Signs That Show Your Parents May Need Assistance

ITS ONE THING TO TALK ON THE PHONE, QUITE ANOTHER TO BE PRESENT IN YOUR PARENT’S HOME.

As the holidays near and families are going to be traveling to visit their parents, there are signs you can look for to judge if they are nearing the point of needing some assistance with their normal activities of living in their own home. 

The easiest thing to recognize before you walk in the door is if the house and yard need care. As you walk in the door, is their appearance as neat and clean as they have always been? Are their clothes clean, hair clean and combed? Is the mail piling up, newspapers out of their wrappers, bills paid on time? Is food spoiling in the fridge? Are there expired groceries not thrown away? Are they shopping regularly? How is the laundry room, are clothes piling up?

One of the most difficult situations adult children have to face is the failing health of their parents. Rest assured if they do need help they will not tell you. A couple of the strongest desires in a parent is to remain independent and not be a burden on their children. Unfortunately, it may be a traumatic event that makes you finally realize your parents need assistance at home. Maybe a fall or the gas stove was left on causing a fire, etc. Being proactive and looking for signs of decline can trigger conversations about how you can help your parents before it consumes you. Most importantly, you do not want to make rushed, irrational decisions. Be sure to take the time to pay close attention to your parents surroundings when you visit them over the upcoming holidays.  

When I look back at the care we provided for our parents, I feel good we made many of the right decisions. I have spent a life time working in the nonprofit world so I had some experience on my side. Even then it was some of the most difficult times of my life. It is no fun watching your parents decline and eventual passing. It is why I have started this business, so I can share with our clients what I have learned through the entire experience of caring for my parents.

Alzheimer’s Care

Taking it to the next level!

The Alzheimer’s Association promotes the Habilitation Method of care for their Alzheimer’s clients. The goal of Habilitation Therapy is to promote a positive response in the person with dementia. It is an approach that maximizes their strengths and abilities and minimizes their limitations. It helps the care giver connect with the client on an emotional level. While other parts of the brain are being ravaged by the disease the emotional center of the brain remains intact. Alzheimer’s clients react and understand from an emotional level. When they are cared for from this perspective difficult behaviors are held in check and most important the persons quality of life improves and is maintained as long as possible.

Anyone who has ever cared for a parent or spouse with Alzheimer’s knows the struggle and pain of watching helplessly as this horrendous disease slowly takes away the person bit by bit. Pathologically the brain is being reduced in size, weight and substance. Somehow their ability to feel and express emotions is left alone. It is through this emotional connection the Habilitation Method can make a difference and help us care for the person; improving their quality of life and those responsible for the persons care.

Habilitation Therapy is not rehabilitation, it focuses on strengths and abilities and does not focus on their limitations or try to teach them what they’ve lost. It has 5 areas of concentration called domains: communication, the physical environment, approach to personal care, purposeful engagement and behavior as communication.

Recently I had the opportunity to train 10 care givers in this approach to care. They’re now as excited as I am in being able to improve the care and  quality of life of our Alzheimer’s clients. While it improves the quality of life of our clients it also assists the family members and loved ones struggling with how to best care for their loved one.

The scourge of Alzheimer’s effects a multitude of people; the patient, the spouse, children, friends. The frustration and pain of watching as the person you love deeply is slowly, bit by bit taken from you, the patient initially able to fake it and then slowly receding into their own world of silence and confusion. It has been my goal to try and find a better way, a way to help us relate to our loved one. This Habilitation Therapy offers us a method of care to reach through the haze and confusion and still making a connection.

Jeff Bond CEO

Alzheimer’s Care - Taking it to the next level.

-The Alzheimer’s Association promotes the Habilitation Method of care for their Alzheimer’s clients. The goal of Habilitation Therapy is to promote a positive response in the person with dementia.

-It’s an approach that maximizes their strengths and abilities and minimizes their limitations. It helps the care giver connect with the client on an emotional level.

-While other parts of the brain are being ravaged by the disease the emotional center of the brain remains intact. Alzheimer’s clients react and understand from an emotional level. When they are cared for from this perspective difficult behaviors are held in check and most important the persons quality of life improves and is maintained as long as possible.

-Anyone who has ever cared for a parent or spouse with Alzheimer’s knows the struggle and pain of watching helplessly as this horrendous disease slowly takes away the person bit by bit. Pathologically the brain is being reduced in size, weight and substance.

-Somehow their ability to feel and express emotions is left alone. It is through this emotional connection the Habilitation Method can make a difference and help us care for the person; improving their quality of life and those responsible for the persons care.

-Habilitation Therapy is not rehabilitation, it focuses on strengths and abilities and does not focus on their limitations or try to teach them what they’ve lost. It has 5 areas of concentration called domains: communication, the physical environment, approach to personal care, purposeful engagement and behavior as communication.

-Recently I had the opportunity to train 10 care givers in this approach to care. They’re now as excited as I am in being able to improve the care and  quality of life of our Alzheimer’s clients. While it improves the quality of life of our clients it also assists the family members and loved ones struggling with how to best care for their loved one.

-The scourge of Alzheimer’s effects a multitude of people; the patient, the spouse, children, friends. The frustration and pain of watching as the person you love deeply is slowly, bit by bit taken from you, the patient initially able to fake it and then slowly receding into their own world of silence and confusion. It has been my goal to try and find a better way, a way to help us relate to our loved one. This Habilitation Therapy offers us a method of care to reach through the haze and confusion and still making a connection.