Staying Home with Dementia: How WakeMed Personal Care Makes it Possible

The baby boomer generation is one of the largest in American history — with 76.4 million adults identifying as boomers. As many are aging, services for older adults are becoming more critical. 

According to a study conducted by Population Reference Bureau, "About three percent of adults ages 70 to 74 had dementia in 2019, compared with 22 percent of adults ages 85 to 89 and 33 percent of adults ages 90 and older. Women are slightly more likely to have dementia than men. Among adults ages 70 and older, 11 percent of women and eight percent of men had dementia in 2019."

The Challenge to Find Consistent Care

As those in generations X and younger find themselves navigating responsibilities to children as well as aging parents, there may be a tug of war on time available to administer care for aging loved ones. And, for older adults who do not have family, the situation can be even more precarious.

If additional help is needed during the day, home services are available, allowing more time for family and friend caregivers to attend to their other responsibilities. Certified nursing assistants can visit the home to help with medical needs, such as administering medications or caring for wounds. In-home health aides can cover light housekeeping, cooking and other nonmedical needs. Some grocery stores and meal services can also assist by delivering food or meals to your home.

WakeMed Personal Care 

In particular, WakeMed Personal Care can deliver peace of mind to families who need support in providing loving, high-quality care to aging loved ones. 

As showering safely, making meals or remembering to take medications get harder, trust the WakeMed Personal Care professionals to help those in need remain as independent as possible. WakeMed Personal Care teams work with people in their house, apartment or residential living facility. 

WakeMed Personal Care team will include Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) who are highly trained and CPR certified. They are supervised by an experienced Home Health nurse. Before services begin, the nurse will meet to develop and mutually agree upon a plan of care. The care plan can be altered at any time as needs change. 

A Patient Thriving with WakeMed's Services

Rose is an older woman living with dementia. She desired to remain in her home where she was comfortable and familiar with her surroundings, but she realized she needed support to make it possible. 

In came WakeMed Personal Care. 

Rose shares, "You are the reason why I am able to live here still. I am not  going [anywhere]. I love all you ladies [who help me]. My brain is such a fog, so I couldn't do it without your help."

Rose receives support with the following: 

• Doing laundry
• Dining
• Determining what to eat for diabetic health
• Showering
• Dressing
• Medication compliance and maintenance
• Exercising/walking
• Safety (impaired judgment)
• Blood sugar monitoring
• Socializing
• Companionship
• Reorienting 
• Shopping

Remarks from her Power of Attorney

Rose's designated power of attorney says, "I think this program is fantastic. WakeMed Personal Care is keeping independent living possible for the patient."

Because Rose does not have a family available to care for her, without WakeMed Personal Care, she would need to go to an assisted living facility, where she would be housed in the memory care unit.

Initially her power of attorney struggled with finding consistent care, and now she has relief with this case.

"WakeMed has provided consistent care, and the patient sees the aides as friends who are helping her. They have made it possible for Rose to stay home, healthy and safe, while leading a normal life. If Rose falls and breaks a hip or otherwise declines significantly, she may need around-the-clock care. For now, she is living a good life. I have peace of mind knowing that WakeMed is providing consistent, excellent care. Rose is happy at home."

About WakeMed Personal Care

Fees 

$45 an hour (You may receive several services within the hour). 2-hour minimum per visit. There is an additional cost for medication management. WakeMed Personal Care services are billed in 15-minute increments. 

Tell Us about Your Needs

WakeMed Personal Care is a service offered by WakeMed Home Care. Our representatives welcome the opportunity to talk to you or your family member about any needs you may have. Please call us at 919-350-7990.

Services Available 

Dressing, Bathing & More 

• Assist with bathing – shower, sink, tub, bed 
• Inspect skin 
• Apply lotion 
• Foot care 
• Fingernail filing 
• Brushing teeth/oral care 
• Shampoo, comb/brush hair 
• Shave 
• Dressing 
• Assist with support stockings 
• Back rub 

Safety Assistance 

• Certified medical aides can assist you with the following conditions/needs. 
• History of seizures 
• Risk of falling 
• Oxygen therapy 
• Bleeding precautions, fluid restrictions 
• Need for universal precautions, infection control measures 
• Help residents with cognitive decline make safe decisions and provide them with reminders 

Bathroom/Elimination Assistance 

• Toileting 
• Assist with bowel/time void program 
• Catheter care 
• Change adult diaper/brief 
• Change condom catheter 
• Cleanse perineal area 
• Monitor/record intake and output 
• Ostomy care 
• Urostomy care 

Activity & Mobility 

• Getting in and out of bed 
• Help with movement from one seat to another, changing positions, range of motion 
• Safety escort within your residential facility/apartment building 
• Reminders and assistance with medical equipment 
• Reminders and assistance with daily exercises as prescribed by physical therapy 

Additional Tasks 

• Medication management (additional fee for RN-provided service)
• Clean/tidy home 
• Change bed linens 
• Wash/fold/put away laundry 
• Prepare a light meal/snack 
• Encourage, offer fluid/hydration 
• Run errand to pharmacy/grocery store 
• Medication reminders/help with taking medication 
• Reminders about following hospital discharge and other medical instructions 
• Meet you at medical/personal appointments to assist you 
• Assess vital signs and record findings