As anyone who cares for a person with dementia knows, trying to do it without help can be overwhelming. That’s why HealthStar Home Health offers dementia care across Minnesota, including Duluth, Bemidji and Minneapolis. Our care allows patients to get all of the help they need and lets relatives have the peace of mind of knowing that their loved ones are being fully taken care of.
In some cases, the need for help stems from the physical needs of the patient. Most people with dementia are elderly, and this can mean that they have trouble moving around or handling things that require dexterity. This becomes a problem when a non-professional caregiver has to do something like get the person out of bed or help lower him or her to the toilet. A professional nurse or similar caregiver will be able to take care of these things in ways that don’t endanger either themselves or the patient.
For many people, help is needed simply because the overall job is too much for one person. Keeping an eye on an adult 24/7 is tiring, and when that adult needs care for all or most things he or she does, the problem is even worse. There is no failing in asking for professionals to come in to take the load off and ensure that everything is being done. It’s also important for the patient’s well-being. Caregiver burnout isn’t like getting a cold or a virus, the symptoms of caregiver burnout can begin slowly, and gradually get worse overtime. Common symptoms include feelings of depression, fatigue, and a decreasing interest in work or other hobbies. HealthStar’s professional team of caregivers can help relieve some of the stress for family caregivers, so they can take care of themselves.
One of the important tasks performed by a professional dementia caregiver is administering medicine. It’s very easy for someone to forget a dose or accidentally give a double one if she is exhausted. A nurse or other practitioner will consider this an essential part of the job duties and therefore make it a top-of-mind priority. The same goes for other demanding aspects of dementia care, such as bathing and feeding.
Even after the nurse leaves for the day, the benefits will continue. This is because the relative who does the care during these times will be much better rested and more alert. The end result is that the patient will remain in better condition than otherwise possible while nobody ends up too exhausted to function properly.
To learn more about dementia care HealthStar Home Health offers, call your local HealthStar branch office.