At Vantage Point, in Fayetteville, AR, we strive to meet the individual needs of every patient who walks through our doors. For over 35 years we have successfully served children, adolescents, adults, and seniors at our center suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.
Learn More About Alzheimer's Disease Treatment
Learn more about Alzheimer’s Disease treatment at Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital Fayetteville, AR
If you or a loved one is struggling with Alzheimer’s disease, you probably understand that this disease is a type of progressive dementia that causes changes in the way you think, behave, and remember things. You’re probably dealing with memory loss that’s so extreme it’s starting to cause problems in your daily life to the extent that you may be unable to remember recently-learned information, forget important dates, and have become increasingly reliant upon memory aids such as lists. You’re probably facing challenges in solving problems such as paying bills or following a well-loved recipe. You may even forget what time it is and where you are, which can lead to some serious safety challenges for you and loved ones. The struggles of Alzheimer’s disease may have taken over your daily life and caused tremendous problems for you and your loved ones. It’s time to get some help.
Vantage Point in Fayetteville, AR offers inpatient mental health care at our center for older adults who are struggling with unremitting symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other challenges. We understand that Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease has no cure, but we’re ready to work with you and your loved ones to meet your mental health needs and maximize your emotional and cognitive function to enhance your quality of life.
How to Help a Loved One
Helping a loved one get treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, you’ve probably been through the emotional gauntlet – even early diagnosis, which is associated with the best outcomes, can throw you into a tailspin of despair. It can be so hard to watch someone you love slowly slip away from you as he or she loses more and more of his or her memory and ability to communicate with you. You may know that your loved one needs care but are unsure how to approach the situation. Here are some tips for gently guiding your loved one into treatment for Alzheimer’s disease:
Care for yourself: If you’re in a caretaker role for your loved one, make certain that you’re taking care of yourself. This means frequent, scheduled breaks in which you spend your time doing the things you love to recharge and refresh yourself. Find a therapist to talk to about your emotions and if they’re overwhelming, don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about what you’re dealing with.
Seek support: People who have Alzheimer’s disease tend to experience a worsening of symptoms that may occur suddenly or gradually and caring for them may become a full-time job. Locate area respite services and contact friends and family who can support you and make sure you’re not succumbing to caregiver burnout. Additionally, seek out local support groups who can offer advice, reassurance, and comfort to you.
Find a treatment center: When you’re looking into a treatment center for your loved one, make sure it offers a unique geriatric program equipped to handle the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease. Make an appointment at the center to go over any questions or concerns you may have and bring your loved one along to alleviate his or her anxiety.
Why Consider Treatment
Why consider treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease at Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital Fayetteville, AR
If you’re facing Alzheimer’s disease, it’s very likely you have a number of other medical concerns you’re struggling with. Sometimes, the medications you take for your physical health problems can interact and worsen the symptoms of your Alzheimer’s disease and make your memory and thinking skills even worse. You may have begun to wander off, unsure of the time or place, and inadvertently placed yourself in harm’s way. You may find it increasingly challenging to perform simple activities of daily living such as toileting and eating, which can lead to many complications. It’s time for you to get the help you need for your Alzheimer’s disease.
An inpatient treatment center offers safety and security for people who have Alzheimer’s disease – notably those who wander – which can ease the minds of all involved. Inpatient mental health treatment is an ideal situation for people with Alzheimer’s to have their medications evaluated for efficacy and adjusted as needed while providing the behavioral therapies necessary to return to the client’s highest level of functioning. Additionally, an inpatient treatment center can help loved ones and family members work together to determine the next appropriate best step for their loved one.
Our Philosophy
Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital philosophy and treatment benefits
At Vantage Point in Fayetteville, you will find that we provide individualized care and treatment in a warm, supportive atmosphere designed to return you or your loved one to his or her highest level of cognitive and emotional functioning. We know that treatment for Alzheimer’s disease isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach, so we work with you and your family to best understand your needs so we can create a plan of care that meets all of your mental health needs. We’ll provide many types of therapies at our center, which are aimed at your unique level of functioning and discover ways in which we can help support you and your family during this challenging time.
Types of Treatment
Types of Alzheimer’s Disease treatment offered at Vantage Point Behavioral Health Hospital Fayetteville, AR
When you come to Vantage Point of Northwest Arkansas, you’ll first undergo a comprehensive evaluation process so we can best determine how to help you manage Alzheimer’s disease. Your physical examination at our center will determine if you’re struggling with additional medical diagnoses and determine if your medications are adversely affecting you. Your psychiatric evaluation will be able to diagnose the stage of your Alzheimer’s disease and the presence of any co-occurring mental health disorders such as depression. The results of your evaluations will used by your mental health treatment team to sit down with you and your loved ones to create an individualized plan of care for your stay at our center.
Medications may be used to help alleviate some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and allow you to maintain comfort and dignity for as long as possible. However, there are not any medications which currently exist that cure Alzheimer’s, but for some, symptoms may be best managed through a medication regime. We’ll also examine your existing medications to ensure they’re working effectively and not causing any adverse medication reactions.
Individual therapy can help you better understand the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, make plans for your future, and discuss strategies you can use to help with some of the symptoms you’re facing.
Group therapy can be very helpful for people who have Alzheimer’s disease as it allows you the chance to interact with others who are struggling with memory loss and other related disorders. Group topics at our center may include the importance of medication management, coping with frustration, and processing the feelings about a terminal diagnosis.
Family therapy is the cornerstone of treatment for people who have Alzheimer’s as often family members will become caregivers when you are unable to live independently. Through family therapy at our center, you’ll discuss plans for the future, help all involved process their emotions, and learn more about the idea of long-term placement when symptoms become too severe.
As Vantage Point of Northwest Arkansas is a holistic treatment center, we include therapies designed to complement traditional approaches to Alzheimer’s disease treatment. These experiential methods include:
- Recreation
- Expressive therapy
Continuing Care
Continuing care and levels of treatment for Alzheimer’s Disease
As your time at our mental health draws to a close, you and your family will work closely with your treatment team to create a plan of care that meets your continued needs for Alzheimer’s disease. Some may feel that a long-term placement in an assisted living facility or skilled nursing facility is most appropriate and we will do our best to make appropriate referrals. Others may feel they’re ready to join our Senior Expressions, our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that allows you to focus upon your treatment during the day while returning home in the evenings. Our IOP provides transportation to and from the program, a nutritious meal, and operates up to five days per week for three hours each day. Other people may feel they’ve made enough progress at our Fayetteville-area center to return home with their loved ones with follow-up care provided by his or her primary care physician.