Denver Alzheimers Adult Care | Colorado Alzheimer’s Treatment

Questions on Alzheimer's Disease and on Dementia

My mother’s doctor says that she has Alzheimer’s; how can I be sure this is the correct diagnosis?
Although
there isn’t a definitive way to diagnose Alzheimer’s; the diagnosis is
usually made through the process of elimination. A comprehensive
evaluation of your loved ones' condition can provide the information
needed to make the diagnosis. Not all doctors are experts in the
diagnosing and managing of the disease. You should feel comfortable in
seeking a second opinion from a doctor with an expertise in dementia.

There is a family history of Alzheimer’s disease. Is it inevitable that I will also be afflicted with this disease?
No.
The disease has not been shown to correspond to known patterns of
inheritance. The disease has only been recognized for about a decade,
so definitive research on families is just beginning.

My
mother has, on occasion, gotten lost on her way home from the store and
often does not remember to take her medication on time. The doctor says
I should look into finding more care for her. What choices are there? I
don’t want to see her in a nursing home or some other large
institutionalized environment.
There are several alternatives.
Contracting with a home health agency for an in-home caregiver, Elder
Day Care, Assisted Living complexes or smaller homes are available.
Advantages to using a home health agency are that your mother is able
to stay in her own home. If memory loss is an issue, there is some
question as to how important being in her home really is. It may be
more important for the family. Disadvantages are the need to monitor
the agency for reliability and compassion in caring for your mother’s
special needs. You want someone who has training in dementia care and
management, and who is licensed to administer medication. You would
also need to modify the home to meet her new security needs. This care
is usually very expensive, especially if you are in need of 24-hour
care.
If you need supervision for your mother while you are at work,
an Elder Day Care center may meet your needs. They provide organized
programs of activities as well as the opportunity to socialize with
others. The challenge is finding one that is convenient to your hours
and location.
If you are interested in twenty-four hour care, an
assisted living arrangement may be a more cost-effective alternative.
The large assisted living complexes can have over a hundred rooms and
have the feel of a hotel or apartment complex.
These are more
appropriate for someone who still has a high level of functioning. The
frustration of your loved one being lost in their own place of
residence could still be present for your loved one. Another issue to
keep in mind is the high resident-to-staff ratio.
The smaller
assisted living homes may better suit your needs. These homes have five
to six residents per certified caregiver to care for your mother. The
resident-to-staff-ratio is very low and allows individualized care
twenty-four hours a day.
Make sure that the home specializes in
dementia care and is secured for the wandering resident. These
caregivers should be trained to use specific techniques to provide an
emotionally safe environment for your mother.
I have heard of so-called locked facilities. It sounds very institutional, but my dad needs the security for his safety.

What does it mean to be in a "secured home" and will it seem like a jail to my dad and the rest of our family?
Usually
these terms refer to a home built and licensed to provide specialized
dementia care. Always ask what the home means by "secured home". You
want a place that has secured doors, and yards as well as a staff
educated to understand the emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects
of dementia. The home should also provide emotional security – knowing
someone is just a call away if they fall, get sick, or just want to
talk. The homes that provide residents with individual attention offer
plenty of diverse activities and look for individual ways to control
behavior will enhance the quality of life for your loved one. Golden
Orchard homes are just that: a house laid out to provide safe and
comfortable living.
If a place uses drugs and restraints to secure residents, look elsewhere.

According
to the doctor, my mother has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. She seems
to become very agitated and confused when we are out in public and
around large groups of people. What can I do to help her feel more at
ease? Are there any places that are smaller and more home-like that can
care for her needs?
Experts equate having Alzheimer’s to being
like a visitor in a foreign land. Every day is a new world they don’t
understand, and they must try to cope in it. Persons with dementia have
three areas of deficits: memory, judgment and orientation. These three
deficits lead to loss of ability in five other areas: self care,
attention, language, recognition and motor skills. Your mother’s
agitation is a sign of distress. She may not remember or recognize the
place, the people, or understand the words she hears. Her daily routine
may have been disrupted. Reality orientation does not work with people
who have dementia. Instead, try to understand her feelings and comfort
those feelings. You may need to remove her from the area to ease her
distress. Become aware of your mother’s signals to communicate her
needs. As dementia progresses, she can’t always communicate her needs
in the obvious manner.
Assisted living homes designated to the care
of dementia residents would probably serve your mother well. She will
need care and attention from a staff trained in dementia care to
anticipate her needs by understanding her body language, facial
expression and tone of voice. They can also help establish a daily
routine and/or simplify tasks for her. All of these techniques will
help her feel more safe and comfortable.

Are there any medications that can cure Alzheimer’s or slow down the process?
At
this time there isn’t a cure for Alzheimer’s. However, there are
several medications and natural supplements that are believed to slow
down the progress of the disease. Much research is being performed and
hopefully in the near future there can be more help.

My
mother was a very active person before the onset of Alzheimer’s. I
can’t seem to get her interested in doing anything. Most of her old
hobbies seem too much for to handle. Does Golden Orchard provide
activities and how do they get residents to participate?
People
want to do things that feel good physically and emotionally. Your
mother may not be able to concentrate on her old hobbies or her motor
skill deficit may hinder her ability to perform the tasks necessary to
be successful. Golden Orchard does provide activities for their
residents. Besides specific techniques to motivate your mother, the
staff can determine what activities best meet her level of functioning.
Thus, she can feel successful. The specially trained staff can also
determine if other factors are causing problems and manage accordingly.
The low resident-to-staff ratio at Golden Orchard allows the staff the
time to become well acquainted with your mother, to learn her agenda
and to honor it as much as possible.

My dad is on several
different medications and has three doctors. I can’t possibly keep up
with all the changes in his medications or make certain that he takes
them on time. How do I know if he moves into an assisted living home
that this will all be taken care of?
Visit the home and request
to see how medications are handled. Make sure the caregiver is careful
to administer and oversee medications. The staff at Golden Orchard is
able to provide the skills and communication necessary to monitor your
dad’s medications with all the physicians.

Corporate Information and Contact Information

P.O.Box 365
Castle Rock, CO 80104
(303) 795-0784
(303) 660-1456 Fax
www.goldenorchard.com

Assisted Living Home Locations

850 & 890 East Orchard Road
Littleton,CO 80121

3510 Holland Street
Wheatridge, CO 80033

Many new facilities planned in Colorado and other States.

*Note: some of the facilities may not offer all services listed in this informational packet.
We invite you to come by and visit our homes.Call us for more information or to set up a tour.