It is never easy for any senior to reach the end of their life. But when seniors with Alzheimer’s disease reach the end of life, family members may feel even more lost, especially when that time comes far too soon. Hospice care can be a huge help for families of Alzheimer’s patients and the patients themselves.

Here’s how hospice care helps Alzheimer’s patients:

Specialized Care for Cognitive Decline

Hospice care for Alzheimer’s patients needs to take cognitive decline into account. Alzheimer’s disease impairs memory, reasoning, and communication skills, which means that it can be difficult to understand what patients need and want.

Hospice teams understand these differences and offer compassionate support that treats symptoms and addresses other needs as well as possible.

Focus on Comfort and Quality of Life

Hospice always focuses on comfort and quality of life, but this is even more crucial for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of this type of care is to manage symptoms effectively, minimize discomfort, and ensure that patients have the best quality of life.

Hospice care providers manage this by paying close attention to responses from their patients, especially when those patients aren’t able to communicate in clear-cut ways.

Personalized Care Plans

Patients with Alzheimer’s disease face similar challenges, especially at the end of life. However, they also have unique situations that contribute to their end-of-life needs and care. Hospice puts together a care plan that addresses those individual circumstances without trying to fit every patient’s needs into one plan.

Support for Caregivers

Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease is a long road with massive challenges. It’s also challenging to love and care for someone who is near the end of life. When these two situations collide, family caregivers and other family members need a lot of support.

Hospice care teams are there for them, helping them to take time away and get the emotional and psychological support they need.

Management of Behavioral Symptoms

Alzheimer’s patients often experience an increase in behavioral symptoms near the end of life. These symptoms are typically related to other symptoms, like discomfort or pain. Patients may be agitated, they might wander, or they could ask questions repeatedly even after getting the answer.

Hospice care providers understand how to cope with these behavioral symptoms and work with patients and families to address the underlying issues.

End-of-life Planning and Support

So many Alzheimer’s patients may not have talked about end-of-life plans before their condition worsened. It can be really difficult to have those conversations, even without a cognitive illness in the way. Hospice care helps families find the support and assistance they need to make end-of-life decisions for their aging family members.

People with all sorts of health issues may need the support of hospice care at the end of life. Hospice care providers look at each individual’s needs and concerns and do everything possible to address those needs. The unique concerns that Alzheimer’s patients face are something that hospice can work with families and patients to manage for as long as possible.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Hospice Care in Encinitas, CA, please contact the caring staff at A Passion for Care today. Call (858) 798-5005

A Passion for Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving San Diego, La Jolla, Del Mar, Rancho Bernardo, Encinitas, Oceanside, Rancho Santa Fe, Point Loma, and surrounding areas.

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Pat Melzer

Owner at A Passion for Care

Like many people in the senior care business, founder Pat Melzer was motivated by personal experience to start an in-home senior service business in 2010. After watching chronic conditions, dementia, and surgeries take over the life of her once very intelligent and lively mother-in-law, Pat saw the enormity of the need for better in-home care. Drawing on her 23 years of experience in the computer industry as a software product manager, engineering manager and computer programmer, she decided to develop best practices to build an organization that provides truly excellent, personalized care. Throughout the company’s history, Pat has been personally and professionally committed to ensuring your loved one receives the quality care they deserve. With often heroic efforts by the staff and dedicated caregivers, the vision has become a reality to be very proud of.

Making the transition to a completely new industry brought the opportunity to learn and grow, which continues still today. Pat studied Gerontology in San Diego State University’s certificate program and became licensed as a Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA), a Home Health Aide (HHA), and completed the California Certification Program for Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly (RCCFE) as a Certified Administrator. She presented workshops at Aging in America Conference four years in a row and served as Chair of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council 2019-2020 and was the education board member for several years. More recently, Pat became a Certified Senior Advisor and was a San Diego Business Journal “50 over 50 2022 Women of Influence Honoree”.

Pat and her husband Roland have lived outside San Diego in the San Pasqual Valley for over three decades. She has two children who are grown professionals and three grandchildren. Pat enjoys traveling to, and visits from, family and friends throughout the year. While at home in San Pasqual Valley, she and Roland enjoy peaceful views and exploring the surrounding valleys.

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