Most people living with Alzheimer's or another dementia want to stay at home, and with the right support many can for a long time. The challenge is that needs change — sometimes slowly, sometimes overnight — and families often wait too long to bring in help.
Signs it's time for in-home help
- Missed medications or doubled doses
- Weight loss, spoiled food in the fridge, or skipped meals
- Getting lost on familiar routes, or wandering at night
- A family caregiver who is exhausted, missing work, or losing sleep
- Falls, or near-misses in the bathroom
What in-home dementia care looks like
Good dementia care is built around routine. The same caregiver arriving at the same time, following the same sequence for bathing, meals and activities, reduces confusion and agitation. Caregivers trained in dementia learn to redirect rather than argue, and to notice changes in behavior that may signal pain, infection or a medication problem.
Care can start with a few hours a week of companionship and grow to include personal care, overnight supervision, and eventually 24-hour care. TideCare describes this range in its page on Alzheimer's and dementia care in Norfolk.
Questions to ask agencies
- What dementia-specific training do your caregivers receive?
- Can we keep the same caregiver, and how do you introduce a new one?
- How do you handle sundowning, refusals, or wandering?
- Do you offer overnight and respite care so family caregivers can rest?
When someone insists they're fine
Many people with dementia genuinely can't perceive their own decline — a symptom called anosognosia, not stubbornness. Framing help as "someone to keep you company" or "help for me" often works better than debating the need. TideCare has a thoughtful piece on anosognosia and dementia.
Support for caregivers in Hampton Roads
- The Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900
- Senior Services of Southeastern Virginia for Southside programs and caregiver support
- Peninsula Agency on Aging for Hampton and Newport News
- Respite care — short-term professional coverage so you can take a break. See respite care in Norfolk.
When you're ready to compare agencies, start with our ranked Norfolk directory.
