Hiring Help for Alzheimer's

It may seem to you as though taking care of a person with Alzheimer's disease requires a never-ending series of decisions. One of the most sensitive decisions is whether you should hire someone to provide all or some of the care. This becomes complicated by the fact that the person with Alzheimer's may say he does not see the need for more care, or may not want to be taken care of by a stranger. The family caregiver may also feel uncomfortable about hiring an outsider to provide care that he or she was previously giving. A variety of feelings, ranging from guilt to mistrust, together with practical issues such as finding the right person and figuring out how to pay for the service, further complicate taking this step.

Your family may have differing perspectives about what care is needed and who should provide it. However, as the disease progresses it is almost always necessary for more than one person to take care of the person with Alzheimer's, and if family resources are not available, ultimately a professional caregiver will be needed at least some of the time.

If you belong to a support group you may have heard others talk about their emotional reactions to finding and working with paid help and bringing another person into their homes. The local chapter of the Alzheimer's Association or a counselor may be able to help you work out a care plan with which you feel comfortable.

You can also find good local resources through your local Area Agency on Aging.