Even though many seniors who have memory loss do not have any physical disabilities or limitations, they may be unable to live independently. Memory loss can be the result of neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, stroke, traumatic brain injuries, and severe infections. It can also occur as a result of medication side effects, depression, and the normal aging process. If your senior loved one has memory loss and is unable to take care of themselves, consider the following benefits that a home health care professional can provide.

Daily Hygiene Tasks 

Severe memory loss can prevent individuals from performing their daily hygiene tasks such as bathing, combing their hair, and brushing their teeth. They may have forgotten how to accomplish these tasks or they may not understand that these are necessary things that need to be done in order to stay healthy.

Depending on the extent of your senior loved one's cognitive deficits, the home health professional can simply offer the person prompts and cues and provide minimal assistance, or do the tasks for the person if they are severely mentally incapacitated. With consistent cueing and encouragement from the caregiver,  many seniors with memory loss may eventually be able to perform their daily hygiene tasks unassisted. 

Medication Monitoring

When prescription medication doses are missed or if too much medication has been taken, it can lead to severe health consequences. People with memory loss may forget to take their medications or they may even take another dose because they have forgotten that they already took a dose. The healthcare provider can make sure that your senior loved one has taken their medications, however, if the person is unable to self-administer their prescriptions, the caregiver will administer the medications.

For those with profound memory loss, home caregivers can place the pill on the person's tongue and hold a glass of water for them while they drink from a straw. The caregiver can then check the senior's mouth to make sure that they have not pocketed the medication between their cheek and back teeth instead of swallowing it. Memory loss can be so severe that people can forget how to swallow.

If your aging loved one has cognitive deficits and memory loss and is not safe living alone, contact a home health care agency to find out how they can help. Once you have gathered enough information, you can set up an at-home "get acquainted" meeting so that your loved one can feel comfortable with their new home health provider.

Share