Choosing a dementia home care provider for your loved one can be a daunting task. After all, you’re putting your loved one’s safety and quality of life directly in the hands of a professional you’ve never met. With so many options available, how do you ensure you’re making the right choice?

Just as with any other major life decision, it’s important to do plenty of research and thoroughly explore all options. This way, you can confidently make a choice that will put you, your loved one and your family at ease.

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About 12 years ago, my mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her story started like so many dementia stories do. In the beginning, it was the small things we noticed: Mom was forgetting things, starting to repeat herself and asking questions about things we’d just talked about.

When my mom was first diagnosed, she lived with my father in our family home in the country outside of Farmersville, Texas. As her dementia progressed, my dad became her primary caregiver. My sister lived just down the hill, and she and her husband took it upon themselves to check in on our mom and dad regularly. At first, this worked well.

Then, my dad got cancer. His condition worsened quickly, and he passed away. My sister, who lived nearby, told me and my siblings (there are five of us) that she planned to have mom move into her home. We were grateful for her offer, but we also didn’t want her to have to shoulder the burden of caregiving all on her own. We came to an agreement: our mom would move in with our sister, and we’d hire in-home care to supplement what she was providing so she didn’t get worn out.

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When you're providing Alzheimer's care at home, your loved one may not be able to tell you how he or she is feeling, so download this document, print it, and keep it handy for those times when he or she pushes the limits of your patience. The author is unknown.

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