The number of aging adults over the age of 65+ in Utah that will have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is estimated to dramatically increase. According to ALZ.org, the state saw an increase from 2018 to 2020 go from 31,000 to 34,000. That is nearly a 9% increase.
It is estimated that by 2025, Utah will have 42,000 adults over the age of 65 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. If that number becomes a reality, the state will have seen a 35% increase over a 7-year period – which is staggering.
As a caregiver, it can shatter your reality when you hear a loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Your new reality will quickly become one where you stress over the level of care they will need in the coming months and years.
It should be noted that in 2017, Utah saw that of those currently in hospice care, 19% received a primary diagnosis of dementia (according to ALZ.org).
We know that just dealing with the diagnosis of a memory care related disease is difficult enough. Trying to build out a long-term care plan can be even more stressful when you consider the stages of care required as they age.
Benefits and Types of Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Utah
The types of options you have often revolve around what stage of Alzheimer’s a loved one is currently in. We wanted to breakdown those different types and some of the benefits associated with each one.
Home Care
Home care can be a great option for a loved one that was just recently diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s and is in the beginning stages of progression. Your loved one’s family physician can help you make evaluation of which stage they might be in. If they have only displayed very mild outward changes or only have seen changes in a PET scan, this might be the option for you.
The benefits of home care allow your loved one to carry on with the personal care that they’ve handled themselves. Home care might aid your loved one in meal prep or making sure proper daily hygiene care is being done. It will allow them a level of independence but still give them proper safety oversight.
Dementia Care Assisted Living
If your loved one has begun to show signs of later stages (typically stages 3 and 4) it might be best to look at memory care within an assisted living facility. Your loved one might be experiencing some confusion around what they read or listen to.
They might also be asking the same questions repeatedly if they’ve reached this point. Also, if they’ve begun to struggle with medication, cooking meals, or using the telephone, this might be the right type of care for them.
The benefits of dementia care in an assisted living facility is that it layers on extra safety and security for your loved one. The staff at these facilities are also trained specifically in memory care and will know how to deal with your loved one in an appropriate manner with they experience confusion or frustration.
The facility itself will provide a level of security and also prevent your loved one from wondering if they experience confusion. If you know that your loved one can no longer function at home, this type of care might be the best option for them.
Dementia Care in A Nursing Home
Once a loved one has reached stage 6 and beyond, they are likely experiencing severe cognitive decline. Their struggles might now include getting themselves dressed or even struggling to feed themselves. Sleeping patterns might begin to change and delusions around who a person is can set in.
There is no stage that is an easy one to deal with but this part of Alzheimer’s care really needs to have the right type of care for them. Dementia care in a nursing home will often provide a dedicated memory care program for residents that now have complex care needs.
The benefits of this type of care is that the staff tends to be trained and certified on how to provide proper care of your loved one. The food that they provide might be easy to chew as many in these stages have difficulty swallowing.
Do You Need Memory Care Placement Support in Utah?
Once the diagnosis has been made, we cannot encourage families enough to begin the care plan process. We have seen different loved one’s progress through dementia and Alzheimer’s at dramatically different speeds. It is better to be prepared than scramble at the last minute.
To see if we can help guide you to finding the proper memory care in Utah, please call us at 801-979-8042 or complete our Contact Form. A local Utah advisor will reach out to you and begin the process of finding the right memory care you need.
