4 Questions Caregivers May Have About Alzheimer’s Disease

There are so many things to know when an older family member is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and you become a family caregiver. All of the questions swimming through your head may be overwhelming. In fact, there could be so much to know when you first become a caregiver that you might not know where to start. Below are 4 common questions that family caregivers often have about Alzheimer’s disease.

1: What is the life expectancy of someone with Alzheimer’s disease?

How long someone lives with Alzheimer’s disease after being diagnosed differs from one person to the next. Typically, older adults live from 3 to 11 years after being diagnosed. However, some people have lived for 20 years or longer. When a person with Alzheimer’s disease dies, the cause is often pneumonia caused by aspiration, dehydration, malnutrition, injuries due to a fall, or infections.

2: Should the older adult remain at home or would a memory care facility be better?

The answer to this question depends on a lot of things, such as the availability of family members to act as caregivers and the financial situation. In response to a survey conducted by AARP, 87 percent of older adults indicated they wanted to continue living at home as they age. Your older family member may feel the same way. And, it can help to keep them in an environment they are familiar with. One way to accomplish allowing the senior to remain at home for as long as possible is to contact a home care agency to hire professional caregivers to assist with their care. Professional caregivers can come to the senior’s home to assist them with all sorts of daily tasks and ensure they remain safe.

3: Could an older adult with Alzheimer’s disease hurt themselves or others?

There are certainly some challenging behaviors that can occur with Alzheimer’s disease and you will need to take steps to keep your aging relative safe at home. People with Alzheimer’s disease may wander away from home and get lost. They may also become agitated or aggressive. These kinds of behaviors can pose a risk to their safety and the safety of caregivers. However, if you take steps to safety proof the house, learn how to respond to challenging behaviors, and ensure the older adult has someone with them at all times, you can prevent accidents and injuries.

4: Does Alzheimer’s disease run in families?

It’s natural to worry about whether you or other family members might also develop the disease. The truth is that having a sibling or parent with Alzheimer’s does increase the risk of getting it. If you’re concerned about your risks for Alzheimer’s, talk to your doctor about how you may be able to reduce other risk factors.

Sources

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/in-depth/alzheimers-stages/art-20048448
https://www.aarp.org/livable-communities/info-2014/livable-communities-facts-and-figures.html
https://www.alz.org/media/Documents/alzheimers-dementia-unpredictable-behaviors-b.pdf

If you or an aging loved one are considering caregivers in Manalapan, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care Serving Somerset and Middlesex/Union Counties today. Call (732) 607-8870.