Question

A patient is recently diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer's disease. What resources would you recommend for the family so that the patient could stay at home longer? What precautions should be recommended? What type of medications would be useful for the patient?

Answer 1

Some of the resources which are available to make the patient care and stay in home are as following

• Home care services is the leading one which can assist patients for personal care or hygienic care,feeding,mobilization, communication etc.,
• Can make use of the free benefit check up
• Enrolling in support services
• The expenditure can be managed with the use of social security administration system
• The family members can make use of the emblems on patient when taking patient to public area so that help are easily accessible
• They can use National Long term care Ombudsman to make rationale, ethical decision
• Respite services can be taken,Geriatric managers visits patients at home and assess their health status and progress and provide necessary suggestions

The precautions which can recommended are

• Not to take medication without prescription from a provider pr long term use
• Smoking can trigger Alzheimers so it has to be avoided
• Adequate exercise
• Good nutritious and balanced diet

The most common type of medication which are useful

• Cholinesterase inhibitors can improve nerve conduction and improve communication
• Memantine can greatly reduce the symptoms of Alzheimers
• Other:vitamin supplements, herbal products can be helpful