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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Any tips on how your family managed to continue on at home?  Dad is part of the equation and wants to continue at home with mom there.  He needs some physical help but is still cognitively in relatively good shape, but unable to care for mom.[/quote]

We've been at this around 15 years.  When Mom could no longer cook dinners we hired first caregiver to work 11:00 am - 6:00 pm M-F.  She drove Mom
around, to grocery store etc and prepared lunch and dinners M-F.

On Fridays she prepared 2 dinners for Sat and Sun.  Mom and Dad were on their own on the weekends.  Dad took them to lunch Sat and Sun.

We did this for a number of years.

Then we transitioned to caregivers 11:00 am - 6:00 pm 7 days a week.  We did this for a number of years.

When Mom started eating cold raw oatmeal for breakfast we transitioned to caregivers 7:00 am - 7:00 pm 7 days a week.
We did this for a number of years.

When Dad crashed to the bathroom floor and had a heart attack we started overnight shift so then we had 24 hour care (one person on for 2 adults).

Dad died after 6 months of this.

I put cameras in the house. Mom has 24 hour care.   She is late stage alzheimers/dementia.  She still walks about 1/4 mile a day and eats on
her own about 90% of time.

WHAT WE'VE LEARNED THAT HELPED.

1.  We give Mom 400 mg of magnesium glycinate at around 7:00 pm.  She goes to bed at 8:00.  She sleeps through the night. We've
done this for years.  Get the glycinate and it does not cause loose stools.  It also helps with regularity.  In winter we give earlier when it gets
dark early we give her 200 mg at 4:00 pm and 200 mg at 6:00 pm. This helps with sundowners for a total of 400 mg per day.

2.   D manoose to help prevent UTI's.  Mom gets around 1/4 tsp daily mixed in water.  It does not prevent them but greatly reduces them.

3.   The color red.....Alzheimers patients can test normal on eye exams but have extreme problems with depth perception.  Mom eats from
red plate, silverware has red handles, we use red non skid rugs in bathrooms, changed out all toilet seats to red etc, etc, etc.

4.  Walking outside and talking.  A year ago Mom was probably walking 3/4 of a mile a day with caregivers.  Now it is around 1/4 mile.
I think outside exercise is key.  We push Mom with activities and conversation.

5.   Free Careplan software in house.  Caregivers log their notes in Careplan and head caregiver and I can read them remotely.

6.   We hire direct.  When we started all of this we started at $15.00 per hour (about 10 years ago.).  Now caregivers make $18 or $20.
We almost never have turnover.  We also provide caregivers meals in the house as Mom eats better when someone eats with her.
I have a time clock system on cell phone in the house.  Caregivers punch and data goes to payroll service.  My Dad was a hardcore
alcoholic.  For many years the caregivers took care of both Mom and Dad (despite Dad saying he needed no care.) They worked hard.

7.  I am out of state.  I'm up there about 2 x per month.  I'm working on clearing out the house at present and consolidating and
simplifying Mom's financials.

Good luck and God Bless!

****For the lady that has Mom in an attached unit to your home.  If you can afford it when the time comes bring on someone to help
Mom with evening.  You may not need this for a number of years.
[/quote]

Thank you!  This is very helpful![/quote]

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