Los Angeles Alzheimer Care | Dementia Care| Elderly Care

Is an elderly loved one of yours inflicted with Alzheimer Disease or Dementia and looking for additional in home care assistance? We at A-1 Domestic & A-1 Home Care have specially-trained Alzheimer Caregivers who will perform to the highest of their abilities in accomplishing all daily tasks such as incontinence care, grooming, bathing, personal hygiene assistance, meal preparation, feeding, medication regulation and remainders, as well as transportation to medical appointments and other events.

Several clients of ours have come to us for round-the-clock Live in Alzheimer’s Care from local rehabilitation centers and convalescent homes such as Shea Rehabilitation Healthcare, Grand Park Convalescent Center and Emerald Terrace Convalescent Hospital. We serve Los Angeles, Orange County, Pasadena, San Marino, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Torrance, Long Beach, Seal Beach, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Seal Beach, Leisure World, Huntington Landmark, Downey, Whittier, etc.

A-1 Domestic is a Licensed, Bonded and Insured Company with an A++ Better Business Bureau rating, offering professional in home Alzheimer Care from one of our Home Care Professionals.

We are a Licensed, Bonded and Insured company that has had the opportunity to work with families who had Long Term Care Insurance coverage through the following companies, namely Penn Treaty, John Hancock, Bankers Life and Casualty, Veterans Administration, CalPERS, MetLife Insurance, Continental Casualty Company and Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsylvania.

The assistance of a Certified Nurse Assistant, Certified Home Health Aide or Medical Assistant can help family members discover the best way to respond to their loved one when they refuse to take medication, eat, bathe, or exercise and help them through difficult transitions.

Our professional support also assists elders or seniors who are experiencing appetite loss, behavior problems, loss of memory, depression, fatigue, sleep changes and vision changes. Though we can never replace the level of care from a family caregiver, the ceaseless dedication and abundant experience found in all of our Alzheimer Caregivers will ensure the highest levels of safety and assistance for your loved one for as long as they are receiving caregiving service from A-1 Home Care.

Many notable people have developed Alzheimer’s. Well known examples are former United States President Ronald Reagan and Irish writer Iris Murdoch, both of whom were the subjects of scientific articles examining how their cognitive capacities deteriorated with the disease. Other notable cases include Harold Wilson (United Kingdom) and Adolfo Suárez (Spain), the actor Charlton Heston, the actress Rita Hayworth, and the novelist Terry Pratchett.

AD has also been portrayed in films such as : Iris (2001), based on John Bayley’s memoir of his wife Iris Murdoch; The Notebook (2004), based on Nicholas Sparks’ 1996 novel of the same name; and Away from Her (2006), based on Alice Munro’s short story “The Bear Came Over the Mountain”.

Signs and Symptoms

Although the course of Alzheimer's Disease (also known as Alzheimer disease, Senile Dementia of the Alzheimer Type (SDAT) or simply Alzheimer's) is unique for every individual, there are many common symptoms. The earliest observable symptoms are often mistakenly thought to be 'age-related' concerns, or manifestations of stress. In the early stages, the most commonly recognised symptom is memory loss, such as difficulty in remembering recently learned facts. When a doctor or physician has been notified, and AD is suspected, the diagnosis is usually confirmed with behavioural assessments and cognitive tests, often followed by a brain scan if available.

Information

Alzheimer's is the most common form of dementia. This incurable, degenerative, and terminal disease was first described by German psychiatrist and neuropathologist Alois Alzheimer in 1906 and was named after him. Generally, it is diagnosed in people over 65 years of age, although the less-prevalent early-onset Alzheimer's can occur much earlier. As of September 2009, this number is reported to be 35 million-plus worldwide. The prevalence of Alzheimer's is thought to reach approximately 107 million people by 2050.

As the disease advances, symptoms include confusion, irritability and aggression, mood swings, language breakdown, long-term memory loss, and the

A-1 Home Care provides experienced caregivers to look after your loved ones.

general withdrawal of the sufferer as their senses decline. Gradually, bodily functions are lost, ultimately leading to death. Individual prognosis is difficult to assess, as the duration of the disease varies. AD develops for an indeterminate period of time before becoming fully apparent, and it can progress undiagnosed for years. The mean life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years. Fewer than three percent of individuals live more than fourteen years after diagnosis.

Caregiving Burden

The role of the main caregiver is often taken by the spouse or a close relative. Alzheimer's disease is known for placing a great burden on caregivers which includes social, psychological, physical or economic aspects. Home care is usually preferred by patients and families. This option also delays or eliminates the need for more professional and costly levels of care. Nevertheless two-thirds of nursing home residents have dementias.

Dementia caregivers are subject to high rates of physical and mental disorders. Factors associated with greater psychosocial problems of the primary caregivers include having an affected person at home, the carer being a spouse, demanding behaviours of the cared person such as depression, behavioural disturbances, hallucinations, sleep problems or walking disruptions and social isolation. Regarding economic problems, family caregivers often give up time from work to spend 47 hours per week on average with the person with AD, while the costs of caring for them are high. Direct and indirect costs of caring for an Alzheimer's patient average between $18,000 and $77,500 per year in the United States, depending on the study.

Let A-1 Domestic Professional Services, A-1 Home Care & A-1 Caregiver Agency help relieve this burden.

Notable Sufferers

As Alzheimer's disease is highly prevalent, many notable people have developed it. Well-known examples are former United States President Ronald Reagan and Irish writer Iris Murdoch, both of whom were the subjects of scientific articles examining how their cognitive capacities deteriorated with the disease. Other notable cases include the retired footballer Ferenc Puskas, the former Prime Ministers Harold Wilson (United Kingdom) and Adolfo Suárez (Spain), the actress Rita Hayworth, the actor Charlton Heston, the novelist Terry Pratchett, and the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physics recipient Charles K. Kao.

AD has also been portrayed in films such as: Iris (2001), based on John Bayley's memoir of his wife Iris Murdoch; The Notebook (2004), based on Nicholas Sparks' 1996 novel of the same name; A Moment to Remember (2004); Thanmathra (2005); Memories of Tomorrow (Ashita no Kioku) (2006), based on Hiroshi Ogiwara's novel of the same name; Away from Her (2006), based on Alice Munro's short story "The Bear Came over the Mountain". Documentaries on Alzheimer's disease include Malcolm and Barbara: A Love Story (1999) and Malcolm and Barbara: Love’s Farewell (2007), both featuring Malcolm Pointon.

External Links

Alzheimer's Disease: Unraveling the Mystery. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Aging, NIH. 2008.
Can Alzheimer's Disease Be Prevented?. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Aging, NIH. 2009.
Caring for a Person with Alzheimer's Disease: Your Easy-to-Use Guide from the National Institute on Aging. US Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Aging, NIH. 2009.

Round-the-Clock Alzheimer & Dementia Care

Signs and Symptoms

Information

Caregiving Burden

Notable Sufferers

External Links