During the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s disease, family caregivers may start to struggle to be around their parent each day. Don’t be ashamed if you realize you can’t do it. At this point, start looking into the benefits of having a trained Alzheimer’s care aide helping out each week.
Irritability and Anger Often Start Appearing
In Alzheimer’s mid-stages, anger, irritation, and anxiety often start to appear regularly. Your mom is fine one minute, but she suddenly is angry with you and fighting to get away from you. She tells you she hates you. She may even refuse to acknowledge you.
As the mental and physical abuse she starts to dish out is exhausting, you need to take breaks. She’ll be fine without you. Take a few days a week to let someone else help your mom while you spend time with family, friends, or even alone.
She Never Sleeps
Another aspect of the mid-stages of Alzheimer’s that can be difficult to manage is insomnia. Your mom is up until 2 a.m. for some reason, and you can’t leave her alone. As much as you need to sleep, she’s amped up and keeps trying to get outside.
When you finally get her to stay in bed, she’s awake again and full of energy just two hours later. You can’t function on that little sleep. Alzheimer’s care aides are essential, especially if they’ll work an overnight shift.
She’s Unable to Handle Grooming and Hygiene Tasks
In the middle stages of Alzheimer’s, your mom’s balance and depth perception may decrease. If she showers on her own, she falls. When it comes to washing her hair and body, she often uses the wrong product. You’ve caught her washing her hair with skin cream and applying body wash as a skin cream.
After toileting, your mom doesn’t clean up properly. She’s already had two UTIs, and her doctor said it’s time to have someone help her with toileting.
Make sure your mom has the support she needs with personal care. She’s not always going to cooperate, and that will frustrate you. An Alzheimer’s care aide can help her with personal care tasks including grooming and hygiene.
Your Mom Cannot Cook but an Alzheimer’s Care Aide Can
Even if your mom remembers the techniques she needs to cook a meal, she cannot be left alone to cook a meal. As cognitive skills diminish, it’s common to find a person starts cooking a meal and forgets about it. The risk of starting a fire is too great.
Someone needs to be around to cook meals for her. Plus, she’s going to start having difficulty using a fork or spoon, so her foods need to be cut up for her. Finger foods are ideal.
Hire Alzheimer’s care aides to help your mom. The mid-stages of Alzheimer’s can last years. It goes quicker in some than others, but you could find your mom in the mid-stages for upwards of four years. It’s a lot of time to try to do it all on your own. Hire specialists in Alzheimer’s care to help you.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Care Services in San Jose CA, please contact the caring staff at Alondra Home Care today. Call (855)-767-1110.
Providing Exceptional Home Care Services in the Fremont CA and Alameda County area for over 5 years.
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