Dementia Home Care: Everything You Need to Know to Care for Your Loved One

If you are one of the more than 11 million U.S. adults caring for a senior loved one with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia, you are probably well aware of the complexities of dementia care. Ensuring that your loved one is safe, secure, and content may mean negotiating their daily needs, financial issues, and the challenges of caregiving.  

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 80% of adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias receive care in their homes. Most individuals are happiest in their own homes, surrounded by familiar possessions, and located near friends and family members. 

Caring.com's own research backs this up. In our survey, 73% of seniors with a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or other dementias receive home care. Family caregivers are likely to provide help with support from home health care aides or in-home care assistants. Explore how to care for someone with dementia at home and allow them to age in place for as long as possible with this helpful guide.

Caring for a parent with dementia at home, or any other senior, may come with complications. For example, they may be at risk of falling or other injuries if they forget that a stove is on or trip on a loose rug. 

Patients may also need help taking their medicines correctly and on time. They may deal with loneliness or depression and have difficulty with shopping for and cooking nutritious food. Amid these and other symptoms of dementia, a caregiver or aide can be necessary to assist for at least part of the day. 

If the patient lives in a memory care facility, assisted living residence, or nursing home, trained staff can assist them throughout the day and night. If the senior lives at home or in an independent living facility, however, caregivers and seniors need to arrange for any necessary assistance. 

Home healthcare agencies, federal and state programs, and other options exist to provide funding or offer the services of healthcare professionals to support and assist your senior.

Based on Caring.com's research, the most important factor for caregivers comparing in-home services and memory care facilities was the quality of care. Respondents who chose a facility option for their senior often worried that they would not be able to provide the highest level of dementia home care, making the more robust services available at facilities a plus. The following section compiles other pros and cons of in-home care.

• The loved one can remain in a known and familiar setting, surrounded by their belongings.
• In many cases, seniors in their own homes are near trusted friends, neighbors, and family members.
• The cost of staying in their home may be lower than the costs of facility-based care. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, in-home care with a home health aide averages $6,292 a month, while care in a nursing home averages $8,669 for a semi-private room.

• Concerns that common home hazards could result in falls or other injuries were noted by 75% of our respondents.
• Overburdened family caregivers may face burnout when managing their loved one's home care — 98% of our survey responses said that a dementia diagnosis affected their well-being. 
• Memory care may be unnecessary if the senior is in the early stages of the disease, making it an extra unneeded expense when the senior would be just as happy and safe at home.

There are also pros and cons for the more than 20% of dementia patients receiving care in facilities. Our poll, which featured responses from 1,000 dementia caregivers, helps to shine a light on the reasons why some felt more comfortable with their loved ones receiving care in trusted facilities. The list below covers some benefits and drawbacks respondents shared with us.

• Memory care facilities feature a range of healthcare professionals who are likely to be skilled at working with dementia patients — the second most common reason for choosing this option, according to survey respondents.
• Unlike homes, memory care facilities are likely to feature adjustments such as grab bars in bathrooms and ramps that allow seniors to easily navigate the space.
• Memory care facilities allow residents to develop a network of friends with similar ages and experiences.

• In our survey, 17% of responses related to the quality of care and potential for elder abuse in a facility.
• Memory care typically costs more than in-home care, although payment options may be available.

You can take several steps over time to create a safe home for your loved one. Begin by removing hazards such as loose rugs and sharp objects. Install safety devices such as locks on cabinets and stove knobs if necessary. Simple and graphic signage can help seniors remain oriented and know the locations of important items, like kitchen tools. 

Make sure there is excellent lighting throughout the home, and install grab bars in bathrooms and any other location where they might be helpful. Make up a list of emergency numbers and keep them in a visible location.

People with dementia can benefit from a simplified, consistent daily schedule. Remaining consistent can help reduce anxiety and ensure that they complete daily tasks such as bathing, eating, and taking medicines. 

A daily checklist or to-do list may help. Remove clutter from throughout the home and add written reminders where they might be helpful. For example, you can add a note inside the front door that reminds them to put on a coat and bring their keys and wallet.

Nutrition can be especially important if you see your senior start to lose weight or appear dehydrated. Ensure that there is a steady supply of easy-to-prepare food that your loved one likes in the house. Leave bottled water in obvious locations where your family member is likely to spend time. 

Keep place settings simple, and consider using white plates with a contrasting color mat so that the food stands out. Finger foods, such as chicken nuggets or cut-up vegetables, may be appreciated. Regularly monitor your loved one while eating to ensure they are receiving nutrition and are not having issues with swallowing or choking.

Your senior in the early stages of dementia will benefit from staying active in mind and body. Activities that they have always enjoyed — cooking, for example, gardening, or doing puzzles — may still interest them, and caregivers should encourage their participation. 

Dementia may lead loved ones to withdraw from friends and family, but encourage them to visit with others if they are comfortable doing so. Joint activities are also welcome, such as looking through photo albums together or asking them stories about their life. Activities that are fairly short, repetitive, and easy to follow may offer the best options.

People with dementia benefit from simple, clear communication. Make sure your loved one is comfortable and in a quiet, calm environment when initiating discussions. Remember that it may take them longer to fully understand what you are saying to them. Give them plenty of time to respond to your questions, and avoid interrupting them. 

There's no need to talk to them as if they were a child, but short, simple sentences spoken in a clear voice are best. Allow your loved one to set the pace of the conversation, and avoid asking too many questions or discussing more than one idea at a time. Don't get angry at them if they fail to understand. You may feel frustrated, of course, but try not to show it in your interactions.

At some point, you may feel that your loved one needs more care than you can provide. If you are feeling overwhelmed, know that you are not alone. There are many home care services available for those in need and several ways to pay for that care. 

Home care assistance often falls into two general categories: people who help with household and other chores and those who assume some medical care responsibilities. According to the Genworth Cost of Care Survey, the median monthly cost for homemaker services in the U.S., assuming 44 hours of care a week, is $4,720. 

A trained home health aide, meanwhile, who may also undertake tasks such as medicine management, costs $6,292 monthly. Your own costs are likely to differ, depending on where you live and the work that the aide does.

If your loved one simply needs someone to keep an eye on them, possibly driving them to appointments, doing their shopping, and spending time with them, a companion care or homemaker provider may be sufficient. These individuals can help patients stay connected and handle household tasks that might be challenging. 

Home health care/skilled care providers, on the other hand, may offer assistance with medical devices or medications, management of chronic conditions, and skilled nursing services. In some cases, they may be 24-hour live-in aides. You may also have several providers supplied by an agency who collaborate to provide round-the-clock services.

Dementia is a progressive disease with symptoms that vary among patients. For those in the early stages of the disease, living at home can be a good option that helps them to stay engaged, grounded, and content in a familiar setting. For caregivers, there can be challenges to helping your loved one negotiate their illness, but help of various kinds is available. For many seniors, this help, along with the aid of their caregivers, can help them to live a happy and fulfilling life in their own homes.

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