Day To Day Alzheimer’s Care & Support
Progressive Alzheimer’s Symptoms
Alzheimer’s Disease is most common in people over the age of 65, though as symptoms progress slowly, it can be difficult to recognise that there is a problem which means symptoms can start to develop before this age. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s are often attributed to getting older rather than being part of a neurological condition, which also makes it difficult to diagnose. That said, having memory problems does not necessarily mean you have Alzheimer’s.
As symptoms start to develop and progress, people with Alzheimer’s might develop difficulty eating, have a reduction in appetite, have trouble swallowing which can cause aspiration (food being inhaled into the lungs) which in turn causes chest infections.
One of the most damaging parts of the disease is the secondary symptoms which affect more than just the one with Alzheimer’s. As someone experiences memory loss and problems with thinking, they might develop issues surrounding these areas:
- self-esteem
- confidence
- independence and autonomy
- social roles and relationships
- ability to practice favourite hobbies
- everyday skills such as cooking or driving
Despite all these being lost, the person will still retain some of their abilities and will still feel emotional connections to people and their environment even as the disease progresses.
Causes of Alzheimer’s Disease
The exact cause of Alzheimer’s is not fully understood, but work is ongoing to identify this. It is believed that there are several factors which increase your chances of developing the condition, these include:
- increasing age
- family history of the condition
- untreated depression
- lifestyle factors
- conditions associated with cardiovascular disease
Caring For Those With Alzheimer’s At Home
It’s important to mention that there is currently no known cure for Alzheimer’s Disease and work is ongoing to understand more about the disease. Despite this, there are medicines available which can help to relieve symptoms and ease the progression of the disease.
There are various types of support available to help people with Alzheimer’s live as independently as possible for as long as they can within their own home. Making changes to the home environment to assist in moving around and adding reminders around the home to help them remember daily tasks can help in the early stages of the disease.
Many families will choose to care for their loved ones during the early stages of the disease which will help slow the progression, as the person with the disease will be in a familiar environment around loved ones which helps to recall memories. However, as the disease progresses, care can become more time consuming and emotionally exhausting as you watch a loved one deteriorate. At Promedica24, we offer live-in care specialising in Alzheimer’s support to help minimise the confusion a change in environment might cause. Our care workers can help clients function within their own home for as long as possible whilst also respectfully dealing with and managing the anger and frustration that comes with having a progressive disease.
There is also increasing awareness that people with Alzheimer’s disease need palliative care, which is again something we offer as a live-in solution.
For further support online about Alzheimer’s Disease, here are some great resources.
If you would like to find out more or access our services, please visit promedica24.co.uk to use our online chat service. You can also get in touch with our team on 0800 086 8686 or by sending an email to care@promedica24.co.uk. If you’d like to assess your care and support needs rapidly online, we have a tool available for you to do this.
We can provide live-in care services across the whole of England and we would also encourage you to visit our testimonials page to read what our clients and their families have said about our services.
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