Companion Care Services in Matanuska-Susitna Alaska Help Solo Family Caregivers with Dementia Care

While an incredible number of older adults are struggling with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease, an even greater number of family members are trying to cope with caring for them. Surprisingly, nearly 75% of family care providers are managing their older loved ones’ dementia care needs on their own, with only 26% seeking professional care services.

Of course, families want to do all they can in order to satisfy their loved ones’ needs, but dementia caregiving can bring about an extremely high level of both mental and physical stress. This takes a toll on the caretakers' own overall health over time, specifically once the disease progresses. And a lot of family members believe there is an all-or-nothing approach: either oversee their senior loved one's needs at home, or face moving her or him into residential care.

Midnight Sun Home Care however, offers a solution that is beneficial to seniors with dementia as well as their family caregivers: the addition of a skilled in-home dementia caregiver to provide as much or as little respite care as needed. Here’s why we believe that dementia care at home is most beneficial:

• Highly skilled care. Because our care providers are both trained and experienced in the many detailed components of Alzheimer’s disease and other kinds of dementia, they are in a position to proactively handle and more effectively manage even the most challenging of behaviors, such as wandering, aggression, sundowning, and others.
• Improved safety. The possibility of accidents is elevated for persons with dementia. Even something as seemingly straightforward as helping your senior loved one into the shower or onto the toilet can add a dangerous fall risk. Professional care providers know exactly how to watch out for and prevent falls, keeping both you and your family member safe from personal injury.
• Sustainable aging in place. Sometimes, family caregivers become so stressed out trying to meet every one of a senior loved one’s needs in combination with their own that a move to a residential dementia care facility looks inevitable. However, partnering with a skilled dementia care provider opens up the possibility of long-term, effective care in the home.
• Peace of mind. Knowing your family member is in skilled hands allows you to take a good deep breath, relax, and step away from the pressures of caregiving for the necessary breaks that decrease stress as well and reduce caregiver burnout and depression.

It is advisable to explore in-home dementia care possibilities as early in the disease as you can to allow for a more seamless transition and also to be sure that your loved one has the best care from the start. To learn more about companion care services in Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska contact us at (907) 677-7890 to inquire about a consultation in the comfort of home. We will work with you to establish a highly customized plan of care which will maximize wellbeing for your senior loved one today, and as needs change in the future.