Individuals living with Alzheimer’s Disease and advanced dementia often cannot report their symptoms—leaving them untreated and vulnerable to muscular and psychological pain and other distressing symptoms. This makes trying to navigate this devastating illness and ensure the wellbeing of a loved one difficult and heartbreaking. Caregivers often struggle alone as they try to handle all the physical and emotional issues that come with this disease.
Those coping with Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia face a challenging journey. Memory loss, confusion and difficulty making decisions are progressive over time often with the loss of body control eventually adding to these challenges. Coping with this disease can be frustrating, stressful, and lonely—especially for dementia caregivers. Many don’t realize that help is available and that their loved one could attain an improved quality of life with hospice. Hospice of South Texas provides unique care to those individuals living with advanced dementia and support, education and resources to their families.
Expert Care
The Hospice of South Texas team is trained in providing dementia related care and can help families cope with confusion, irritability and personality changes that can lead to additional stress and create distressing family dynamics.
We assess and treat dementia related symptoms such as anxiety, trouble sleeping and depression while supporting any coexisting conditions. We can help families establish daily routines, recognize what triggers troubling behavior, and recognize signs of distress. Our care is focused on improving quality of life for both patients and their families and ensuring comfort while reducing the burdens of this difficult illness. We can help manage difficult symptoms like Sundowners, confusion, anxiety and identify signs of discomfort when patients are no longer able to verbalize. We focus on ensuring the your loved one is comfortable and free of pain even when they are no longer able to communicate their needs. Our patient and family-centered care anticipates and manages needs early so you can feel more in control and prepared with solutions and support.
Help For Dementia Caregivers
Caring for a loved one with dementia can feel like you’re caught in an unending and unpredictable storm with nowhere to turn for shelter. We provide significant support to family caregivers through education, coping methods, resources and help with the duties of caregiving. Our nurses help manage symptoms, our CNAs provide practical help with grooming and bathing while our chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support and our social workers provide resources.
We also know that navigating medical jargon and numerous specialists can seem overwhelming. Our dedicated team will educate you about dementia, the disease process, and what to expect. We’ll give you the knowledge you need to feel empowered verses overwhelmed.
Our respite care services through our Dornburg Center also give family caregivers a much needed break while providing expert care for your loved one. Hospice of South Texas Dornburg Center of Compassion is a free-standing state-of-the-art in-patient facility that can offer short term round-the-clock, expert medical care for your loved one while allowing you to focus on self-care, deal with other needs or even take a much needed vacation.
Signs It May Be Time To Accept An Extra Layer of Support
It may be time to consider Hospice of South Texas if your loved one shows any of the following signs:
o Continual weight loss
o Needs help to sit up, eat, get dressed and groom themselves
o Unable to walk without assistance or bed-bound
o Severe anxiety or depression
o Increasing agitation
o Family caregiver is feeling more stressed and overwhelmed
Helping Determine When Hospice is the Right Choice
It can be difficult to determine when hospice may be the best option. Hospice of South Texas can help determine if our care may meet the needs of you and your loved one. For an at-home assessment, support, resources, or answers, call our Victoria office at 361.572.4300 or our Hallettsville office at 361.798.2077.