Alzheimer's Palliative Care

Alzheimer's Palliative Care aims to improve quality of life for patients and their families by providing relief from symptoms, emotional stressors, and honoring patient care goals.

Overview

Understanding Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is an ailment that commonly manifests in older adults, affecting the brain and impairing memory, thinking, and behavior. It can be tricky to diagnose this condition because its early symptoms appear as mild forms of forgetfulness or confusion. As time goes on and the disease progresses, however, the symptoms begin to stack up and cause dramatic changes in personality and function.

Our Specialized Palliative Care For Alzheimer's Patients

Palliative care is a specialized hospice service designed to help provide relief from the symptoms of a serious illness. It is not meant to cure or stop it. Instead, it offers an alternative treatment that improves a person’s quality of life and health.

Our team of physicians, nurses, caregivers, social workers, and other specialized allied health professionals train and study for years to provide expert palliative care for those with Alzheimer’s and their families. By partnering with our experts, you and your loved one can feel confident and comfortable knowing that we have the knowledge, resources, and skills to help.

Book a Free Consultation

We'd love to provide some clarity for any questions you may have.

When you book a free consultation with us, we will answer any questions you might have about Hospice Care, our services, and our team. We want to understand your loved one’s health condition. If they are eligible for Hospice care, we will work together to figure out the best plan for their unique needs.

Advanced Alzheimer's Symptoms

Some common symptoms of advanced Alzheimer’s include:

  • Difficulty swallowing
  • Limited reasoning abilities and other signs of dementia
  • Delusions and hallucinations
  • Aggression, agitation, and other behavioral issues
  • Difficulty forming sentences or finding the right words

Because of these distressing symptoms, it is common for a person with Alzheimer’s to become bedridden and require round-the-clock, end-of-life care.

According to the American Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease & Other Dementias, it may take years before your loved one progresses to the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. The average duration is about three to four years from diagnosis until death. However, some people may live up to ten years with proper medical treatment.

When Should An Alzheimer's Patient Go On Hospice?

Patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia should go on hospice when they can no longer take care of themselves and require full-time assistance. This can be as early as the beginning stages of the illness or in the later, more advanced stages. The stress of dealing with the symptoms can take a toll on both the patient and their loved ones. If you feel overwhelmed, palliative care can provide emotional and practical support.

How To Manage Alzheimer's Disease And Its Symptoms: How Palliative Care Can Help

Now that you have a general understanding of the grief process, we can further narrow down your case by talking about the different kinds of grief.
In the later stages of Alzheimer’s, people experience a lot of pain from physical problems like joint stiffness or arthritis. Our doctors can develop an effective end-of-life care plan for these symptoms by utilizing medication management, exercise therapy, and comfort measures.
As dementia progresses, it can cause agitation, confusion, and even aggression in some patients. Our team can manage these behaviors through emotional support, counseling sessions, memory therapy, activity programs tailored to their interests, and by providing a calming environment.
If your loved one can no longer walk or suffers from other medical problems, don’t worry. Palliative care is compatible with other medical treatment programs, and we always account for patient illnesses like heart disease or lung disease.
Whether you need assistance with daily tasks, help with grocery shopping, or managing finances, our team can provide the support needed to help make life easier for both the patient and caregiver.

You Are Not Alone

For family members of someone affected by Alzheimer’s, it can be very difficult to handle this situation. We recognize what you are going through. At Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care, we understand the challenges of dealing with Alzheimer’s and offer compassionate care for people living with the condition.

We provide Alzheimer’s palliative care services that include pain management treatment plans, counseling sessions, and grief support groups. Our caring team is specially trained for helping families who have loved ones with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

You don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. Contact us today and let us help you navigate your loved one’s diagnosis.

Benefits Of Palliative Care For Patients and Family Members

When faced with a debilitating illness like Alzheimer’s, end-of-life care can offer many benefits to a person with dementia and their family, such as:

How To Get Palliative Care

If you’re ready to partner with Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care and get advance care planning for a loved one with dementia, there are a few things you need to do first.
Palliative care can’t begin without an advanced dementia diagnosis and physician order, so we recommend involving your doctor in the planning process. We work with various healthcare professionals to support and coordinate care for our patients.
Family plays an essential role in decision-making, so we encourage you to include them as part of the planning process. Our team will work with everyone involved (including the family caregiver) to develop a plan that respects your loved one’s wishes while accounting for the concerns of every family member.

Next, we’ll need to schedule a time for our caregivers to meet with you. Our doctors will assess your loved one’s health, talk about their diagnosis, answer questions you have about our treatment plans or Alzheimer’s disease in general, and ensure that your case is compatible with our type of care.

 

Once you enroll your loved one in our hospice care service, they will have access to Longleaf’s complete range of palliative programs and support groups. As a result, we can manage their symptoms effectively throughout the course of their illness. We can provide this service in the comfort of your own home or at an outpatient clinic, hospital, or nursing home.

Book a Free Consultation

We'd love to provide some clarity for any questions you may have.

When you book a free consultation with us, we will answer any questions you might have about Hospice Care, our services, and our team. We want to understand your loved one’s health condition. If they are eligible for Hospice care, we will work together to figure out the best plan for their unique needs.

Additional Care Options

Explore our other care options to find the best fit for your loved one.

Respite Care

Temporary relief for the patient’s primary caregiver.

Our respite care options allow primary caregivers to take a break, reconnect, disconnect, or just tend to their individual needs.

Routine Hospice Care

Provided in a residential setting to ensure comfort and security.

Receive regularly scheduled visits to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of your loved ones in your preferred residential setting.

Inpatient Hospice Care

Simple pain and symptom management for families and patients.

Our goal for inpatient hospice care is to improve our patient’s quality of life. We also include the family in our care plan so that everyone receives the support they need.

Crisis Hospice Care

Providing necessary comfort during a pain or symptom crisis.

We offer around-the-clock hospice care services to address the concerns of patients facing life-limiting conditions and provide support for their families.

Grief Support

Receive the support you need during the natural grieving process.

Our team consists of highly trained, kind, and professional members who deliver a care plan for alleviating the grieving process and improving quality of life.

Contact Us

Still have questions about the Care Options we have?

Our team of certified nurses is available for you. If you would like to ask a question, use this online form to contact one of our nurses.