Believe it or not, young children can learn a great deal when they get to see the support and care a grandparent or other elderly person receives, especially when it comes from their parents. When a young child’s grandmother or grandfather has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it’s going to affect them, even though they may not know how to process this revelation, understand what it truly means, or how to deal with their own emotions.
The closer a grandchild is to his or her grandmother or grandfather, the more a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s is going to impact them. But it’s not just the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s that are going to affect them moving forward; it’s also the care that individual receives.
Proper Alzheimer’s home care can teach younger generations the value of empathy, support, careful planning, and not forgetting that that elderly person is still an individual with rights and desires, ambitions, and hopes for their own future.
What else can they learn? Let’s consider this.
First, they will learn that compassion is full-time.
What does this mean? It’s easy to act as though compassion is part-time. After all, an aging parent diagnosed with Alzheimer’s may not need full-time care, at least not at this stage in their life.
But they do need people to care and love them all the time. If you are helping them in some way or another, but your own child — maybe she’s a young girl or a preteen or maybe he’s a teenager quickly heading toward adulthood — notices that you only seem to talk about this senior once in a while, what does that show them?
You love your mother or father, absolutely. But does your child know what he or she needs and what kind of support or care they are receiving when you’re not there? If you are the only primary caregiver in this person’s life, but you only talk about them every so often, is that teaching them properly?
You don’t have to get into every detail of what their grandmother or grandfather needs, is struggling with, or fears or doubts, but certainly include them in more than you might be offering now.
Second, there’s still a lot of life left to live.
A child may not fully understand what dementia or Alzheimer’s is, but they may realize that memory loss is a significant part of the diagnosis and their future. They may also understand that there is a life expectancy now, a timetable.
Do they realize that grandma or grandpa still has plenty of years left? Do they know that their grandmother or grandfather will relish the time spent with them now?
Instead of sheltering or shielding children or grandchildren from the realities of Alzheimer’s, help them to embrace the moment, to spend more quality time with that family member, and that may just help that senior as they move through the various stages of this disease.
Third, home care can alleviate a lot of pressure from family.
What do you teach your children when you are running yourself ragged, spending all of your time and energy focusing on your career, your job, and this aging parent who needs you, but barely has time for your own children, spouse, or partner?
That’s too much pressure for one person to handle. Are you teaching your child to just grin and bear it when they have to deal with such a thing in the future? Why not teach them that it’s okay to ask for help?
When you turn to professional, experienced home care, you will be teaching this grandchild that help is available, they don’t have to be too proud to ask for it, and that when you hire an experienced aide, it’s going to be the best thing for that aging senior moving forward.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Alzheimer’s Home Care in Youngsville, LA, please contact the caring staff at BrightCare Homecare today. Call (337) 279-5466
BrightCare Homecare is a top provider of home care services in Lafayette, Youngsville, Broussard, New Iberia, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Opelousas, Sunset, Crowley, Abbeville, Scott, Cecilia, Port Barre, Iota, and the surrounding areas.
Through a personalized care plan, BrightCare Homecare provides the necessary services and care to cater to your unique personal and health needs. With us, we ensure around-the-clock services and supervision to help achieve optimum health and wellness.
We are a top provider of home care services in Lafayette, Youngsville, Broussard, New Iberia, Breaux Bridge, Carencro, Opelousas, Sunset, Crowley, Abbeville, Scott, Cecilia, Port Barre, Iota, and the surrounding areas.
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