Dementia

Even with the help of support services, meeting the needs of the person with Alzheimer's disease can be overwhelming. At some point, you may want to consider alternate caregiving options.
Depending upon where you live, housing options may include supportive living, group homes, retirement residences or long-term care facilities. Programs for the person with the disease may also be available, such as, Adult Day Programs. Referral services (www.uselderguide.com) will have information on what services are available in your area. You may also find that, in some communities, the choice may be limited. In making your decision, try to remain flexible and keep in mind the needs of the person with Alzheimer's disease.
When looking at caregiving options, it is important to remember that there are no right or wrong choices. Each caregiver will make a decision based on what is best for everyone concerned -- at that time. For some, the decision will be to continue caregiving at home or in your community. For others, the choice will be made to transfer care to a long-term care facility.
Learning more about the disease and being able to talk about your feelings can often help to clarify your decision. Alzheimer's disease will require full-time caregiving and you can't do it alone. Your support network of friends, family or an Alzheimer support group can be especially important during this time.
If you decide to continue caregiving at home, you will need to have the necessary support. In-home respite services, a home care worker or visiting nurse can provide you with relief from caregiving tasks. At the same time, you will want to consider enlisting additional support for day-to-day chores such as housekeeping, laundry and home maintenance.
If you decide to transfer the person's care to a Long-Term care facility, there are a number of things you can do to make this decision easier -- both for you and for the person with the disease.