Memory Care
Alzheimer’s and dementia can be challenging for everyone involved, causing you to feel a range of emotions or ask yourself questions like: What’s going to happen to my loved one’s health? But the more you know what to expect and how to prepare, the more it can make the journey feel less daunting.
You also don’t have to go through this alone. If you do feel like you need outside assistance, memory care communities are a wonderful environment ideal for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia. In fact, studies show that seniors living in memory care communities often experience a higher quality of life than when they live at home. With us, your loved one would live in an apartment-like home with safety features, surrounded by their peers and nurturing staff members.
What is Memory Care?
Memory care is a kind of specialized care for people living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Communities typically feature secure environments where staff can closely monitor the health of the residents. You’ll also find programs, activities, and events that are designed to help memory care residents work on their cognitive abilities, while also getting to enjoy passions and hobbies. Staff typically are specially trained to provide the quality care needed for seniors with memory loss.
5 Signs It’s Time to Consider Memory Care
It’s normal to be worried about your loved one’s safety, especially if they have dementia. Seniors living with memory loss can sometimes find themselves in a place they don’t recognize, even if they’ve been there before, and panic. Those overwhelming emotions can cause them to take risks like cross the street before the walk sign is on or forget where the stairs are in their own home, resulting in falls and injuries.
1. Safety
It’s normal to be worried about your loved one’s safety, especially if they have dementia. Seniors living with memory loss can sometimes find themselves in a place they don’t recognize, even if they’ve been there before, and panic. Those overwhelming emotions can cause them to take risks like cross the street before the walk sign is on or forget where the stairs are in their own home, resulting in falls and injuries.
2. Caregiver stress
Being a caregiver is never easy, but it can be especially challenging when someone you love has a condition that progresses over time. In the early stages, you may have only needed to help with chores like paying bills and transporting to and from doctor’s appointments. But as the disease worsens, the to-do list can grow and lead to feelings of burnout. It’s hard to be a good caregiver if you don’t have time to care for yourself too.
3. Decline in personal care
Is your family member forgetting to invest in personal hygiene like bathing, changing clothes, brushing their teeth, taking their medication or combing their hair? Sometimes people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia know they must do these activities but forget how to do them. They can also feel embarrassed and ashamed, which prevents them from asking for help.
4. Unexplained physical changes
Have you noticed any physical changes in your loved one that they can’t explain? Maybe your mom used to have perfect posture, but now she seems a little slumped and sunken. Or maybe your dad has always been healthy, but now he’s losing weight and looking a little frail. Sometimes changes like these mean they are struggling to take care of themselves.
5. Social isolation
Sometimes seniors living with dementia lose interest in activities they used to enjoy, or they don’t want to socialize with friends anymore because it’s more difficult than it used to be. If they feel overwhelmed or recognize that they are struggling with memory loss, they may choose to withdraw from friends and family.
