Hi! My mom has been in AL for 2 years now with moderate dementia. Per the staff there, she is okay since she is used to her routines and has adapted well. I'm her long-distance caregiver daughter with DMPOA. She needs to attend a few dental appointments soon for crowns (necessary not optional) and I'm not sure how she'll react. Routine cleanings are fine. I can't afford to fly out to help her with these appointments.
I'm considering hiring a home health aide that can, amongst other things, escort her to the appointments. Minimum time is 16 hrs per week.
Has anyone done something similar? How did it work out?
Works well with a person she is comfortable with. If someone she recognizes and trusts can introduce her to the caregiver it helps.
I'd suggest: With dementia, it is best to ease someone in to get to know her vs just having someone pick her up for an appt. You do not know how she will react.
You can ask AL management about ind caregivers/providers and call / interview. I presume most care facilities have ind caregivers working with residents and could refer you to someone.
- If you call people, create a list of questions and ask the person the same questions. Of major concern is their experience working with people inflicted with dementia - and how they handle situations / work with a person.
- You could hire an ind medical social worker to manage care on your behalf. That person could hire a caregiver / driver. If it were my mother with mild dementia, I would want that care provider to check in for 1-2 hours a couple times a week 'before' the appts so your mom will (hopefully) remember them and get to know them.
Oh, I see you are asking how it works out -
- it depends on the person providing the caregiving: their experience and reliability.
- As a care mgmt myself, I would either offer these services or hire others to do.
- You could also contact an agency although they usually have a four hour minimum per day. Some will drive/some may not.
- If hiring directly: You should
- ask for references
- experience
- how they handle situations
- reliability (they will say they are, of course). Ask if they have kids in school - as some may need to cancel appts to attend to their children (in emergencies).
Hiring can be a revolving door. It would be best of you could find a care manager to manager all the care / service needs in your absence.
Is there a possibility of moving your mom closer to where you live?
Is she all alone in the facility - no family close by?
Gena / Touch Matters
Having an aide to accompany has been fantastic. There became a regular one & they have a wonderful bond. It did take some family members time to get over having 'strangers' brought in to help - they had that 'family must help' mindset. But it's common sense really. One daughter, sister (brother whoever) just can't do everything all the time. If you don't live together, just impractical. Having a paid person makes sense.
For dental surgery, it was arranged to have the aide for the entire day. Get ready, transport, support in the waiting room., rhe whole duration. It worked very well.
I hope you can find a good agency, or individual to help.
My husband did well with that although as you will be warned, and as you probably already know, sedating older people especially with dementia has it's risks.
Why is it felt she needs crowns? Has she broken teeth?
This is a long process. The tooth has to be drilled to a point. Then a mold taken of the area for the permanent crown. The mold is made by piping the stuff into the area. I have almost choked on it. Then she has to sit there waiting for it to set. A temporary is put in place. The permanent appt is shorter. Its taking out the temp and putting in the permamnent.
Are you sure, with Dementia, Mom will be able to go thru this?
One of the teeth that needs a crown anchors her dental partial. If that tooth bites the dust she looses her partial and then worse choices will need to be made.
What you're describing sounds more like a "home care" aid. There's a difference.
Home health is used when there are medical needs and therefore much more expensive.
Home care is used for non-medical needs such as companionship and assistance with ADLs.
This article explains more:
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/difference-between-home-health-and-non-medical-home-care-services-426685.htm
My mom uses a home care aid in AL. She started with one a few days a week and now has one daily. It's been a godsend, and has enabled her to stay in AL longer as opposed to moving to memory care. She didn't like them at first but now has bonded with them.
it is very common in my town.