Dementia care at home
A waiting room is disorienting and an exam room is frightening. The same appointment in a familiar chair, with a familiar person nearby, is often completely unremarkable.
Why the setting changes everything
Agitation in clinic is frequently a reaction to the clinic rather than a symptom of the disease. Removing the car journey, the strange building and the wait removes most of the distress, and what is left is a clearer picture of how the person actually is.
Fewer medications, usually
People with dementia often accumulate prescriptions, including sedating ones that raise the risk of falls and worsen confusion. A careful review that removes what is no longer helping is frequently the most valuable thing we do.
We also look for the treatable things that masquerade as worsening dementia: infection, pain that cannot be described, constipation, dehydration, poor sleep and hearing loss.
Safety in the actual house
We walk the route taken at three in the morning. Locks, the stove, the stairs, the bathroom, night lighting, whether the front door needs an alarm. Specific hazards, specific fixes.
The caregiver is part of the visit
We cover what to expect over the coming year, how to handle sundowning and repeated questions without arguing, when a change is urgent, and what respite and adult day options exist locally. Caregivers are allowed to be exhausted, and saying so out loud is useful information.
Where we do this
We visit homes across all six counties. Pick yours: Morris County, Essex County, Union County, Somerset County, Passaic County, Bergen County. Or see every town we cover and call 973-607-4911.
Questions about dementia and Alzheimer's care at home
My mother refuses to see doctors. Will this work?
Often, yes. Without the trip, the waiting and the unfamiliar building, refusal is far less common. We also allow extra time for first visits with patients who need it.
Do you visit assisted living or memory care residences?
Yes, along with private homes, apartments and family members' homes.
Can you help with advance care planning?
Yes, when the family is ready. Doing it calmly and early spares everyone the version of that conversation that happens in an emergency department.
Care we bring for dementia and Alzheimer's
Geriatric and Dementia Care
Calm, unhurried care for older adults, including patients with dementia.
Read moreMedication Reviews
Every bottle in the house checked against every prescriber, so nothing collides or doubles up.
Read morePalliative Care
Comfort-focused care for a serious illness, alongside your other treatment.
Read moreGuides that go deeper
Normal forgetfulness, or something more?
Paired examples of what is ordinary and what is not, plus the treatable causes that get mistaken for dementia.
7 min readHow to get a doctor to visit an elderly parent at home
The signs it is time, the three kinds of home care people mix up, and how to raise it with a parent who says they are fine.
6 min readHow to prevent falls at home
The hazards people miss in every room, and the medication problems that cause more falls than any missing grab bar.
7 min readReady for a visit at home?
Call and speak with a real person. We will confirm your insurance, find a time and come to you.
973-607-4911 Call now