How Seniors Hide their Symptoms of Dementia

Developing dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease, is a frightening prospect. Nobody wants to believe that their funny little “senior moments” could be anything but – however, millions of seniors develop some type of dementia and in the process of denying it to themselves, they might exhibit the following actions.

•  “I’m fine,” “I’m old and forgetful, it’s what happens!” “I’m just tired.” All of these are ways to deny what might really be going on. By making these statements, they are not only keeping you at bay regarding a possible problem, they are also trying to convince themselves that there isn’t one.

•  Anosognosia is a condition that goes beyond denial – it’s about being completely unaware. Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s disease, more than 80% of patients suffer from this. It’s unclear exactly what causes it, but it makes coming to terms with the illness even more difficult, for the patient and caregiver.

•  Keeping their “mistakes” (memory lapses) hidden from others. Many seniors are reluctant to give up their freedom and be placed in a more intensive-care facility. So, they “hide” their lapses in memory or some other secret (forgetting to turn off a burner, for example), to avoid this.

•  For better or for worse – many spouses will take on the role to “cover up” for their spouses mistakes, they’ll drive for them, they’ll step in to complete tasks, whatever the case may be – to avoid others speculating on whether the impaired spouse needs higher care-intensive conditions.

•  Staying away from games they once loved; or even refusing to do a simple chore they’ve done a hundred times. Forgetting certain processes and how to follow through on activities is difficult, and to avoid the frustration altogether, some seniors won’t engage.

 If you are interested in learning about in-home care services in Birmingham, or other options surrounding assisted living in Birmingham, Alabama, please contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-8974-9730 or email them at info.bham@abc-seniors.com. They will assist you in obtaining a free consultation, where you and a Care Provider will draft an extensive and personalized Care Plan.

Interested in Home Health Care in Birmingham Alabama? Contact Always Best Care Today

Since 1996, Always Best Care has assisted over 25,000 seniors in the United States and Canada maintain their independence. The Always Best Care caregivers are licensed, well-trained, and undergo thorough background checks. In addition, they are known to be compassionate and dedicated to their senior clients. If you are interested in learning about in-home senior care in Birmingham, you can contact the Always Best Care Birmingham location at 205-874-9730. They can provide you with a free consultation with a Care Provider. The Care Provider will sit down with you and your family to create a Care Plan which extensively outlines your individual care needs. This Care Plan is continually updated as your needs change.

Caregiver Services

So, what makes in-home care so wonderful? It’s a chance for the senior to transfer many of his or her responsibilities and leave them in the capable hands of an Always Best Care caregiver. Some of the services provided (but certainly not limited to these) include:

• Assisting with entertaining

• Maintaining the calendar

• Overseeing home deliveries

• Shopping for groceries and other supplies

• Dropping of dry cleaning

• Picking up prescriptions

• Preparing and serving meals

• Help with bathing/dressing/eating

• Playing card game

• Discussing current and historical events

• Supervising home maintenance

Or, if you’re interested in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, Always Best Care is also exceptionally well-equipped to supply recommendations. The Birmingham staff knows the assisted living communities in the area quite well, and is adept at matching seniors with facilities that are well-suited for them. Always Best Care will even accompany the senior and his/her family to their top 3-4 choices to help narrow down which community best meets their needs.

• In addition to these services, Always Best Care also provides additional special services that allow them to serve area seniors even more fully.

• Always in Touch – a daily telephone reassurance program that is available to seniors and disabled adults who live remotely or who have limited mobility.

• Always Safe – a comprehensive fall prevention and detection program that brings peace of mind to the senior and their family.

• Always on Call – 24/7 telephone access to a doctor, eliminating the need for late night emergency room visits that aren’t an emergency.

If you are interested in learning more about in-home senior care in Birmingham, or other options in home health care in Birmingham, Alabama, call 205-874-9730 today!