Your dad wants to age at home, even after he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. As you’ve watched his cognitive skills decline, you’ve stayed by his side providing the care he needs. But, he needs more care now than you can manage because his care needs are medically necessary. When you can’t manage to provide all of the care your dad needs, it’s okay to admit you need someone to help out. Focus on the care tasks you can manage. Have you looked into home health care services and the help nurses offer?
IVs and Injections Administered by Home Heal Care Providers
One of the bigger issues in the late stage of Alzheimer’s disease is delusions and paranoia. It can lead to your dad lashing out with physical violence. Medications are regularly administered to lower the risk of your dad hurting himself or others.
The medication his memory care team recommends depends on what he’s taken in the past. Sometimes, the best medications for delusions and paranoia are injected or given as an oral medication at specific intervals. Skilled nurses can manage injectable medications.
IVs are another service home health care nurses can help with. Your dad may develop an infection that requires IV medications. He might break a bone and need IV pain medications. IV lines are easily inserted, removed, and managed in the comfort of his home.
Wound Care
Eventually, your dad will need a wheelchair. Sitting in the same position or laying in bed all day requires careful attention to his skin. Sores on pressure points are common. If he develops bedsores and pressure point sores, wound care is essential for infection prevention.
Wound care requires careful cleansing of the skin. The application of protective ointments and bandages is also essential. Daily checks of the sores are also needed to ensure infection is not starting.
Vitals/Health Monitoring
In the late stages of the disease, more attention is paid to your dad’s weight loss, blood pressure, pulse, and oxygen saturation. You might be able to do some of this on your own if you have the equipment. You don’t have the training to understand what it means.
Skilled nurses can track your dad’s vital signs, and alert your dad’s doctors to concerning changes. They understand what blood pressure readings are concerning. If an O2 saturation isn’t good, skilled nurses know what corrective steps to take.
Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy
As Alzheimer’s progresses, your dad’s balance worsens. His speech is going to slip away. He’ll struggle to find the right words to explain what he feels or needs.
Working with occupational, physical, and speech therapists helps him maintain as many skills as he can. Instead of stressing him by taking him from his home and bringing him to an unfamiliar office, have his therapists come to him. With home health care services, this is possible.
Talk to a specialist about home health care services to better understand the services and visit frequencies that match your dad’s needs. Find out more about beneficial home health care services like injectable medications, wound care, and catheter care during this call.
If you or a family member need to hire Home Health Care Services in Massapequa NY, or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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