Dementia

Picture how it would feel to wake up in an unfamiliar place, unable to remember how you got there or even what your name is. Complete confusion swiftly turns into fear and anger, and you may find yourself lashing out at the stranger standing beside your bed, speaking to you in a soft voice.

This scenario paints a bleak and sadly accurate picture of an Alzheimer’s patient’s reality. Now imagine standing in front of a person you love, and having that person look at you with no recognition whatsoever. Each day your heart breaks a little bit more, but you push through the pain and go on with your caregiving duties for your loved one with Alzheimer’s.

According to the latest report from Alzheimer’s Association, a whopping 17.7 billion hours of care are provided by family caregivers each year to those with … Read More »

Being able to get out of the house and go where we want on a whim is a freedom many of us have long enjoyed and may even take for granted. Driving represents much more than just a daily routine; it symbolizes both competence and independence. And, it can be an incredibly hard activity to give up.

The need for sustained concentration and quick reaction time tends to decline as we age, and for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, this process accelerates dramatically, making it difficult for loved ones to know when it’s time for the senior to stop driving and find alternate transportation options.

The Warning Signs

Because Alzheimer’s disease has an impact on reasoning skills, your loved one may resist the idea of giving up driving, so it’s often up to family caregivers to determine when the … Read More »

Caught in ACTION!

I popped into Vintage Sonoma unannounced to do a visit with Julie Slaton’s client. Upon arrival they were in the lobby enjoying popcorn and having a great conversation. Julie was dressed in her Hired Hands Scrub and Badge. She interacted with the staff and client with great professionalism!

The Staff at Vintage Sonoma appreciate Julie’s attentiveness and professional appearance. She is always on time and keeps her client entertained and calm while in the lobby with other residents. They brought us on board to assist client for safety because she has tried multiple times to leave the building.  Julie has been successful at keeping client in the building and participating in facility activities.

Julie, THANKS for Shining like a Star!
Melissa W, Homecare Manager

Hired Hands Homecare is proud to present Cathy Wadleigh.  Ms. Wadleigh is an LVN, PAC Certified Trainer, and group facilitator specializing in grief recovery and family transition.

Informative sessions focusing on helping families and individuals adjusting to living with Alzheimer’s and Dementia will be held at the Hired Hands Homecare Pleasanton office on the first and third Tuesday of the month, with two sessions 11:30-1pm, and 4:30-6pm.

For more information, please contact Cathy at 925-413-2080, or email her at Cathy@AssistanceWithAging.com.

When caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, it’s natural to want to do everything for the person to minimize feelings of frustration – both for your loved one and for yourself. However, it’s in everyone’s best interest for the person with Alzheimer’s to maintain self-worth and dignity by managing tasks as independently as possible. Try these tips to enhance your loved one’s independence:

Allow extra time. Try not to let the issue of time guide the decision on whether or not to take over a task. If your loved one with Alzheimer’s has the ability to perform the task himself, allow the extra time needed and provide encouragement and positive reinforcement along the way.
Break it down. Taking a larger task and separating it into small, simple steps can change it from insurmountable to possible. For example, break down the … Read More »

Understanding the complexities of Alzheimer’s is challenging, to say the least. Since it impacts each person uniquely, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to providing care. However, there are some broad similarities that can be categorized into three stages:

Beginning Stage:

This stage of the disease can last for years.
Your loved one may experience some changes in thinking and learning abilities, which may not be detectable to others without daily contact.

What you can do:

Be a care advocate for your loved one, providing emotional support and encouragement.
Help plan for the future:

Discuss care setting desires (home, assisted living, hospice) and identify care providers.
Research support groups.
Discuss end of life care requests.

Provide memory prompts and personal organization assistance when needed.
Provide assistance with money management or hire a professional to assist.
Establish a regular daily routine.
Help your loved one to stay healthy and engaged in what he or she loves … Read More »

It may start out as subtle little nuances that are barely noticeable – Mom begins experiencing slight memory lapses and forgetfulness, occasionally misplacing the keys or phone – but perhaps there’s enough of a change in her behavior to make you wonder: could it be Alzheimer’s? Here are ten red flags to be on the lookout for:

Congrats Darlene! Caregiver of the Month, May 2014 Hired Hands Pleasanton

Darlene came on board with Hired Hands Pleasanton in September 2013. Since joining our team she has work ed with several of our clients. Most recently she has been working with a client who has Lewy Body Dementia. Darlene has made such an impact not only with the client but with the client’s family as well. The client’s daughter-in-law said “Darlene is great! She takes control and gets things done.”
Darlene you are really GREAT!
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.
~The Hired Hands Homecare Team

   Marvin “Ken” J. started with Hired Hands Pleasanton November 2013. He is currently working with 2 clients and is remarkable!!! One client resides at an Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Center and the staff there have noticed a great change in the client since Ken started. They recently said “We are so pleased to have Ken. He is a gem, and she is really happy. Thank you so much for sending him to us”.

Thank you Ken for all you do!

This week, an interesting story aired on NPR regarding how researchers are discovering how different types of light affect people.  What’s most impressive is how they’re using their findings, and applying them for helping Alzheimer’s patients and seniors.  Both the interview and the transcript can be found here.