Is It Possible to Live Alone with Dementia?

There has long been an assumption that when someone received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of progressive dementia, the only real option was nursing home care. After all, it’s unrealistic for someone to live alone with dementia and continue to reside at home – or is it?

Data demands the necessity for everyone to think this through for those we love, and possibly even for ourselves one day. Approximately 14 million seniors are currently residing at home alone – 33% with dementia, and 15% specifically with Alzheimer’s disease. Even more alarming, 1/2 of this population not only lives alone, but does not have any identified caretaker.

There are several key aspects of concern for a senior loved one who lives alone with dementia:

• The skill to manage activities of daily living independently, such as personal hygiene, meals, household management, and problem-solving
• An elevated vulnerability to senior scams and exploitation
• The isolation that arises from an anxiety about unfamiliar places and situations as confusion increases

And yet we also recognize that remaining in the home throughout aging for someone with Alzheimer’s allows for a great deal of benefits, including:

• The comfort of familiar surroundings and belongings, which provides stability
• The potential to help keep regular routines, making life easier to navigate
• Self-identity that results from protecting a sense of belonging

One option that is beneficial for many individuals is bringing in a specially trained dementia caregiver to provide just the right level of support to foster as much freedom and independence as possible, while ensuring wellbeing and safety.

It’s important to note that the sooner you’re able to bring in support for someone with dementia, the better. Even in the very earliest stages of the condition, the progression can occur quickly, during which time the transition to care would have to happen immediately. By starting slowly with only a little assistance, perhaps with meals, housework, and laundry, you can then work up to a higher amount of care easily as needed.

At CareWorks Health Services, we develop a customized plan of care that is reviewed and modified as needed ongoing – so if the need is for just a couple hours every week of assistance, or full-time, 24-hour care, we can help older adults continue to live at home for a lifetime.

Our professionally trained dementia care team can ensure safety and comfort throughout each stage of the condition, easing difficulties such as:

• Wandering
• Aggression
• Agitation
• Frustration
• Cognitive challenges
• And much more

Our caregivers offer the social interaction, mental stimulation, and support to remain physically active, which all lead to a greater quality of life. Reach out to us at (949) 859-4700 for a complimentary consultation to learn more about our home health services in Huntington Beach, CA and nearby areas and how we can help someone you love continue to live alone with dementia where it is most comfortable – at home – for a lifetime.