By Nancy Webre, BS, MS

Article - Right Move, Right TimeWhen is the right time to move a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia from home into a long-term care facility? The decision about when to move a parent with Alzheimer’s is always challenging and it can be a juggling act of making the right decision at the right time.

Families should not feel guilty when they decide it is time to move a loved one into a facility. Trying to keep loved ones at home can possibly put a parent or loved one in jeopardy. If the home is not safe or if the caregiver is stressed, there are situations when a facility may be far better than care in the home. As someone’s dementia progresses, it is important they are in a safe environment where they can have care when they need it 24 hours a day, and where they can be active physically and mentally.

Interestingly enough, new research indicates several recent studies funded by the National Institute of Health, have found that institutionalized dementia patients are twice or three times as likely to die following placement as those who stay at home, yet the new study says that the risk plummets the longer a person can stay at home. “Long term care placement is risky and hazardous, but the longer it is delayed the less risky it is,” said McKee McClendon, the senior researcher at Case Western Reserve University who led the study, which was published last month in the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences. These research findings suggest possibly the disruption in routine, less contact with family and friends, or poor care may result in the increased risk of death. Contrary to this, in some cases, early placement in a facility may be the best alternative particularly if the primary caregiver is in denial about the disease or burned out.

To help families keep loved ones at home for as long as possible, McClendon advocates expanding support services and training for caregivers. Support services would include enlisting caregiving help from an agency or private caregiver or hiring a geriatric care manager or care consultant. Adult Day Care outside the home can afford loved ones the comforts of home and at the same time give families the respite they need. Training for caregivers is often available in the community through various agencies and organizations. The Alzheimer’s Association also has a website www.alzmass.org which provides a myriad of information for caregivers.

Following are questions to consider when deciding whether home or a facility is the better place for someone with Alzheimer’s:

  • Is support in the home available such as respite services for the caregiver?
  • Is the caregiver jeopardizing his or her own health or relationships with others?
  • Is the caregiver realistic and knowledgeable about the illness?
  • Does the caregiver provide needed mental stimulation and emotional support as well as social and physical activities?
  • Is there a full time in-home caregiver available?
  • How much can the patient take care of himself/herself?
  • How aware is the patient of the surroundings? A move may be less disruptive to someone who is less aware.
  • Is the home environment safe? Are doors alarmed if that person wanders; are there safety precautions in place for hot water, stoves and household chemicals?
  • Is there room in a dementia care facility that best meets your loved ones needs?

Granted every family situation is unique. Do your research and learn about all of your options prior to making a placement outside the home. When finding the best care becomes a crisis, families are more likely to be forced in to finding a “quick fix” resulting in a choice that doesn’t necessarily solve long-term needs. In the end, families need to make a decision that is most beneficial to their loved one. Caring for a loved one at home may present a significant personal and financial burden and moving a relative into a long-term care facility is not an easy decision to make.

As Seen In Cascade Business News: Right Move, Right Time
August 2012