Medications and Alzheimer's Disease

Geriatric Consultant Resources
Senior Care Resources
Medications and Alzheimer’s Disease

Caregiving and Coping

Long-Term Care

There may come a time when various factors may influence you and your family to make the difficult decision to relocating your loved to more professional long-term care in a residential care facility.

Factors Influencing Placement in Residential Care Facility
Your Loved One	You the Caregiver
stage of the disease abilities to function and care for themselves such as: self-neglect of nutrition, medical and personal care mismanagement of funds extent of behavioral disturbances such as: wandering outside, getting lost personal safety such as burning food on a stove paranoia or delusions that make involve threats or violence to themselves or others agitation or aggression	your age employment status health status financial status decreased ability or reluctance to cope with the stress of caregiving relationship with the person affected with Alzheimer’s disease other family obligations social support caregiving resources available to you in your community

There are various types of options that are available for long-term care, depending on the type and extent of care that is provided.

Examples include:

Assisted living facilities — provide living quarters and meals, assistance with daily activities, and some health care services.
Skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes — usually chosen for patients needing 24-hour around-the-clock care. The staff often have trained skills in meeting patients’ nutrition and medical care, as well as daily functioning and activities. There are some such facilities especially designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease.

For more information, please visit http://www.gcrweb.com/seniorcare/altc1.html.