EP #6: Evolving Care for Alzheimer's Patients: A Focus on Comfort Keepers

What if you could better understand the progression of Alzheimer's dementia and be equipped to provide optimal care for your loved ones? Join us in our enlightening dialogue where we unpack the symptoms, stages, and care procedures in relation to this condition. In this episode, we, Kristi Gurule and Jeremy Wolf, explore the gradual progression of dementia and Alzheimer’s, emphasizing the paramount importance of early detection and professional aid.

Escalating from occasional memory lapses to more personal care needs, we delve into the roles of Comfort Keepers in providing in-home health support. We explain how our service evolves over time to meet the changing needs of each individual. With quarterly reassessments and daily note taking, we keep families updated and involved in the care process. Expect insights on distinguishing dementia from Alzheimer's, the importance of routine check-ups, and how we handle transitions to more personal care with grace and dignity. Tune in to this episode for an abundance of useful information on Alzheimer's dementia and the care process.

Please visit our website for more information: https://www.comfortkeepers.com/offices/florida/davie/

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Please visit our website for more information: https://www.comfortkeepers.com/offices/florida/davie/

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to the Comfort Keepers Davy podcast,
where we elevate the humanspirit.
Here's your host, ChristyGrulay.

Jeremy (00:11):
Hey guys, welcome to the Comfort Keepers Davy podcast
Co-host Jeremy Wolfe, and I'mhere with Christy Grulay and
Christy.
We were just talking about thedifferent stages of Alzheimer's
dementia, what folks can doearly on and some of what you do
from the care side of that.
I'd like to progress throughthis process and move on to the

(00:35):
second stage, or the secondlevel here.
Once you've determined there'san issue, once you've brought a
company such as your own in tohelp talk a little bit about
what that looks like, whatpeople can expect, and then
we'll go from there.

Kristi (00:50):
Okay.
So one of the biggest things isthat when we start care with
any of our clients, we describewhat this process is going to
look like as the months progress.
So we will do quarterlyreassessments on all of our
clients to make sure that whatwe're performing in the home is
still required.
Do we need to modify any ofthose things?

(01:12):
And that's where we haveincredible caregivers that are
in the field doing daily notetaking.
I have an RN who watches andreads and signs off on every
single care log that's done.
This is important for familiesto know because, as your loved
one is in our care, if we noticethat there is something that
needs to be taken care of orsomething that we need to add to

(01:35):
the care plan, we're going tonotify you.
We want you to be so muchinvolved with what we're doing
to help keep your loved one intheir home.
One of the biggest things iswhen we transition to more
personal care is now required.
So where we started out withmemory care we're playing, we're
doing games we're going tostill do those things.
We've got a routine.
We're helping around the house,making sure that they get to

(01:57):
appointments.
They're not forgetting thosethings.
But now we're getting to thestage where they're really
needing help with theirshowering.
They're needing help using therestroom A lot more of those
things that they were veryindependent for and now require
extra help.
We do that.
We're there to do it with grace.
We know that that's a veryprideful thing and very hard to

(02:19):
have to say I need help withthese, but we're going to do it
and being able to ensure thatyour family member is still safe
and secure in the home as thisdisease progresses.
We go from a couple days a weekto more, and all of this is
tailored to each individual'sindividuals need and, like I

(02:40):
said, everyone progressesdifferently and should there be
like a sudden change, it's nevergoing to be a surprise for us,
because we have such greatrelationships with the qualified
individuals that are in yourhome and great communication
with the family.
So you don't live in the state,you don't live in town, you
can't make it to moms or dadsevery day.
Don't worry, that's what we'rethere for.

(03:02):
We're there to keep you in theloop of everything that we do in
the home.

Jeremy (03:06):
Yeah, and it seems like such a gradual process when
somebody starts to suffer fromsomething like dementia or
Alzheimer's, and it could be sogradual that you oftentimes, I'd
imagine, can't really pick itup until it's already become too
much of a problem.
Is there something that I'dimagine?

(03:27):
That if you went into a doctorearly on, they run all sorts of
cognitive type tests on folks tokind of determine.
But is there some, is theresome place where the how are
they able to ultimately diagnosedementia versus Alzheimer's?

Kristi (03:44):
Sure all at your doctor's level, so I won't over
speak what I know, but that'sexactly it.
There are a lot of cognitive, alot of cognitive tests that can
be done at all stages to trulybe able to determine where we're
at, what needs to happen onthat side and then how in home
health can help support what itis that the doctor is saying is

(04:08):
the best plan of action for yourloved ones overall health.

Jeremy (04:12):
Yeah, because I could see how it could be difficult to
distinguish, certainly fromfrom first person, like from if
you're suffering from this from.
Is it just brain fog, right?
Is it just that, or is thismore of an issue and that could
be certainly an uncomfortabletopic to you know to talk about?
So I think it just goes back towhat we said last last segment,
which was taking care ofyourself, making sure you get

(04:34):
routine checkups.
Don't avoid these things.

Kristi (04:37):
Yes, all of those things .
And then watching over yourloved ones and recommending and
encouraging really, that's justit encouraging them to do the
exact same thing.
And when we come in even ifit's just once a week, it's okay
it helps that barrier be brokento say that you can receive
help from someone else andshould that service need to

(04:59):
increase over time?
Absolutely can.

Jeremy (05:04):
All right, very good.
Anything else you'd like to add?

Kristi (05:09):
I think the two people are the same.
Really that's it, and I wouldhate for any loved one, like you
said, to just go to the extremeright.
There are a lot of differentother conditions that can all
manifest themselves to appearlike dementia or Alzheimer's, or
your medical professional thatwill diagnose that.
But whatever that is, we can bethere to help aid in the

(05:33):
symptoms that you're received,you're you have at home.
We can come into at least helpalleviate those.

Jeremy (05:39):
All right, sounds good.
Christy, we will see you realsoon.
Take care See you on the nextsegment.

Speaker 1 (05:47):
Thank you for listening to the comfort keepers
Davey podcast.
For more information, visitcomfort keeperscom or call
954-947-7927.