Choosing to place a loved one in a care facility is a difficult decision to make, but if he or she has Alzheimer's, it can be difficult to take care of them at home. Taking care of someone with Alzheimer's or a related dementia is usually a full-time job. There are many ways they can get hurt around the house and, if you have to work and have a family, it can be difficult to adequately take care of the patient.
Finding a Care Facility
Once you make the decision to place your loved one in a care facility, you need to take the time to find a facility that specializes in Alzheimer's care. It is important to inspect the care facilities to see if they are capable of caring for someone with Alzheimer's or related dementia. When calling to make an appointment to tour the facility, ask specifically if they have facilities for Alzheimer's patients, if not, politely thank them for their time, but cross them off your list.
Nurse to Patient Ratio
When you go to inspect a facility, not only ask about how many patients each nurse has to care for, but when you go into the Alzheimer's unit, try to count the number of nurses on duty. Of course, the fewer patients a nurse has to care for is better because that means the patients will receive better care. If you notice only one or two nurses on duty and most patients seem to be in bed, then that could be a sign the patient to nurse ratio is too high.
Lock Down Unit
Since Alzheimer's patients tend to wander, the care facility should have a special area for those patients with a door that stays locked at all times. To get in and out of the area, there should be a way to buzz in staff and visitors so that the patients cannot wander out the door and get lost. If the facility doesn't have a specific area for Alzheimer's or dementia patients after claiming they did, move on to the next facility.
Keeping Active
When you walk into the facility, you should notice an activity room or the patients should be up and not stuck in their beds. It is important that patients participate in activities to keep their minds active as much as possible. If the patients seem to be alert and active, then that may be a good facility to consider.
Selecting a good facility for your loved one is important so they receive proper care and it will help give you peace of mind as well. Take the time to visit facilities (such as Bethesda Health Care Facility) yourself, ask questions and observe what is going on to pick the best facility you can.
Share13 October 2015
As a child, I used to spend my days roaming through the woods. I climbed trees, smelled the flowers, and laid in the grass looking at the clouds. My love for nature continued through my teen years, but when I turned 23, I began to sneeze whenever I left my home. I could no longer enjoy my outdoor hikes and I started taking antihistamines so I could at least open my windows on warm days. My allergies got worse though and I met with an allergist who completed a variety of skin tests. I started receiving allergy shots and my allergist taught me about natural cleaning processes and sinus rinses. The injections and natural treatments improved my quality of life greatly. Even if you do not want to start allergy injections, you have a variety of options that can lessen your symptoms, and you should learn what these options are.
