Frontotemporal Dementia occurs when the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes are damaged. The damage causes changes in the way a person behaves and thinks. It can affect younger individuals, such as those from ages 44-65, and cause someone much younger than you imagined (like a parent or sibling) to need 24-hour home care before you even start to consider how to manage care for that person.
This progressive disease has symptoms that continue to get worse, and it’s not uncommon for those afflicted with it to need constant care in a couple of years.
Frontotemporal Dementia Causes
Frontotemporal Dementia’s exact cause is still being researched, but it seems to be mostly based on genetics. People who have Frontotemporal Disease (FTD) have abnormal amounts of a protein called tau inside the nerve cells of the brain. These neurons then die because of the protein buildup, resulting in the disease.
If other family members have had FTD, the risk of developing it is higher.
Frontotemporal Dementia Symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person, and they also vary in progression. Your loved one may begin with behavioral symptoms which may then progress to movement issues. Some people struggle a lot with emotions and language, whereas others may not experience as many symptoms in those areas.
Common symptoms include:
- Difficulty in speaking and/or understanding what is said to them.
- Compulsive eating or a complete change in eating preferences.
- Extreme repetition of words or actions.
- Decreased interest in others or how what they are doing affects them.
- Impulsive and sometimes inappropriate behaviors.
- Increased clumsiness.
- Inability to use standard daily items like silverware or a toothbrush.
- Muscle weakness and spasms.
How 24-hour Home Care Can Help Your Loved One with FTD
If you and your loved one want to continue to have him live at home, you may need 24-hour home care to help manage his symptoms and keep him safe at all hours of the day. A 24-hour home care team doesn’t live with the individual but instead has rotating shifts of caregivers who will be available at all times of the day to provide the care your loved one may need.
Working with a 24-hour home care team will allow you to cater to your loved one’s needs based on what his current health needs are. Some ways a 24-hour home care team can step in are:
- Managing overnight activity. If your loved one needs assistance overnight, a 24-hour home care team member can help him use the bathroom or resettle in for sleep. If negative behaviors are happening at night such as compulsive eating, a team member can work on redirection to stop the behavior.
- Assisting with self-care. If your loved one is struggling to brush his teeth, comb his hair, or bathe in general, a 24-hour home care provider can assist in those areas to keep him looking and feeling his best.
- Providing movement support. If you are worried about your loved one falling or not being able to get out of bed in the morning, always having someone there to help him with getting around the home is the best way to ensure he’s safe while still being able to enjoy the comforts of home.
- Offering respite for family caregivers. It can be a lot for a family member to be the sole caregiver of someone with FTD. A 24-hour home care team offers relief to other caregivers.
If you or an aging loved one are considering 24-Hour Home Care in Paradise Valley, AZ, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Resources today. Call (602) 443-4700
Home Care Resources is a top provider of home care services in Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Peoria, Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise, Goodyear, Cave Creek, Care Free, Fountain Hills, and surrounding areas.
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