How Can I Be Sure The Person Who's Watching My Mother Doesn't Upset Her Routine?

This process starts before you even hire the person.

Once you're down to the last few candidates, bring them into your mother's home, and watch the interaction. You can teach someone about her daily necessities and routine. But you can't teach chemistry. It's either there or it's not.

Watch your mother's body language and facial expressions. And don't forget to speak with her afterward. Even advanced Alzheimer's patients can tell you - verbally or otherwise - how they feel about someone.

Once you've made your decision, explain to your mother that you're bringing someone in to spend time with her, and to help with daily chores. Bring the person in before she actually starts work, so they can get to know each other. Make sure you tell her about your mother's preferences, likes and dislikes, quirks, and how to react in certain situations with your mother. And make sure she understands that you want to be informed!

The first visit should not be the whole day. It's better to start with just a few hours, so your mother's world isn't turned upside-down in one day.

After the employment starts, encourage your mother to express her feelings about the person and their relationship. Her response may not be verbal but - especially if she isn't comfortable - you'll be able to tell. And you'll be able to tell if you need to consider finding someone else.

If you're a caregiver to a loved one with Alzheimer's or Dementia, your life may seem like one unanswerable question after another. But don't despair. We can help.

At The Law Offices of Alice Reiter Feld & Associates, we practice Elder Law - and only Elder Law. And we have one of the largest Alzheimer's/Dementia Resource Centers in South Florida.

For the past 33 years, we've walked thousands of South Florida families through the Alzheimer's/Dementia Journey... with professionalism and with compassion. And we've helped them prepare in advance for the possibility of it, as well, with comprehensive estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, long-term care planning, asset-protection plans, and assistance with Medicaid and the VA.

We know every step of the Alzheimer's/Dementia Journey. And we're just a phone call away.