My family and I are struggling over placing my mom in a facility. Do nursing homes sometimes have a positive outcome on Alzheimer's patients?

Hi Dack~From what I have learned and also in my opinion-There possibly can be a staff in a NH that is NOT trained in AD.....I would suggest, rather than asking a specific NH-you contact your local Alzheimer's Association, as they most likely will be able to provide you with some answers. The more you and your family learn about this disease, the easier it might be for all. I have been through this, and went to the Alzheimer's Association-for some much needed support and understanding. Watching one's Mom go through the various stages of AD can be very trying and emotional drenching. The telephone number for the Alzheimer's Hotline is 1-800-272-3900-and should be operating 24/7.
Good Luck on your caregivers journey....and if possible, let us know how you are progressing.
Hap

Based on my experience with my father, nursing home placement had a negative effect on his status. Most of the staff at his facility were not trained or knowledgeable in AD. HOWEVER, once he started attending an out-patient day program for AD patients, he did improve, a lot; socially and cognitively. Good luck.

There's is NO positive outcome to Alzheimers. I have mom at home. I can't imagine them having enough people to take care of one person, let alone a large group. When my mother was in respit care, before she had alzheimers, I caught one man from the Alzheimer's unit trying to scale the outside wall. I saw him. I notified the aides. He was almost over when they got there and could have sustained broken bones when landing. There simply is no way to monitor so many patients especially when they are still mobile.
STILL, I agree with the lady above, and call the Alzheimer hotline. I certainly would recommend doing your homework when looking at any facilities that you are considering.
In my personal opinion, my Mom would be a vegetable by now had we left her in the home and moved her into the Alzheimer Center.
At 97, she watches the birds and squirrels all day and interacts with the family. She has a nurse visit her weekly and a physical therapist to keep her moving thanks to Medicaire. Still it takes two people or more to keep from getting drained as Alzheimer patients lose their day/night clock and will be calling for help 24/7. I would never judge anyone who had to put their folks into an Alzheimer unit. But I wouldn't see it as a better quality of life on the inside personally. God Bless you in whatever decision you choose.

Your decision is the most difficult a loved one can make. It is one I will have to make in the future. I wish all the best.
Alzheimer's is a progressive disease with no known cure...no positive outcome there, however the AD sufferer can enjoy life...visiting, researching, talking to relatives of the people cared for is needed to make a wise choice. And of course the Alzheimer's Association is a great place to start. Here are a few websites. The last 2 I cannot personally recomend myself but were forwarde to me by friends who know that I will have to make that difficult decision in the future.
http://www.alz.org/index.asp
http://www.alzfdn.org/
http://www.leezasplace.org/locSO.html
and a couple of others
http://www.seniorlivingsource.org/alzheimers-care/?utm_source=y&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=yahoo-az&utm_term=Alzheimers+Care+List&OVRAW=alzheimer's&OVKEY=alzheimers&OVMTC=standard&OVADID=25468397513&OVKWID=286146112513&OVCAMPGID=638997013&OVADGRPID=9276589901&OVNDID=ND1

Alzheimer's is a degenerative disease, there is really no hope for improvement. The most positive outcome possible is to keep the person safe. People with Alzheimer's and dementia from other causes need constant supervision and monitoring. In a home environment there are many hazards. A person with dementia can turn on a stove, leave the refrigerator open, eat something that may be harmful or simply wander off in the middle of the night while you are sleeping. In many cases the staff at a reputable nursing facility is better equipped to monitor a dementia patient around the clock than you are at home. Putting mom in a nursing home is a heart wrenching decision but you have to think pragmatically. Will mom be safer in the NH and how is caring for her at home affecting your health.

My mom is currently in a NH. While living with me she fell and shattered her wrist. When I was in my late teens my grandmother lived with us after becoming "senile" as it was called then. She was a wanderer and it was difficult to sleep listening for the sound of a door opening. Don't let emotion cloud your judgment. You have to choose what she needs over what she wants. If she needs constant monitoring to keep her safe and you healthy the nursing home is better equipped to do that. Just do your research and find a home with a skilled staff and a good reputation. Visit often and get to know the staff. It is a difficult choice to place a loved one.

There was just a story on our local news about an elderly man who disappeared a few weeks ago. His body was found floating in a river. Just imagine waking up to find the door open and mom nowhere to be found. It is not a pleasant thought but it happens all too often. Safety is the main issue to think about in making this decision.

Good luck.

Dack, Maybe you could think of the nursing home vs Alzheimers care facility, like you do with a doctor. When you're just sick, then a general practitioner is fine, but when you need open heart surgery, you have to have a specialist. Best to have people that are used to Alzheimers patients, nothing surprises them or freaks them out at this point.

There is a choice between a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF)and and Alzheimer's Home that is not considered SNF. I believe (not sure) an SNF has an RN on duty and a certain amount of LVNs per patient.
Some AD sufferers are in great physical health and do not require an SNF and a facility that is more homelike may be a better atmosphere for the AD sufferer. However, I believe that Medicare and state provided plan B coverages only will only pay for an SNF.