Patient-Centered Dementia Care
Dementia can be devasting for the people who live with it, and for their family members. It’s a problem more and more of us will face, as either patients or caregivers, as the U.S. population ages. The older a person gets, the greater their likelihood of developing Alzheimer’s disease, the leading cause of dementia. At least one in 10 people over 65 has Alzheimer’s, as do at least one-third of people 85 and older.
Interim HealthCare’s dementia program is designed to address the specific needs and concerns of dementia patients and their families through every stage of dementia. Our goal: To help individuals with dementia live safely and comfortably, with meaning and dignity, and provide families with much-needed support and peace of mind.
In order to provide the most supportive environment possible, certification in the Teepa Snow Positive Approach® to Care philosophy is offered to our caregivers and clinicians so they can leverage specialized training techniques in order to implement the complex care that’s needed. The approach emphasizes what patients can do instead of what they can’t. As part of their PAC training, our personal care and support services professionals are taught to encourage customized daily activities — often inspired by former hobbies and interests — that deliver meaning, provide a sense of accomplishment and spark moments of joy.
As dementia progresses, we pledge to preserve dignity and provide comfort while meeting evolving needs with skill, patience and compassion. Our care is tailored to each stage of brain change according to the GEMS® dementia classification model so we can meet people where they are on their dementia pathway and adjust activities and interactions based on their current abilities, as well as the challenges they’re facing. Some of the challenges our professionals are trained to address include:
- Hearing changes
- Decline of self-care abilities
- Personality changes
- Anger, aggression, frustration and anxiety
- Changing taste buds and nutritional needs
- Sundowning
- Wandering
Dementia is complicated. But thanks to specialized training and experience, our care providers are experts in keeping individuals living with it safe and comfortable and treating them with the respect they deserve. Our dementia care program spans all of our care services, which include skilled home health services, personal care and support services and hospice care. For many people in the early and middle stages of dementia, personal care and support services can enable them to live at home, in comfortable, familiar surroundings. These services include help with daily activities of living (such as dressing, bathing, meal preparation and light housekeeping), medication reminders and transportation to doctor appointments.
Dementia can be frightening and frustrating for everyone involved. The emotional and physical toll it takes on family members can be heavy. If you’re caring for a loved one with dementia, in person or from a distance, remember: You don’t have to go it alone. For help, click here to find the Interim HealthCare location nearest you.