Angelman Syndrome is a unique disorder with unique needs regarding home health care. No matter how old your child may be, they are very important to you and their care is top priority. When you want someone to help care for your child you want to ensure you have a professional who can handle not only the personal care but deal with the medical challenges as well. Understanding the disorder clearly, your home health care professional can help the day-to-day care of the individual while aiding those with more severe symptoms.
As you know Angelman Syndrome is a genetic disorder, named after the uncanny happy smiling facial expression, is unique in particular because it is not degenerative. Individuals who suffer from Angelman Syndrome can grow stronger and have more control over time. Someone without proper training may see their outbursts of laughter and the general affectionate nature, especially in younger children and not think clearly about the severe difficulties they can have.
Some of the Angelman Syndrome symptoms that home health care can be helpful are:
• Delayed motor skills and a delay in general development in children
• Learning deficits
• Speech difficulties
• Hyperactivity
• Shaking and tremors, uncontrolled movements
• Difficulty with walking
• An extremely youthful appearance even in adulthood
• Epilepsy with a variety of types of seizures
• Difficulty with steady sleep patterns
• A happy disposition with frequent outbursts of laughter
Your health care professional should know that the severity of each case varies strongly, as does the degree of self-care. In more severe cases even walking and sign language is not possible. This is why pulling out your Dickies scrubs and trying to take on the challenge of caring for your own child is not ideal. Having a professional come in is a better option for families raising a child with this disability.
Steady sleep patterns are very important because lack of sleep has a profound effect on the symptoms. However, as these individuals get older, there can be improvement in the ability to sleep unaided, as well as a reduction in the hyperactivity.
Having in-home health care for your child can be useful in assisting with dressing, personal care, treatment as well as helping the AS patient improve their skills. Most adults with AS can use utensils such as a fork and knife, but other assistance in meal preparation and medication monitoring is important. However, one of the difficulties that may arise with adults with AS because of their limited mobility is obesity. This can cause other problems that can add to their challenges.
There is no cure for AS. Treatment for Angelman Syndrome with anticonvulsant medication can vary depending on the different type of seizures that someone with AS can have. Because individuals with AS don’t generally sleep more than four or five hours, some families use Melatonin to help them get better restful sleep. Digestive complications may require a separate medication, such as mild laxatives. Other aids and treatments for individual symptoms will be based on the patient’s severity and abilities.
Because Angelman Syndrome can vary so greatly from patient to patient, having home health care to assist families is a great benefit. A home health care professional can see to the monitoring of medication, diet, aid in the development of independent skills, and be available to help during the seizures and other more serious symptoms to ensure the health and safety of someone dealing with AS.
Caring for your child with AS can be challenging, no matter how old your child is. You want to be sure that the professional understands your child’s specific needs as they show themselves. The health care professional needs to be sensitive to some of the unique characteristics, such as the extremely affectionate nature that although strongest in younger children, can follow them into adulthood. Like all parents, no matter how old your child gets you want the very best for them, and providing for their needs can be challenging. Home health care can offer assistance.
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