As we head into November, it’s time for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s for the Winston-
Salem area. This year’s walk will be November 4 at Truist Stadium. It’s an exciting event
because it brings so many people together to help raise awareness while also raising money for a
good cause – Alzheimer’s research. It’s a hopeful statement that the walk will help bring an end
to Alzheimer’s, but for the time being this is a disease without a cure. Thankfully for the more
than 6.7 million Americans 65 and older living with the disease, there are new medications that
can help ease the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, but we still haven’t found a cure for this terminal
disease.

Here at Piedmont Home Care, we stand in support of all the people living with Alzheimer’s and
dementia and the family and caregivers who are a part of their lives. We know this can be a
challenging diagnosis, and understand how important it is to have good, quality care for your
loved ones suffering from the effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Our talented team of caregivers have specialized training in Alzheimer’s and dementia care, so
that when you contract with us you can feel comfortable that your loved ones are in good hands.
It might be hard at first to allow someone else to perform the tasks of caregiving for a loved one
with Alzheimer’s or dementia, but bringing someone into your home to assist with daily living
and medical tasks can ease the burden on you. It can help you keep a healthy relationship with
your loved one and enjoy the time you have together even more.

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be different than the type of care needed for
other people aging in place at home. We understand how important it is to follow some of these practices:

Keeping a routine. Simple things such as bathing, dressing and eating at the same time each day
can help reduce stress for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia. It might be hard sometimes to
keep to a strict routing for caregivers who are part of the “sandwich” generation, caring for aging
parents and young children at the same time. Life gets in the way, and sports practice or dance
recitals might interfere with dinner time, which can be even more angst ridden for those
experiencing sundowner’s syndrome. Bringing a caregiver from Piedmont Home Care in to help
with this can ensure that your loved one remains on a routine schedule.

Planning activities. Exercise is an important part of staying healthy, and our caregivers can
work with you to provide activities that get your loved one up and moving on a regular basis. It
could be as simple as taking a walk together each day, or putting on music and dancing for a few
minutes. Anything to get up out of the chair and get the heart beating a little faster.

Allowing the client to feel independent. We know how important it is to respect our clients and
make sure they feel independent as much as possible. While some people with Alzheimer’s or
dementia need some help bathing or getting dressed, there can be ways to still allow them to
have some autonomy, whether that’s buying loose fitting clothes that are easy to put on or having
a sturdy shower seat in the bath.

If you’re caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia, remember that you can
only provide care for them if you take care of yourself. Getting professional help is a great step
in providing quality care for your loved ones. Call Piedmont Home Care today to learn more
about our services and how our trained professional can help you.