When is memory care home appropriate? When cognitive decline is in its early stages, many seniors can continue to live independently, with the help of some family members or a caregiver.
But as dementia gets worse, it might be time to have specially trained dementia care specialists to help those who are in memory care facilities.
It can be difficult to know when is the right time for memory care, as the dementia symptoms can vary from day to day.
With the cognitive decline, there are certain things the doctors look for in seniors, who might be ready to move into a memory care facility.
When Is It Time For Memory Care?
When seniors are having trouble with their daily activities, like dressing, bathing, and going to the bathroom, these are the most common signs that they need a nursing home.
The other sign that memory care might be needed is the appearance of the senior. The signs that they might need Alzheimer’s care, are when you see them looking untidy, their hair is a mess, and they have lost a lot of weight.
More concerning signs are when the senior can not carry on a conversation and seem a little lost in their thoughts.
With these red flag signs, it is important to get a doctor’s exam to do a brief mental status exam on the senior.
Difficulties With Daily Living Show When Someone Needs Memory Care
To gauge a senior’s abilities and safety, you can ask the following questions to find out if they need a memory care facility.
- Getting lost on routes they take frequently, like going to the grocery store
- Forgetting to eat or drink
- They are not taking their medication properly
- forgetting to bath, or having a hard time getting dressed
Safety Concerns Time For Memory Care
Safety concerns are very worrying, and if any of the following is happening, it would be good for a doctor to do a mental examination.
- The senior is leaving burners or appliances on after cooking
- A pet is not being cared for properly
- There have been any emergency room visits
- The senior has bruises they can’t explain or don’t remember getting
- Wandering can be very dangerous for the senior
Ask yourself if your senior family member’s safety needs are being met, or if they could use extra help to avoid dangerous situations.
Memory Care Mental Examination
Doctors can do an easy and fast examination to see the extent of dementia, here are a few things that they will do:
- The doctor will ask the senior to repeat some words and then remember them.
- Asking the senior to do a basic math problem.
- Have the senior do some basic spelling.
- Name some objects properly
- Ask them what year is it
If there are clear signs of dementia, they may need to go to visit a neurologist or other memory specialists to specifically diagnose the type of dementia or Alzheimer’s that they have.
First Sign Of Memory Loss
When there are the first signs of memory loss and some dementia behavior, it is important to inform the doctor straight away.
Once dementia has been diagnosed, it will be easier for the doctors to track the results of the desire and see the decline in memory loss over time.
Discussing Dementia
Once dementia has been diagnosed, it is a good idea to have a conversation with the parent or the loved one so that they can be part of the senior living treatment conversation.
In general, it is more productive to have the senior involved in the conversation about dementia care and talk about the different versions of retirement living options that are available.
Having the conversation with the senior, is helpful for them physically and mentally, as their lifestyle will be changing.
Dementia Assisted Living
It is never an easy conversation when talking to a loved one about dementia assisted living, but also having the conversation with a professional may also make it easier.
When you have to address the topics of them still driving, making their home safe for them to live in, or having them ready to transition into dementia assisted living, a professional may make it easier to have.
Questions On Deciding About Memory Care
Here are the main reasons when to decide that it is the right time for your loved one to move to an assisted living memory care home.
- Have people commented on changes in behavior? Sometimes the people who are caring for the loved one do not see the changes because for someone with full-time dementia the changes are slow. But for someone who is not taking full-time care of them, the changes can be obvious that these are the signs that it’s time for memory care.
2. Aggressive or agitated behavior? Violence and aggression are caused when a senior is experiencing confusion. Kicking, biting, or even hitting the caregiver or family members can happen.
Verbal abuse can also often happen, insulting friends and family, and often accusing them of theft, these are clear signs of dementia.
Aggression can be very dangerous with a senior who has dementia, agitation and violence can be more common with seniors later in the day, and also sundown syndrome can also be an issue.
3. Becoming withdrawn and nervous, are symptoms of dementia, when a senior stop doing things that they love is a true sign.
Also when a senior loses their confidence about things that they used to do, or even for them to leave their house, are signs.
4. When a senior stop taking care of their appearance, and stop practicing to be hygienic when they stop bathing or changing their clothes, these are red flag signs.
Some more serious causes for the seniors with dementia will even forgetting to clean themself after going to the bathroom.
5. Wandering is a common sign of a senior with dementia, and for them to be safe, a memory care facility is the safest place for them to be.
When senior wonders, they can get lost easily, become disorientated easily, and they can wander far from home.
This can be very dangerous and put the seniors in dangerous situations that they are not prepared for, like severe weather or going into roads with lots of traffic.
Memory care communities are very well set up, and they are designed to reduce confusion, so the senior is more comfortable and less stressed.
6. Living conditions for a senior with dementia can begin to change when you see them start to hoard items, stop doing their laundry or do any cleaning, and leave out old food or cleaning up after a pet, which are all common signs that it might be time for a memory care facility.
Seniors with Alzheimer’s will need modifications done to their homes to make them safe from trip hazards, fall risks, kitchen appliances, guns, or chemicals in the home.
7. Seniors forgetting to take their medications, or taking too many medications can be a serious problem. Medicine management for seniors with dementia is a full-time job.
8. Seniors with memory care issues will require special diets, to help with the existing health conditions. Seniors with memory issues will often forget to eat, or even overeating can be a problem too.
9. Caregiver burnout can be a real issue, caring for someone with dementia can be overwhelming and very frustrating too.
Having caregiver burnout can have negative consequences on the caregiver and on the senior too. When the caregiver is burned out they have nothing left to give.
10. With extreme cases of dementia, it can lead to anger, which can lead to physical, sexual, and emotional aggression. these behaviors are common.
Dementia Care Is The Next Step
If you are seeing that your loved one is having some or all of the above list, it is time to move into a memory care facility.
With your loved ones in a memory care home, they will be in a safer environment and provide them with all of the support that they need.
Assisted Living Dementia Care
They will be living in a stimulating environment, where their emotional needs will be met, as well as their medical needs too.
In an assisted living dementia care facility, there will be less stress for them, as the facility is designed to lower their stress levels.
Where Can I Find Dementia Care Services Near Me?
When you are searching for a dementia care service near me, we can help you with that search, with our large referral network we will get you the local dementia care home for you.
Contact Loving Assisted Living today, we are here to answer all of the questions that you might have on costs and facilities, and we will help you to find the local memory care facilities near you.
Here is some more information on Alzheimer’s, that you might also find helpful.