, even with her adult daughter and her family.
This isn’t living.
Most people would say that isn’t living. It’s existing. Joan got so caught up in the worries and fears of a potential future that she forgot to live. A person who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s still has an opportunity to enjoy life, maintain a high quality of life, and participate in activities and visit with family and friends.
Home care can help make that happen while also keeping them safe as they move through the different stages of this disease.
if you or an aging loved one is considering homecare in Parker, CO, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare today at 303-953-9924.
