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Does an Alzheimer's patient need constant care?

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I’m unsure if that is a rule of thumb, or if it’s because of the particular needs of the individual. For example, do they tend to wander? Have esophagus issues and tend to choke while eating or swallowing in general? Are they a danger to themselves or others?

There’s a lot that could be at play, here…
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AD is a progressive brain disease that in the early stages may allow the person to function quite normally. However, as the disease begins to destroy the nerves in the brain, over many years, the ability to care for oneself safely is lost. In most cases performing activities of daily living become a challenge that the person needs help with. Dressing, eating, toileting are activities that the caregiver must help with. Safety becomes an issue like leaving stove burners on, not taking meds, wandering (leaving the house at 2 AM), having hallucinations and delusions where the mind plays tricks on a person who can't discern reality from fantasy, all of these eventually requires the person to have increased care. Often, the caregiver doesn't have 36 hours a day to monitor and care for their LO. Caring for a LO at home takes a tremendous toll on the caregiver both emotionally, physically and health wise.

AD affects everyone differently. Some patients may live out their lives at home with the help of home care agencies, private paid caregivers and hospice, while others need the professional care and security that a care facility provides. So although the disease may be manageable for a while, eventually help may be needed to allow the caregiver to get the rest and the “me” time they need to stay healthy.
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Cheyenne93, usually toward the end of having Alzheimer's, the person could resort back to being "child like", thus the reason to have around the clock care.

For more information, go to the blue/green bar near the top of the place and click on CARE TOPICS..... then click on Alzheimer's/Dementia topics. Lot of excellent material to read. The more one knows the better it is to understand what in the world is happening.
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I get from this post and your profile that caring for you DH is becoming very hard. You too are a Senior. Doing 24/7 care is very hard on anyone, even harder on Seniors approaching 80. You may just need to place him. Before you do, please protect yourself. Medicaid allows for splitting of marital assets. Your DHs split would be spent on his care and Medicaid applied for when the money runs out. You remain in the home and get a car. You will nedd to see a lawyer well versed in Medicaid.
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Isthisrealyreal Aug 2021
I read one of her previous answers back in 2017 and her husband had died. Just FYI
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People with Alzheimer's/dementia depending on how advanced it is need 24/7 care the same way a toddler does if they're still mobile and able to get around.
When you put a baby down for a nap or in their playpen you are not standing there watching them continually. You do not have to care for them while they are there or in their crib asleep. You just have to make sure there is nothing they can get hurt with.
Same thing when caring for people that have Alzheimer's/dementia. You don't have to entertain them every moment. You don't have to be available to wait upon their every want and whim 24 hours a day like a slave. You have to make sure their safe and not getting hurt.
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CaregiverL Aug 2021
Babies grow up ..learn how to walk. & toilet themselves, learn how to talk..you can carry them anywhere you go , they’re portable, their diapers small & you can clean them & turn them & they smile at you.

Elderly dementia patients fall often & break bones, incontinent , immobile, they curse & hit you when you try to change diapers, they forgot who you are, you can’t move them without killing your back & need lift machine to just move them from bed to wheelchair & back to bed

Still think it’s the same thing?
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CaregiverL,

The question posted was:

Does an Alzheimer's patient need constant care?
To which I responded with, "You just have to make sure there is nothing they can get hurt with". This is the same as you would do for a baby. Whereas if the baby is secured and there's nothing for them to get hurt on they can be left in their playpen or napping in their crib. There doesn't have to be a security detail standing above them 24 hours a day. There does not have to be one for someone with Alzheimer's either.

No, I did not say nor do I think the actual care is the same for an Alzheimer's sufferer as it is for a baby. I would rather care for half a dozen babies at the same time than for one person who's gone with Alzheimer's.
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