How Do You Arrange Home Care Services When Your Mom Forgets Faces and Names?
Your mom has dementia. She’s finally reached a point where she can’t remember meeting people. She doesn’t recognize faces or names. You feel it’s time for home care, but that also scares you. How will she react to a stranger arriving at her home each day?
Elder Care in Libertyville IL: Tips for Memory care
Arrange to Be Available for a Few Days
Make sure you’re available for the first few days. When the caregiver arrives, make introductions and see how your mom reacts. She may have a vague recollection of meeting this person after a few days.
Be ready to calm your mom if she is especially fearful. You have to remember that your mom may not know why this person is in her home. She may react negatively. She may be fearful or get defensive. There may be times when you have to intervene and calm your mother down.
Involve Your Mom in the Hiring Process When Possible
Keep your mom involved in the hiring process. Let her ask questions if she has any. If she doesn’t, she may ask you things in private that you can jot down. Bring that list and address them with the caregiver or agency.
Ask specifically for caregivers with experience in Alzheimer’s. You want a caregiver who will be present and engaging. If the caregiver spends more time checking messages than trying to engage your mom, it’s unlikely to work out. Be sure you explain why a caregiver isn’t working out when you call the agency for a replacement.
Once your mom is okay with the agency, see if they have online photos of the caregivers. Show her those photos regularly to help her get used to some of the faces she’ll be encountering.
Create a Calm Environment
Your mom is less likely to be agitated if she has a schedule to follow. Work with a caregiver to come up with a daily routine. Make sure your mom is getting up at a regular time, taking pills on time, and eating on a schedule. She may go slower than she used to, but she’ll still benefit from a schedule.
The caregiver can schedule chores like laundry, changing sheets, and vacuuming around this schedule. If there is an hour block when your mom likes to listen to music, the caregiver could use that period to get housework done.
Talk to a home care agency about helping an Alzheimer’s patient adjust to new caregivers. They may have additional tips to help you navigate home care when you’re mom’s memory is lapsing. Call now.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering Elder Care in Libertyville, IL, call the caring staff at LifeCare Home Health & In-Home Services. Call (888) 606-4199 LifeCare serves all of the Chicago Metro Area.
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