A female caregiver talking to an elderly woman in a wheelchair at a flower garden A female caregiver talking to an elderly woman in a wheelchair at a flower garden

Alzheimer’s, Dementia and Cognitive Change

No matter the cause, conditions that result in a change of mood, memory or the thinking process are especially tough. When these are associated with aging, we often call them “Alzheimer’s,” but in reality, Alzheimer’s is just one of many different disorders of the brain.

Caring for a family member or friend with cognitive difficulties is demanding. If you’re doing it by yourself, it’s even tougher. At times, it can feel like you’re battling both the disease and the person. They need a sense of normalcy, but they don’t always act like they want it. Even when you’re doing everything right, it can feel like you’re doing everything wrong. It drains you emotionally and physically.

We believe that it doesn’t have to. Our approach is about helping you reclaim precious moments with your loved one, so instead of worrying about their bad days, you can celebrate their good days. Most of all, we want to be there for both of you so you don't have to do it alone.

Right at Home offers a customized care plan with a combination of personal care, companionship and homemaking, and just as importantly, we can provide respite care for you and your other loved ones.

An elderly woman sitting comfortably with a dog on a single sofa chair An elderly woman sitting comfortably with a dog on a single sofa chair

Right at Home Dementia and Cognitive Support Program

What if every person with dementia, no matter how serious their disease, still had the ability to be present and aware of their surroundings? That’s the question that inspired our approach. To us, it’s not unrealistic. Instead, we’ve made it a fundamental goal of our care program. This method is customized to the needs of every dementia patient, and delivered by certified providers. It consists of reinforcing the three key grounding principles:
A line-art drawing of a gear.
Ability
A line-art drawing of a puzzle piece.
Personhood
A line-art drawing of a clock.
Lifestyle
Thumbnail featuring the cover of the guide. It includes a silhouette of a person’s head with the brain’s different parts colored in.

Feeling Lost?

Let Us Help You Care for Those With Dementia

It can be especially hard to help someone with dementia like Alzheimer’s when the condition is so difficult to understand. In this guide, we’ll give you the basics of what causes dementia, along with some strategies for care.
Learn more

Right at Home’s Dementia Guide Video Series

In this collection, gerontologist Diane Darby Beach, Ph.D., will take you through some of the most important details of how cognitive change can progress, so you can be more prepared for whatever the future brings.
Watch the series

Four Ways We Can Help

A caregiver talks to a patient over tea. A caregiver talks to a patient over tea.
1. Building Normalcy
Reducing stress for someone with Alzheimer’s means being consistent. We can help you and your friend or family member create and stick to a routine, and we can do it in a way that meets their particular needs.
This includes:

  • Making sure the home feels familiar to them
  • Giving them the freedom to move about unrestricted in the home
  • Minimizing stresses that can aggravate the symptoms of cognitive change
  • Keeping them oriented with daily reminders of time, place and person
A caregiver and her patient standing in front of a cash register in a store. A caregiver and her patient standing in front of a cash register in a store.
2. A Helping Hand
Along with a specialized cognitive care plan, Right at Home caregivers also provide general companionship to your loved one, including helping with daily tasks and protecting them from isolation or loneliness.
Learn more
A caregiver and her patient discuss medication. A caregiver and her patient discuss medication.
3. Keeping Them on Track
People with dementia may have specific, strict medication regimens. In some cases, this could require the services of a skilled nurse. Fortunately, in some states, many of our caregivers are also trained nurses, so you can rest assured the person’s needs will be met.
Learn more
A caregiver and a patient’s family member talk outdoors. A caregiver and a patient’s family member talk outdoors.
4. Giving You a Break
Since you carry a heavy burden as a caregiver of a person with dementia, it’s important to have a break. We can help with that, too, giving you much-needed rest and time off so you can focus on your own needs.
Learn more

Tips for Healthy Aging

There’s no guide book for aging. After all, it’s something you only get to experience once. At Right at Home, we’ve cared for millions of seniors and have learned a few things along the way. So, we’ve compiled our knowledge into this resource section to help you and your loved ones navigate your journey.

Featured Guide

A female caregiver walking and talking with an elderly male patient.
A female caregiver walking and talking with an elderly male patient.

Fall Prevention Guide

Download the guide
Senior in hospital bed yawning
Senior in hospital bed yawning

Addressing Later-Life Sleep Problems

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caregiver serving senior a meal
caregiver serving senior a meal

Top Questions About Geriatric Mental Health Answered

Read more
A female care worker smiling in the background. In the foreground is an elderly female patient smiling back.
A female care worker smiling in the background. In the foreground is an elderly female patient smiling back.

Hear What Others Are Saying

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"We have been exceptionally pleased with the services provided by Right at Home ... They have provided education-based care to a loved one with advancing dementia with dignity and respect."
Michelle, Client's Family Member, Right at Home Clemson, South Carolina

Hear What Others Are Saying

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"The caregivers are so nice ... They just help us with anything we need. The office staff is also great. I appreciate that they always return phone calls timely."
Donna, Client's Family Member, Right at Home Tulsa East and West, Oklahoma

Hear What Others Are Saying

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"These caregivers make it possible for my husband and I to stay in our home. I'm so thankful for Right at Home and their caregivers."
Norma, Client, Right at Home Norfolk, Nebraska

Need time for yourself? We’re there for you at any time, anywhere.