What Kind of Home Care Assistance Is Available for an Alzheimer’s Patient?

The kinds of home care assistance available for an Alzheimer’s patient include skilled nursing care, homemaker services such as cooking and cleaning, help with personal care and other activities of daily living and companionship care for help with recreation and socialization. It can also include respite care for family caregivers. People who have Alzheimer’s receive a combination of home care services, depending on their individual needs.

Many professionals provide home care for people who have Alzheimer’s disease. Your loved one’s care team could include a personal companion who offers social interaction and supervision, a home health aide who provides housekeeping services or help with activities of daily living or a certified nursing assistant who provides skilled nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse. Community resources such as the Area Agency on Aging help families find home care providers.

Home care benefits people with Alzheimer’s disease by providing companionship, practical assistance, skilled nursing care and social support. It allows individuals to remain in a familiar, comfortable home setting and maintain a regular routine, which improves their quality of life and helps them feel more confident and independent.

Home care supports the ability to age in place, a priority for almost 90% of adults aged 50 and older. This arrangement is often more affordable than an assisted living community or nursing home.

Someone with Alzheimer’s disease needs residential care if it becomes unsafe for them to live at home, even with the help of family caregivers. In this case, a memory care community, assisted living facility or nursing home could be the appropriate setting, depending on the required level of care. However, many people who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia never move to a residential care facility. They receive the necessary care at home as they age in place.