Have you been noticing different behaviors?
- An uncharacteristically messy house
- Not changing clothes
- Bills piling up (maybe even shut-off notices)
- Moldy food in the refrigerator
- Repetitive questions or stories
- Agitation in the late afternoon (sundown syndrome)
- Poor hygiene
- Weight loss
These could be signs of a dementia condition.
Are you worried about the safety of the current situation?
- Ability to take medications as directed
- Forgetting the stove is on and causing a fire
- Wandering or getting lost
- Potential for someone to exploit or take advantage
- Unsafe driving habits
Has your loved one been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? Lewy body dementia? Vascular dementia? Frontotemporal dementia? Perhaps mild cognitive impairment (MCI)?
The latest research
At Caregiving Corner, we are an evidence-based practice. That means we stay abreast of the latest research on elder care. Nowhere is that more evident than in our approach to dementia care.
We can help!
With a multidisciplinary team of nurses, social workers, and counselors, and our emphasis on best practices, we are known as the company to turn to for even the most complex situations.
Give us a call at 704-945-7170.
Or schedule a free initial consultation
Assessment
We conduct an in-depth cognitive assessment to understand your loved one’s strengths and weaknesses in numerous domains, such as
- Executive function
- Judgment
- Spatial perception
- Decision making
- Insight
- Attention
- Memory
- Task management
With this information, we can zero in on exactly the kinds of support your loved one will need.
Don’t have a diagnosis yet? No problem.
We can walk you through the process of getting a thorough medical evaluation so you can be sure that you have an accurate dementia diagnosis with treatments appropriately matched to the condition. (There are close to two hundred conditions that result in symptoms of dementia. You want to be sure you are targeting the correct one!)
Return to top
Care plan with solutions
Working with you and the medical team, we translate the findings into daily life needs and look for solutions that are affordable and convenient for you and your relative. For example:
- What medications need to be taken? Are there medication management technologies that can efficiently support timely and accurate dosing?
- What protections are needed in the kitchen? For example, would an automatic stove shutoff device reduce the chance of a burner being left on? Perhaps a microwave should be used as the primary cooking method. Is it time to engage a meal service or hire a caregiver part time to shop and prepare meals?
- Is your loved one a victim of scamming? Should there be restrictions put on the computer to reduce Internet shopping? Maybe it’s time to switch to a credit card that does not allow charges except from authorized merchants. Is a video doorbell in order so you can monitor who visits and ward off in-person exploitation?
- Is social isolation a problem? Loneliness has been shown to speed the decline of persons with dementia. What are the local senior transportation options? Is it time for enrichment activities or companionship?
If you aren’t sure you are getting the whole story, you may want to engage our care managers to visit periodically and monitor the situation. We can take your loved one to doctor appointments and report back about changes. We can also keep you abreast of nonmedical issues that we see and make suggestions as appropriate.
And if aging in place is no longer a safe or affordable option, our care managers can identify your family priorities and the likely preferences of your loved one and recommend the best memory care or best assisted living community in Charlotte Metro and Lake Norman. Unlike senior placement advisors, we do not receive a placement fee. We work for you so you can be sure our recommendations are based upon our honest assessment of which community will best meet your needs, not which one will give us the biggest referral fee.
When it comes time to move, there are definitely strategies that make the transition easier for persons with dementia. Whether it’s a move within Charlotte Metro and Lake Norman or a move out of state to be closer to family, we’ve got you covered. We can help you find a senior move manager who can coordinate a seamless relocation so your loved one has the best chance of adapting quickly. A move manager can eliminate a lot of the stress for you as well. Plus, they work with local realtors to get your loved one’s house cleaned up and on the market quickly if that is part of your family plan.
Would you like help addressing the challenges of dementia?
Give us a call at 704-945-7170.
Or schedule a free initial consultation
Return to top