When is it Time For Memory Care?

Making the hard choice of moving a loved one to a memory care facility could represent a significant change in lifestyle. It’s challenging to think about a transition out of independent living.

However, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia advance after some time. Several relatives are not qualified to care for somebody with advanced forms of these afflictions. The time to have this conversation is prior to their symptoms worsening.

It’s much easier to do your homework and make these decisions when you are calm and best prepared than when you are in a crisis. Eventually, those with dementia might require 24-hour care. Memory care might be the foremost, safest, and more comfortable choice for both them and their health professionals.

What Is Memory Care?

Different than conventional assisted living facilities or nursing homes, memory care accommodates those with issues with memory and cognitive impairments (thinking). Experienced staff at these facilities care for those dealing with dementia, final levels of Alzheimer’s, or other memory loss afflictions.

Memory care facilities also provide residents with preparation of meals, housework, and clothes washing in addition to social activities, a lot of which are aimed at benefiting their physical and mental well-being. These communities have extra safety protections, such as secure doors. They might use visual cues, such as signage or photos, to aid residents in doing things freely.

Memory care communities can be included in assisted living residences, nursing homes, or retirement communities. They could also be stand-alone facilities.

8 Signs It’s Time for Memory Care

There are no specific guidelines for when someone requires 24-hour care. Medical practitioners can conduct tests to ascertain if their cognitive impairment has worsened. If you or your loved one is presently in a nursing home or an assisted living facility, staff there may observe signs that they require a higher degree of care. And specific changes in their behavior, appearance, and setting can offer clues:

1. They are forgetting to pay their bills. Whereas anybody can forget payment from time to time, it’s cause for concern if you begin to get confusing phone calls questioning why the satellite or phone was suddenly shut off.
2. They disregard personal hygiene and housework. They might have forgotten how to do housework or have problems bathing and getting themselves dressed.
3. They become careless in their present home. They could leave the refrigerator open, slip and fall, or wander away.
4. They are no longer taking good care of their health. They might forget to take their medication or take an excess of it. They do not schedule doctor’s appointments. They miss meals.
5. They could forget the tracking of time passing. In the beginning stages of dementia, they could forget what day it is and then recall it later. Nevertheless, forgetting what year it is or season it is, is a matter of concern.
6. They pull themselves out of hobbies and social situations. Research has shown that being socially isolated makes dementia symptoms worse. Most memory care facilities provide activities and promote socialization.
7. You are worried about your own bell being. Some progressive forms of dementia can result in abusive and aggressive behaviors.
8. Taking care of a loved one has taken a physical and mental toll on you. You are stressed, exhausted and disregarding your own needs.

Chaparral Winds Offers The Finest Retirement Living In Surprise, Arizona