When an elderly loved one has Alzheimer’s Disease, there are often many other health considerations that need to be taken into account other than just dementia. For example, a recent study found that the use of Benzodiazepines and other drugs of similar nature increased the risk of stroke in those with Alzheimer’s Disease by about 20 percent. This is significant because prior to this, Benzodiazepines were not known to have any sort of impact on cerebrovascular health. The observations found in this study still needs more confirmation, but if this is the case, it indicates that Alzheimer’s patients are at a greater risk of other health issues than once thought.
Researchers were careful to exclude data that might be swayed by those already experiencing cardiovascular illness, giving the research a bit more authority. Valium is perhaps the best known drug in this class, and it is often used to help with psychiatric conditions like anxiety. Over 40,000 cases were looked at in this study out of the University of Eastern Finland.
This can be extremely overwhelming for a family caregiver, simply because there is so much to do and remember, and most family caregivers do not have the medical training or background to adequately deal with the issues that can arise when helping a parent out. If an emergency were to happen, do you think that you could appropriately help your mom or dad until they could get to a hospital? If you answer this question honestly, you might find that you do not yet have the training to give your parent the best care possible. Sadly, a lot of people don’t ever ask themselves this question. Hopefully this is not a situation you will ever find yourself in, but if you do you want to be prepared.
This is why considering the care of a professional in-home care specialist is something that almost everyone providing family care should do. Now we know that in-home care isn’t right for everyone, and oftentimes a family caregiver is more than enough to address the needs of your loved one. Senior care of any type costs money, and a lot of times it is far more beneficial to a family to keep the burden of care within the family. But we also know that situations change or you just might need a break for a week or two. Looking at a professional care service, especially one that provides respite care for when you do need those breaks, can go a long way toward improving the safety of your elderly mom or dad and take the bulk of the burden of providing constant care, comfort, and companionship for your parent off of your shoulders.
If you live in the Bay Area and find yourself in a situation where this might help you, call Paradise In-Home Care today to schedule a free consultation. From there, we can let you know whether in-home care can help you and your family with the difficult task of assisting a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or another type of dementia.
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