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Matters of the Mind
By
Beverly Moore |
Question:
I want to keep my wife at home throughout her illness.
I can’t do it alone. What services are available to help me?
Answer:
First, I am glad to hear you know you will need help.
Families who try to do it alone become worn out; some
caregivers die before their family member due to illnesses
as a result of exhaustion.
Services to help you are numerous. Many home care companies,
realizing their front line staff must be skilled at working
effectively with people with Alzheimer’s and related
dementias, can offer caregivers who can engage your wife and
make a good day for her. Having in home help will allow you
to have some time off to get refreshed. The helper can take
over the daily tasks of bathing and toileting, for example,
to give you back your role as her husband. Your wife
needs you as spouse more than as her nurse.
Geriatric care managers can help plan care and do the
legwork for needed services. They know where the good
resources in your community are and how to access them.
There are elder law attorneys who help families with a
member with a memory disorder to preserve assets, usually
your home, if it becomes necessary to look into long term
care. The sooner this is done the better; but it is never
too late either.
A day program is a gift to your wife, offering her
stimulation and activities geared to her level of ability.
Social skills and emotional well being are by products of
her experiences with other people.
Your education in how to maintain relationship with her is
of great importance right now. Learn how to speak to her in
a way that allows her to stay connected to you and other
members of your family in the best way possible. At
Alzheimer Coaching Services we have coaches who can help you
learn how to do that, and to steer you toward preferred
providers of the other services mentioned above. |
About The Author
Beverly
is owner of Alzheimer Coaching Services which serves
Metropolitan and West Suburban Boston, South Shore, Suffolk,
south Norfolk and Bristol counties. She offers coaching to
understand dementia and to learn how to accommodate the
person through habilitation methods. Three Title III E Older
American Act grants provide free coaching to families in the
south Norfolk, South Shore and Bristol areas. Her company is
located in Quincy and you may reach her at (617) 233-1145 or
visit her web site at
www.alzheimercoachingservices.com
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