Is Safely Living Alone with Dementia Possible?

There has been an assumption that once someone was given a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of progressive dementia, the only real option was nursing home care. After all, it is not possible for someone with cognitive decline to continue to reside at home, particularly if they live alone – or is it? Is safely living alone with dementia even a possibility?

Statistics demand the need for everyone to think this through for anyone we love and maybe even for ourselves one day. Approximately 14 million seniors are currently living at home alone – 33% with dementia and 15% specifically with Alzheimer’s disease. Even more concerning, 1/2 of this population not only lives alone but has no identified caregiver.

There are a number of key aspects of concern for a senior living alone with dementia:

• The ability to take care of activities of daily living on their own, for example, meals, personal hygiene, household management, and problem-solving
• An elevated vulnerability to senior scams and exploitation
• The isolation that arises from a fear of unfamiliar situations and places as confusion grows

And yet we also know that remaining in the home throughout aging for someone with dementia provides a great deal of advantages, such as:

• The comfort of familiar surroundings and belongings, which provides stability
• The ability to help keep regular routines, making life navigation easier
• Self-identity that comes through protecting a sense of belonging

One option that is ideal for a great many is bringing in a specially trained dementia caregiver to provide the perfect amount of support to promote as much freedom and independence as possible, while ensuring wellbeing and safety.

It’s necessary to note that the sooner you can bring in support for someone with Alzheimer’s, the better. Even during the very earliest stages of the condition, the progression can happen rapidly, during which time the transition to care would have to occur immediately. By starting slowly with only a small amount of assistance, perhaps with meals, housework, and laundry, you can then work up to a greater degree of care seamlessly as needed.

At JFS Care, a top home care provider in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, we develop a customized plan of care that is reviewed and modified as needed ongoing – so whether the need is for just a couple of hours each week of assistance or full-time, 24-hour care, we are available to help older adults continue to live at home for a lifetime.

Our highly trained dementia care team can ensure safety and comfort throughout each stage of the condition, easing difficulties such as:

• Wandering
• Aggression
• Agitation
• Frustration
• Cognitive challenges
• And more

As a top home care provider for Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, we offer the social interaction, mental stimulation, and encouragement to remain physically active, which all lead to an improved quality of life. Contact us at (213) 383-2273 for a free consultation for more information on how we can help someone you love continue to live where it’s most comfortable – at home – for a lifetime. Visit our service area page to see all of the communities where we provide care.