According to the Alzheimer’s Association, approximately 11 million people in the United States provide unpaid care for the more than 6 million people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. The loved ones who spend their days cooking, cleaning and providing companionship for someone with Alzheimer’s disease bear an often unrecognized burden. Caregivers face challenges to their own health including stress, fatigue and depression. Here at Piedmont Home Care, we understand just how important it is to provide support for the caregivers as well as care for the person diagnosed with dementia.

Know When to Ask for Help

As Alzheimer’s disease or dementia progresses, patients will start to exhibit an increased need for assistance and care. You might notice an increase in wandering, an inability to conduct daily living tasks, and an increased risk of injury due to falls. When the risks of caring for a loved one alone become too much to handle, it’s okay to seek help from outside sources.

Home care specialists such as Piedmont Home Care have trained staff who are knowledgeable about the conditions and symptoms of Alzheimer’s and dementia and are able to provide quality in-home care. Having someone you know and trust spending time with a loved one can allow a caregiver important respite, providing time for self care and alleviating some of the stress that comes along with the job of caregiving.

Piedmont Home Care provides flexible scheduling, allowing for a few hours of care a week up to 24 hours a day. This helps families accommodate the care needs of Alzheimer’s patients, from the early stages where minimal respite care is needed, to the later stages where the help of a medically trained professional is important.

Finding Outside Support

In addition to working with professional caregivers such as Piedmont Home Care, caregivers of loved ones with Alzheimer’s should make sure to have a strong network of support from family, friends and their community. As early as diagnosis, it’s important to take time to diligently curate a strong support network.

Family and friends. Think about who you would reach out to in times of stress, and let them know about the new diagnosis. Keep them informed of the progress along the way, and don’t be afraid to ask for help or take their offers of help when proffered. Community is always important when dealing with stressful times.

Support Groups. Sometimes, as much as family and friends care, they just don’t understand as well as others who are also going through the same types of situations. Support groups provide encouragement and comfort in a variety of ways. You can find a list of area support groups for family and caregivers at the Piedmont Triad Regional Council website.

Walk to End Alzheimer’s

The Alzheimer’s Association provides countless resources, information and support, and leads the way in accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and maximizing quality care and

support. One of the largest fundraisers for the Alzheimer’s Association is the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which takes place in over 600 communities nationwide.

Participating in the Winston-Salem Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a great way to help support the good done by this organization while also finding community with other caregivers in the area.

Details:

Date: November 5, 2022
Time: Registration starts at 9:00, opening ceremonies at 10:00
Place: Truist Stadium
Raise $100 and you will qualify for this year’s walk shirt.