Home Care for Severe Alzheimer's in Bethesda, MD

For Home Care in Kensington, Maryland (301) 588-0859

Learning that your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease can be overwhelming, especially if you are unfamiliar with this disease and what to expect as it progresses. Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, and symptoms worsen over time –- including memory loss, confusion, disorientation and even aggressive behavior. BrightStar Care in Kensington offers Alzheimer’s home care services for assistance with personal care tasks during any stage. Health care professionals have defined the different stages of Alzheimer’s and described some of the common symptoms and behaviors associated with each. The first two stages show few signs of dementia, or symptoms that are commonly attributed to aging such as misplacing car keys or forgetting an appointment. During stage 3, mild cognitive decline, patients are still generally able to perform their activities of daily living (ADL's). Symptoms often include forgetfulness, memory loss, disorientation while driving, problems managing finances (balancing a checkbook, for example), loss of concentration, misplacing items, and asking the same questions repeatedly. By the moderate decline of stage 4, Alzheimer's disease symptoms are apparent and include:

• Forgetting details about their life history
• Having poor short term memory
• Forgetting the month
• Problems cooking or ordering food

At stage 5, moderately severe decline, many individuals require some assistance in their completing their daily personal care tasks. Symptoms for this stage include:

• Increased memory loss (including the inability to remember personal details, such as address or phone number)
• Inability to dress or perform personal hygiene tasks without prompting

By stage 6, patients tend to lose awareness of where they are and can forget the names of even the people closest to them. Personality changes can occur during this stage, and can include delusions, moodiness, paranoia, and suspicion. Patients may start to sleep more during the day, and can even wander around at night. Other symptoms can include:

• Need for assistance with activities of daily living
• Inability to recognize faces
• Loss of bladder and/or bowel control

During the final stage of Alzheimer's disease, many basic abilities will fade, including loss of language skills and muscle control, and the ability to eat. A registered nurse from BrightStar Care in Kensington will complete a home health assessment to determine the appropriate level of care for each patient. Our Alzheimer’s care providers assist with daily personal care activities, ensure safety from home hazards and wandering, and strive to provide a calm, reassuring environment. Safety and comfort are the highest priorities of BrightStar Care, no matter what stage of Alzheimer’s your loved one is experiencing.

For more information about in-home Alzheimer’s care from BrightStar Care in Kensington, call (301) 588-0859.