Right at Home offers in-home care for Alzheimer’s patients
Although Alzheimer’s disease progresses differently for every patient, Rebecca McCarthy of Right at Home is very sure that no one person can be responsible for an Alzheimer’s patient all alone.
“No one can do it 24/7,” she said, “It will break a person.”
Even if it’s only a short respite every now and then, a caregiver will need help at some point.
Right At Home is a national company that provides in-home caregivers. McCarthy, the director of the local office, says many of her clients are dealing with some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s.
She was drawn into the field when her mother-in-law was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. It’s never an easy diagnosis, she said.
In fact, the only way to be certain about Alzheimer’s is to study the brain of a deceased patient. In her mother-in-law’s case, the initial diagnosis was stress resulting from the death of her husband. After two years, the doctors were finally ready to recognize Alzheimer’s.
Although there are stages to the disease, everyone progresses differently. Some patients in stage 2 may become combative and angry. Others may simply withdraw — pretending to be following conversations that they don’t actually understand.
It’s difficult for a loved one, especially a spouse, to understand as the patient begins to lose the ability to do the simple tasks they have always done. One way to
help an Alzheimer’s patient is to stick to the routine. Most patients do better if they can stay in their own environment.
That’s why McCarthy’s first step is a full assessment. Safety is always an important concern. Eventually, the patient will reach the point where they can not be left home alone.
Music is one way that a caregiver may be able to reach a patient with dementia. Playing the right music may bring back memories and that may help them to communicate, she said. Or, helping them with a task that is familiar, like stirring the batter for cookies, can help.
“They need to do those things until the day that they can’t,” McCarthy said.
When a family is faced with the difficult decisions about an elderly relative, McCarthy sometimes suggests a nannycam. That way the family can reassure themselves that their loved one is safe, and they can see how the disease may be progressing.
One of the first red flags is nutrition, McCarthy said. An elderly person may find cooking and eating a healthy diet is just too much trouble. They may reach for a few cookies rather than make themselves a meal. She also asks about changes in exercise patterns since that’s another life skill that may be lost.
Once an assessment is complete, McCarthy works with the family to develop a plan. The plan may include professional caregivers.
In Arkansas, caregivers receive mandatory training, but the most important thing, McCarty said, is finding people who care.
Most of her employees stay with the company long-term, she said, and she’s often involved in client care as well.
“I love to cook for clients,” she said. “My goal is to make them smile, even if it’s just for right now.”