Caring for a loved one with Lewy Body Dementia can be an overwhelming and emotional journey. As this progressive disease affects their behavior, mood, and physical abilities, it often becomes challenging to manage their care alone. That’s where home care services can make a significant difference.
By providing professional support tailored to your loved one’s unique needs, home care providers allow you to focus on spending quality time together while ensuring they receive the best possible care.
In this blog, we’ll explore the symptoms of Lewy Body Dementia and how understanding these changes can help you navigate the caregiving process with confidence and compassion.
Lewy Body Dementia Symptoms
Each person affected by Lewy body dementia will have different variations of the following symptoms. Some symptoms will come and go for some individuals, while others will gradually get worse.
The primary areas that Lewy body disease affects are behavior, mood, cognitive function, movement, body functions, and sleep.
Let’s look at the symptoms each area may cause in your loved one and how you can help with the assistance of home care providers:
Behavior
Your loved one may struggle with being present in many situations. You might find him having long bouts of staring off into space with no response or randomly drifting off to sleep. Some patients with Lewy body dementia develop a pseudobulbar effect, in which they uncontrollably laugh or cry without the emotion associated with the response.
Mood
Your loved one might struggle with depression, anxiety, and paranoia. He might think people are out to get him and be hostile toward people he used to care about. You might often find him pacing with worry or wringing his hands.
Cognitive Function
Your loved one’s ability to process information may decline, much like Alzheimer’s disease. He may not be able to make wise choices or problem-solve when something goes wrong. A large portion of those with Lewy body dementia suffer from hallucinations and are unable to discern what is real and what isn’t.
Movement
Lewy body dementia can affect your loved one’s movement, similar to Parkinson’s disease. Your loved one may have tremors, shuffle while walking, and lose his coordination. He may freeze in place and need encouragement to make the next physical move. He might also develop problems with swallowing or moving his face.
Loss of Body Functions
Lewy body dementia may affect automatic nervous system controls such as blood pressure, heart rate, and digestion, putting your loved one at risk of sudden drops in blood pressure, dizzy spells, and loss of bladder control.
Sleep
Some patients develop REM sleep behavior disorder, where they begin to act out movements as they are dreaming, oftentimes quite violently. They may hit or punch while sleeping or fall out of bed. Their sleep schedule may change as they sleep more during the day and stay awake at night.
Getting Help with Home Care for Your Loved One
As your loved one’s condition progresses, providing care on your own can become increasingly difficult. While keeping them at home may still be an option, you might need extra support to manage daily tasks and ensure they receive the best care possible. This is where home care can make a significant difference.
A professional home care provider offers the assistance you need, whether helping with daily grooming, meal preparation, or other essential tasks. Since home care services are provided in your home, they can be tailored to meet the unique needs of both you and your loved one. As the disease progresses and their needs change, home care providers can adapt to continue delivering the right level of support, giving you peace of mind and the opportunity to focus more on your loved one.
Investing in home care ensures you are not alone in this journey and that your loved one receives compassionate, customized care in the comfort of their own home.
If you or someone you know needs Home Care in Hutchinson, MN, contact Adara Home Health. We provide quality and affordable home care services for many fragile or senior members in the communities we serve. Call us at (888) 525-7742 for more information.