Our Dementia and Alzheimer’s Support Services
We know and understand our clients with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other related health conditions need unique care which evolves as their needs change. For this reason, Impactful Home Care offers customized dementia and Alzheimer’s support as part of our specialized services.
We strive to make this essential care accessible. That’s why we offer flexible payment options, including long-term home care services that may be covered by:
- The Pennsylvania Caregiver Support Program
- The Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (a Medicaid state program)
- Veteran benefits
- Select private insurance plans
Personal Care and Maintaining Hygiene
As the different dementia stages progress, individuals often lose abilities to perform activities in sequence or how to perform tasks independently. Personal neglect can quickly lead to serious secondary issues such as urinary tract infections, skin infections, gum disease, tooth decay, and delirium.
By assisting with daily hygiene, we help prevent serious health complications, and more importantly, assist our clients in preserving their dignity and self-esteem.
Our expert caregivers provide personal care and hygiene support with the following daily activities:
- Bathing and showering
- Dental care.
- Grooming and dressing.
- Managing toileting and continence care.
Vigilant Safety Monitoring and Fall Prevention
Dementia doesn’t just impair a memory: it directly impacts the spatial, balance, and judgment skills required to stand up safely and move upright.
Clients with dementia often do not recognize hazards in front of them, cannot accurately judge distances, misinterpret patterns on the floor as obstacles or holes, and may also wander out on their own, not knowing where they’re going.
These symptoms significantly increase the risk of falls and serious physical injuries. To prevent accidents, our caregivers employ specialized safety protocols:
- Hazard Removal: Identifying and removing hazards such as securing loose rugs, clearing away rugs, and improving lighting – especially during the night.
- Constant Cues: Providing constant monitoring and verbal cues to remind clients to use assistive devices, slow down, or ask for help.
- Watching medication: Monitoring medication intake to ensure the medication is being taken properly.
- Encouraging exercises: Assisting with the exercises prescribed by physical and occupational therapists.
- Wandering prevention: Ensuring clients are in the safe environments of their homes and not wandering outside and getting lost.
Cognitive Engagement and Specialized Companionship
Having dementia can also be lonely. Dementia symptoms can lead to cognitive decline, decreased social interaction, a shrinking social circle, and stigma from others. The difficulties clients have with memory, speech, and social cues can cause behavioral changes such as having clients withdrawing from social activities, not knowing how to interact with family and friends.
We deliver caregivers to provide clients with companionship.Their assistance with cognitive stimulation and memory care encourage clients’ engagement with others, because the cognitive exercises help reduce the anxiety and frustration caused by complex conversations.
To provide cognitive and companionship support, our personal assistants do the following:
- Focusing on feelings, not facts: If a client says, “I should go home. My mom has been waiting too long,” the caregiver will validate the client’s need for safety and connection, rather than arguing the fact that the client’s mother had passed away.
- Reminiscence and memory work: Activities which focus on stimulating a client’s long-term memories, which typically remains after the client’s short-term memory is gone. These memories may evoke positive emotions and feelings with the past and reduce the client’s anxiety and agitation in engaging in meaningful conversation.
- Being a consistent presence: Offering a familiar, calming, and reliable presence to clients, so they aren’t alone.
- Sensory engagement: Often using music, art, or touch to trigger to bypass damaged cognitive pathways and connect directly to the brain’s emotional centers. This reduces anxiety and agitation, promoting a state of calm.
Structuring and Maintaining Daily Routines
A person with dementia can find the world confusing and overwhelming. That’s why routine and structure is critical for clients with dementia, because they can predict what happens next. This creates a stable framework that the client can subconsciously rely on.
The best way to create a schedule is to do the following:
- Personalize the schedule: Learn of the client’s habits and incorporate those habits into the schedule. For instance, if the client enjoys having coffee outside in the yard after lunch, include such outings in the schedule.
- Restful periods: Don’t fill the schedule with constant activity, which can lead to fatigue and agitation. Include durations of rest during the day.
- Add fixed anchor points: Make sure there are fixed, non-negotiable times in the routine. This can include having breakfast right after waking up each day and going to bed at specific times to make sure all other activities flow around these predictable fixtures in the anchors.
- Manage changes gently: If there’s going to be a change (doctor’s appointment, hair appointment), be sure to prepare clients in advance. Then, after the changing event, return to the standard schedule afterwards.
- Decrease variables: Whenever possible, use many of the same supplies and items during the routine. For instance, use the same water cups, towels, and slippers. Perform the same activities in the same location to prevent any kind of confusion.
Who Benefits from Our Dementia and Alzheimer’s Services?
There are many individuals who benefit from what we offer. Our aides can always provide the help and support they need.
These groups include:
Individuals living with dementia: Our caregivers help reduce confusion, anxiety, and agitation while providing companionship and support with activities of daily living.
Primary family caregivers: Helping loved ones eat can cause families and friends a lot of stress, especially if they’re struggling with time. We have experienced caregivers who can provide respite care to family and friends, relieving them of stress.
Extended Family Members: The primary family caregiver is not the only relative who feels the burden of caregiving. The burden is shared by everyone in the family. Our caregivers provide updates on client’s conditions, including those family members who may live far away. They also coordinate appointment and communication between doctors, providers, and family members.
Why Choose Impactful Home Care?
Trained and Vetted Caregiving Professionals
We ensure our caregivers have clean backgrounds and receive the required training to provide the best services.
Personalized Plans to Fit Your Needs
You have unique needs. We get your input to build customized plans based on your needs, preferences, and routines.
Medicaid-Approved Assistance
You’ll be working with a Licensed and Medicaid Approved agency.
Companions Who Are Always There
Our caregivers provide the highest quality of care through compassion and open communication. They help keep loneliness and isolation at bay.
The 3-Step Process Is Easy
We’ve simplified the process for you, so you can get the help you need. Just follow these three steps:
- Consultation: Give us a call for an evaluation. We’ll ask questions about your needs and situation.
- Care Plan: With your input, we’ll create specialized plans outlining services, schedules, goals, and preferences.
- Continuous Support: You can depend on our aides and their supervisors to provide you with consistent updates on your health, care plan, and services.
