November is Alzheimer Awareness Month, a reminder of the terrible toll this condition takes on sufferers and their caretakers. There are”¯80,000 people”¯living with Alzheimer’s disease in Connecticut. (Some 410,000 in New York state have the disease.) While some families may opt for care at a facility, Assisted Living Services Inc. ”“ an agency with offices in Fairfield, Cheshire and Clinton ”“ has developed new solutions in combination with technological devices to ensure comprehensive care at home.”¯
“We know from experience that an Alzheimer”™s diagnosis poses real challenges for the entire family,” said Mario D”™Aquila, MBA, chief operating officer of Assisted Living Services Inc. (ALS) and senior vice president of Assisted Living Technologies Inc. (ALT). “It may seem overwhelming, but we can offer guidance since 90% of our clients have some degree of dementia.””¯
D”™Aquila noted that if families want to keep their loved one living at home, they need to be prepared for the responsibilities, which include managing medications, monitoring everyday activities, ensuring home safety and addressing loneliness and isolation.”¯
“Families should partner with a trusted provider who can create a strong plan for day-to-day care management and ensure it is continually implemented,” said D”™Aquila. “Even better is an agency like ALS that has management staff who are Certified Dementia Care Practitioners (CDP).”
Administered through the”¯National Council of Certified Dementia Care Practitioners, the CDP certification represents that the front-line staff and health-care professional have received comprehensive knowledge in the area of dementia care and completed the Alzheimer”™s Disease and Dementia Care course/seminar. The CDP commits to ongoing professional development and recertification every two years. The”¯certification reflects a deep personal commitment to maintaining the dementia patient”™s”¯quality of life physically, emotionally and socially.
Families also need to compare the cost of a facility versus in-home care. If the client qualifies for Medicaid, that patient may be eligible for the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE), which pays for in-home care. This program can benefit those with cognitive disabilities and memory impairment brought on by Parkinson”™s disease, Alzheimer”™s disease and other dementia-related disorders. ALS is a credentialed provider for this state program.
“Because we are a contracted provider of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders, caregivers are required to take Alzheimer”™s- and dementia-care training,” said D”™Aquila. “Most of our in-home staff also have previous experience caring for people with dementia.”
There is no cure for Alzheimer”™s, but there are new medications that can slow progression and lesson symptoms. According to D”™Aquila, Alzheimer”™s patients in mild to moderate stages of the disease can significantly improve medication compliance with today”™s technology.”¯Automated Medication Dispensers provide both visual and auditory alerts and can even send a call to the patient as a reminder, as well as notify caregivers if a regimen is not being followed.”¯ALS has experienced compliance near 95% with clients across Connecticut who use these dispensers.
In addition, sister company Assisted Living Technologies Inc. offers a wide variety of primarily wireless, sensor-based technologies for a second layer of security. Stovetop fire-prevention devices, personal body-worn GPS locators, automatic fall-detection sensors, video-visit systems and more provide constant monitoring.
“Wandering is one of the most dangerous behaviors of Alzheimer”™s and may happen earlier in the disease than families expect,” said D”™Aquila. “Today”™s technology allows us to set up a virtual safety net inside and outside a home to ensure the well-being of a loved one.”
D”™Aquila explained that discreet wireless sensors placed throughout a home can detect motion, activity from room-to-room, exiting, sleep patterns,and even moisture to help caregivers address an issue before it leads to something more serious.
He encouraged family caregivers to visit the ALT Technology Arts Gallery in Cheshire to view and experience all of the latest devices that can assist with every aspect of caring for an Alzheimer”™s patient. All of the products are available”¯online”¯as well.
“Families need to know that they don”™t have to go it alone when caring for a loved one,” D”™Aquila added. “There are countless resources and support to ease the stress.”
