At first, Thomas was frustrated. He was frustrated by the challenges he faced with his memory. As a man in his 70s, he had been used to this, but not to this degree. Of course, he tried to hide his struggles as best he could, but his wife of over 52 years saw right through him.
After several weeks of encouraging him, even pleading and begging with him to see his doctor, he finally went. He was put through a battery of tests and it was determined that he had a form of dementia. While there was no cure for it, Thomas understood that it would progress, but he still had a lot of life left in him, at least that’s how he felt and wanted to keep thinking.
At the time, he was able to do most things well enough without any help. He just needed a few reminders and some patience from his wife and adult children who called and stop by and check in on him from time to time. The last thing he wanted was to make people worry about him.
He also didn’t want to be a burden to his wife who was also dealing with certain health issues.
One afternoon, his two adult children came by for a visit, together. He found it odd since they rarely ever visited at the same time, and knew something was up. They wanted to talk about short and long-term care needs.
“I don’t need any help right now,” he told them. He wasn’t being mean or aggressive, but simply stating a fact. His wife sat by him and encouraged the conversation.
“Dad,” his daughter said, “there’s going to come a time when you need more than mom can help with.” And that’s how the topic of in-home care came up for Thomas and his family.
While he appreciated their concern, he told them he was fine, but when his son asked, “Where do you want to spend the rest of your life?” He didn’t know what to say. He just assumed it would be obvious: right there, at home.
“But is that reasonable?” Was the question back to him. Of course it was, he thought. Yet, the more he thought about it, the more he began to realize the symptoms were expanding, the more he would be dependent on someone for help, the more he wanted to learn because the last thing he desired was to have his spouse struggling during her final years of life just to help him.
Ultimately, they talked about in-home care because he wanted to remain home, if possible. He learned that a qualified, experienced home care assistant would be able to provide a range of supports and benefits.
1. It could improve safety.
Just having somebody there, somebody strong and healthy and younger, could be a great help, especially when there would be times when he needed help getting out of bed or taking a shower.
2. The sooner home care would start, the more comfortable he would be in the future.
He hadn’t thought about that before, but realizing that the dementia would affect more and more of his memories, that one day he may not recognize his surroundings, having consistency would be crucial. Of course, his wife would be consistent, but if he started working with somebody through home care now, and they were working with him five years from now, for example, that would offer some level of comfort when he felt stressed and anxious with the memory loss.
3. He would be encouraged to stay active.
He certainly felt he needed that already. A lot of things he was giving up on because of the dementia. Even though his wife and children were telling him to keep doing things, it didn’t have the same impact as an experienced professional telling him the same things.
Right or wrong, these are a few ways that in-home care may benefit a senior dealing with dementia who wants to age in place.
If you or an aging loved one are considering In-Home Care in Towson, MD please contact the caring staff at A+ Personal Home Care. Call (443) 660-8757, After Hours: (443) 796-5241
A+ Personal Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Baltimore and DC Metro Area, with offices in Pikesville and Gaithersburg.
At A+ Personal Home Care, our mission has always been to provide exceptional care, compassion, and a nurturing environment for our beloved community members. Over the years, we have strived to create a place where individuals can find solace, engage in meaningful activities, and receive the highest quality of medical attention.
A+ Personal Home Care is always striving to improve and exceed expectations. We welcome feedback and suggestions from our clients and their families, as your input is invaluable in shaping the future of our care programs. We want to ensure that we continue to meet your needs and remain a trusted pillar of support within our community.
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to all the families who have placed their trust in us. Your support and loyalty inspire us to continue providing exceptional care every day. We are committed to fostering an atmosphere of love, respect, and dignity, and we consider it an honor to serve you and your loved ones.
Should you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any member of our dedicated team. We are here to listen, assist, and ensure that your experience at A+ Personal Home Care remains fulfilling and positive.
Thank you once again for choosing A+ Personal Home Care as your partner in care. We look forward to sharing many more moments of joy, growth, and healing with you and your loved ones in the days to come.
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