Hospice care is typically associated with ailments like cancer or heart failure. These diseases are life-limiting illnesses that may not have any further viable treatments. Dementia is also a life-limiting disease that takes a lot out of patients and their families. By the time a patient is reaching the final stages of dementia, having some expert help on hand makes a huge difference in managing symptoms and preserving quality of life as much as possible.
Challenges of Dementia
Dementia is a progressive disease that affects how a person’s brain functions. People with dementia aren’t able to think, use logic, or access memory in the same way that they used to before their dementia diagnosis. These are huge problems in the early stages of the illness, but they become much more difficult to manage in the latter stages. Because dementia is a progressive disease, it leads to an increased need for assistance and care. Patients eventually lose independence and may need a lot more care than expected.
Hospice Care Helps with Anticipating Needs
As dementia patients experience progression with both their dementia and other health issues, it becomes more difficult to communicate and to anticipate needs. Eventually, the condition becomes life-limiting and hospice care providers can make a huge difference. Pain and discomfort are common for people with dementia at the end of life, and they’re often unable to share their feelings. Caregivers know what to watch for and can put solutions in place.
Care Plans Are Customized
The most important part of hospice care is that the care plan for each patient is highly customized. Care providers work to assess what’s going on with each individual patient and work with the entire hospice team to put together a care plan that will be most effective. As needs change and as symptoms change, the plan is flexible as well.
Symptom Management Is a Big Deal
Managing symptoms effectively helps patients with dementia to feel safe, secure, and most importantly, comfortable in the later stages of their lives. There are physical symptoms and issues, like pain and trouble eating, but there are psychological and emotional needs as well. Hospice elder care providers understand the anxiety and other feelings that patients are likely to experience and they’re there to help.
Family Members Get Help, Too
Family members are also coping with a lot at the end of their loved one’s life. Hospice care teams are there for the entire family, offering respite assistance, bereavement help, and other resources that can make this difficult time easier to bear. When family members are able to rest and know that their senior is in good hands, they’re better able to cope with the changes that their entire family is experiencing.
Hospice care offers a personalized and complete approach to addressing the challenges that dementia patients and their families face at the end of life. The focus remains on addressing symptoms, relieving discomfort, and improving quality of life as much as possible at this stage.
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED-ONE IS CONSIDERING HOSPICE CARE IN NORTH TEXAS INCLUDING DALLAS, TX PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT ARDENT HOSPICE TODAY. 469-293-1515
My name is Jimmie Stapleton. I am the founder and CEO of Arcy Healthcare. Arcy Healthcare includes Arcy Hospice, Arcy Supportive Care, MaximaCare Home Health and Arcy at Home.
Arcy Hospice was opened in 2007 to provide care and support for individuals and families facing a life limiting illness. It was established after my wife Ellen, who had been diagnosed with breast cancer, had completed her chemo and radiation therapies. At that time, things were looking positive, and we wanted to do something for our community that had been so supportive of our family during her treatments. Unfortunately, the cancer returned a few years later, and she subsequently passed away under our care in 2010.
In the years that followed, I began to see the need to provide the same level of excellent care to patients across the continuum of care. Therefore, we have added a home health division (MaximaCare Home Health), a palliative care division (Arcy Supportive Care), and a home care division, (Arcy at Home). With the addition of these divisions, we can meet most of the post-acute care needs for you and your family in your home.
I started Arcy Hospice with my wife as my motivation to provide exceptional care and support in the patient’s home, where they are surrounded by family and where they feel most comfortable. I’m proud to say that our staff provides some of the best in home care in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area.
Please let us know if we can enrich the quality of life for you or a loved one.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Stapleton – Founder and CEO
Arcy Healthcare
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