Alzheimer’s disease is caused by changes in the brain, including gradual buildup and accumulation of protein fragments between neurons, the buildup of tau protein within healthy neurons, slowly destroying memory and thinking skills, and, eventually, the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to the environment. Also, Alzheimer’s disease or certain forms of Dementia can alter a person’s mood and behavior, as well as their personality. It most commonly affects 65 and older, but it can also affect people in their 30s or 40s.

The most common forms are:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Frontotemporal dementia
• Lewy body dementia
• Vascular dementia
• Combination of two or more types of dementia.

• Preclinical Alzheimer’s disease (asymptomatic but identified on a screening test)
• Mild stage (greater loss of memory, wandering and getting lost, asking the same questions repeatedly, and generally taking longer to complete everyday tasks). Typically, it’s when a formal diagnosis is given.
• Moderate stage (memory loss and confusion worsen, start having trouble with activities of daily living (ADLs), and recognizing their friends and family and may start experiencing delusions, hallucinations or paranoia).
• Severe or late stage of dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease (inability to communicate, function, loss of control of movement, and great vulnerability to infections, especially pneumonia). The body is shutting down.

Staying at home is the best choice for managing dementia symptoms due to the importance of routine, continuity, and familiar surroundings.

If you are vigilant and “on duty” day and night and have little time to run errands, go to the doctor for yourself, catch up on sleep, and socialize with friends and the rest of the family, full-time caring for a loved one living with Dementia is taking a toll on you.

Getting outside assistance can help with some of the tasks you are responsible for, and preserve your relationship as a son or partner, rather than becoming a tired nurse.

Caregivers come in for a number of hours and therefore have the energy to be engaging and encouraging in a way you might be too exhausted to do around the clock.

Many family caregivers find that their loved one is more cooperative with someone other than themselves, the family caregiver, so that, for example, mealtime might not be the challenge that it can otherwise be.

Hiring outside assistance might not only be a necessity but a gift you can give yourself.

You might suggest to your loved one utilizing caregiving services for a week only to help around the house. Caregivers that are compatible in personality and skillset and share a similar cultural background or language will make the transition to outside assistance easier. Your loved one will likely be more inclined to accept personal care assistance as time passes.