Independence 4 Seniors

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Services

Dementia is not a specific disease. It is a descriptive term for a collection of symptoms that can be caused by a number of disorders that affect the brain. People with dementia have significantly impaired intellectual functioning that interferes with normal activities and relationships. They also lose their ability to solve problems and maintain emotional control, and they may experience personality changes and behavioral problems such as agitation, delusions, and hallucinations. While memory loss is a common symptom of dementia, memory loss by itself does not mean that a person has dementia. Doctors diagnose dementia only if two or more brain functions - such as memory, language skills, perception, or cognitive skills including reasoning and judgment - are significantly impaired without loss of consciousness. 

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in people aged 65 and older. Alzheimer’s (AHLZ-high-merz) is a brain disorder named for German physician Alois Alzheimer, who first described the disease in 1906. As many as 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s disease -- 5.2 million aged 65 and over; 200,000 with younger-onset Alzheimer's.  By 2050, as many as 16 million Americans will have the disease. Alzheimer's destroys brain cells, causing memory loss and problems with thinking and behavior severe enough to affect work, lifelong hobbies or social life. Other symptoms include confusion, getting lost in familiar places, misplacing things and trouble with language. Alzheimer’s gets worse over time, and it is fatal. Every 69 seconds, someone develops Alzheimer’s. Today, it is the 6th leading cause of death in the United States and the 5th leading cause of death for those 65 and older.

Caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or dementia can prove strenuous and overwhelming at times. One of the biggest challenges a caregiver will face is tackling the behaviors of the person for whom they are caring. It is difficult to see your 71 year old mother crying for her babies, or witnessing your 93 year old grandfather demanding that you get the birds out of the closet. Have you ever had to stop your older loved one from leaving in the middle of the night?

You are not alone in facing the challenges that come with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. At Independence-4-Seniors, we provide dementia and Alzheimer’s home care assistance to families in need. It begins with our complimentary assessment of your family/loved ones in their home to make sure the environment is safe, and then evaluating the care requirements to keep them comfortable and healthy at home.

We have many caregivers on our roster who have extensive experience with Alzheimer's home care. We also provide our caregivers with ongoing training that emphasizes a “person-centered” approach to caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Both owners are certified instructors of a “person-centered” training program through the Greater Illinois Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association also provides a wealth of programs and services for a variety of audiences who are dealing with the disease on a daily basis.  You may contact the chapter as follows:

 

 

Alzheimer's Association
Greater Illinois Chapter 
8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60631
Phone: (847) 933-2413
Fax: (773) 444-0930
www.alz.org/illinois

 

Independence-4-Seniors provides dementia and Alzheimer's home care in DuPage, Cook, Will and Kane Counties in the State of Illinois. Contact us today if you have questions or would like to schedule a complimentary assessment.