Recognizing When Your Loved One Needs More Help
Deciding when to seek professional dementia care is one of the most difficult decisions families face. Many caregivers feel guilty about needing help, wondering if they should be doing more. But recognizing when professional support is needed isn't a failure—it's an act of love that ensures your loved one receives the best possible care.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, family caregivers often wait too long to seek help, sometimes until they're experiencing burnout or their loved one has had a safety incident. Understanding the signs that indicate professional care may be needed helps families make proactive decisions.
7 Signs It May Be Time for Professional Dementia Care
1. Safety Has Become a Concern
Safety issues are often the clearest indicator that more help is needed. When dementia progresses, the risk of accidents and injuries increases significantly.
Warning signs include:
- Wandering: Leaving the house without telling anyone, getting lost in familiar places, or attempting to "go home" when already home
- Falls: Increasing frequency of falls or near-falls due to balance problems, confusion, or misjudging distances
- Kitchen accidents: Leaving the stove on, forgetting to turn off appliances, or attempting to cook and forgetting about it
- Medication errors: Taking too much or too little medication, forgetting doses, or mixing up medications
- Poor judgment: Making unsafe decisions like going outside in inappropriate weather or letting strangers into the home
If safety incidents are occurring—or nearly occurring—it's time to consider additional supervision. A fall prevention assessment can help identify home hazards, while professional caregivers can provide the supervision needed to prevent accidents.
2. Personal Hygiene Is Declining
Changes in personal care often indicate that dementia is affecting the ability to perform daily activities. This can be one of the most distressing signs for families to witness.
Signs of hygiene decline:
- Forgetting to bathe or refusing to bathe
- Wearing the same clothes repeatedly without changing
- Not brushing teeth or caring for dentures
- Incontinence issues or not managing them properly
- Body odor or unkempt appearance
- Forgetting steps in hygiene routines (like rinsing shampoo)
Personal care assistance requires sensitivity and training. Professional caregivers know how to provide help with bathing and toileting while preserving dignity and minimizing resistance.
3. Nutrition and Hydration Are Suffering
Dementia can significantly impact eating and drinking habits, leading to weight loss and dehydration.
Warning signs include:
- Forgetting to eat meals
- Unable to prepare simple meals safely
- Eating spoiled food or non-food items
- Significant weight loss
- Forgetting to drink fluids
- Difficulty using utensils or forgetting how to eat
- Choking or difficulty swallowing
A caregiver can ensure regular meals are prepared and eaten, monitor hydration, and watch for swallowing difficulties that may require medical attention.
4. Behavioral Changes Are Escalating
Many dementia patients experience behavioral and psychological symptoms that can be challenging to manage. According to the National Institute on Aging, these behaviors often have underlying causes that trained caregivers can identify and address.
Behavioral changes that may require professional support:
- Aggression: Verbal outbursts, hitting, or other aggressive behaviors
- Agitation: Restlessness, pacing, or inability to settle
- Sundowning: Increased confusion and behavioral problems in late afternoon and evening
- Paranoia or suspicion: Accusing family members of stealing or other misconduct
- Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren't there
- Depression or apathy: Withdrawal from activities and social interaction
- Sleep disturbances: Waking frequently at night, day/night confusion
Specialized dementia caregivers are trained in techniques like validation therapy and redirection that can reduce these behaviors and keep everyone safer.
5. The Family Caregiver Is Burning Out
Caregiver burnout is real and serious. When family caregivers become exhausted, their own health suffers, and they may be less able to provide quality care. The Alzheimer's Association reports that dementia caregivers are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and health problems than non-caregivers.
Signs of caregiver burnout:
- Feeling overwhelmed or constantly worried
- Feeling exhausted even after sleeping
- Neglecting your own health (skipping doctor appointments, not exercising)
- Changes in sleep patterns or appetite
- Feeling irritable or impatient with your loved one
- Withdrawing from friends and activities you used to enjoy
- Getting sick more often
- Feeling hopeless or helpless
Seeking professional help isn't giving up—it's ensuring you can continue to be present for your loved one. Respite care provides temporary relief so caregivers can rest, while regular professional support can reduce daily caregiving stress.
6. Care Needs Exceed What One Person Can Provide
As dementia progresses, care needs often become more than any single person can manage safely.
Signs that care needs have increased beyond one-person capacity:
- Your loved one needs help with most daily activities
- Two-person assists are needed for safe transfers
- Supervision is needed most or all of the day
- Nighttime needs are disrupting everyone's sleep
- You can't leave your loved one alone at all
- Managing medications has become complex
- Behavioral episodes require intervention
When care needs exceed 40 hours per week, or when constant supervision is required, 24-hour care options should be considered.
7. Medical Conditions Are Becoming Harder to Manage
Many people with dementia also have other health conditions that require management. As cognitive abilities decline, managing these conditions becomes more challenging.
Warning signs include:
- Difficulty managing diabetes, heart conditions, or other chronic illnesses
- Frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits
- Inability to communicate symptoms or pain
- Resistance to medical care or procedures
- Declining physical health alongside cognitive decline
Professional caregivers can help with medication management, monitor for changes in condition, accompany your loved one to medical appointments, and communicate with healthcare providers.
What Professional Dementia Care Looks Like
Professional dementia care in the home provides specialized support while allowing your loved one to remain in familiar surroundings. Services typically include:
- Trained dementia caregivers: Understanding dementia behaviors and communication techniques
- Personalized care plans: Tailored to your loved one's stage of dementia and individual needs
- Daily activity assistance: Help with bathing, dressing, eating, and other personal care
- Safety supervision: Preventing wandering, falls, and other safety incidents
- Medication reminders: Ensuring medications are taken correctly
- Meaningful engagement: Activities appropriate to cognitive abilities that provide stimulation and joy
- Behavioral support: Trained responses to challenging behaviors
- Family support: Respite and education for family caregivers
Starting the Conversation
Talking to your loved one about accepting help can be challenging, especially in early stages when they may have some awareness of changes. Here are approaches that caregivers often find helpful:
- Focus on your needs: "I need some help so I can be less tired and enjoy our time together more"
- Emphasize companionship: "This person will be a friend to spend time with when I'm at work"
- Start small: Begin with a few hours a week to allow adjustment
- Involve them in the process: Let them meet potential caregivers and have input
- Highlight benefits: "They'll help with things you don't like doing anyway"
Questions to Ask When Seeking Dementia Care
When evaluating home care agencies for dementia care, ask:
- What specific training do caregivers receive in dementia care?
- How do you handle behavioral challenges like aggression or sundowning?
- How do you match caregivers with clients?
- What is your approach when behaviors change or escalate?
- How do you communicate with families about changes in condition?
- What is your experience with the specific type of dementia my loved one has?
- Can you provide consistent caregivers who my loved one can become familiar with?
At Home Healers Dementia Care Services
At At Home Healers, we understand the unique challenges of caring for someone with dementia. With over 20 years of combined experience, our caregivers are trained in dementia-specific techniques that help manage behaviors, provide meaningful engagement, and ensure safety.
Our specialized dementia care services include:
- Caregivers trained in dementia care: Understanding the disease and how to respond to challenging situations
- Flexible scheduling: From a few hours of respite to 24-hour care
- Consistent caregiver assignment: Familiar faces reduce confusion and anxiety
- Safety-focused care: Wandering prevention and fall prevention
- Family support: We partner with families to provide the best possible care
We serve families throughout Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana, including Columbia City, Auburn, and surrounding communities.
Contact us for a free consultation to discuss how we can support your family.
