Signs that it's Time for Memory Care
Before Memory Care
As our parents become older, health and cognitive issues become more common. While some of these issues can be managed at home, they can become more severe and begin to cause dramatic changes that affect everyone’s lives and routines. It can be frustrating when a loved one can’t find the right words to communicate, and you might feel unequipped for the long battle ahead.
Caring for a senior with memory issues involves maintaining structured routines, planning engaging activities, identifying behavioral triggers, and being careful not to get overwhelmed by it all. Homecare is possible for memory care (and even preferred in some cases), but if it is not an option, there are people, places, and communities that can help you care for your loved one in this time of need.
If you’re struggling to decide on the best care plan for your loved one, it may be time to consider residential Memory Care.
About Memory Care
Memory Care is an intensive, specialized form of care for seniors living with Alzheimer's Disease or other forms of dementia. According to the National Investment Center for Seniors Housing & Care, a nonprofit that tracks trends in the industry, Memory Care is the fastest-growing sector of the senior housing market, with the number of units doubling over the past decade. It is typically a section or ward in an assisted living community where trained team members handle specific cases like residents who have Alzheimer's Disease or mid- to late-stage dementia.
Finding help for managing Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia can be difficult for any family, but you’re not alone in this challenging endeavor.
There are about 6.8 million people in the United States who have dementia, including those who suffer from Alzheimer’s Disease. Many memory care specialists argue that people exhibiting psychological and behavioral symptoms of dementia are safer living in a memory care community where their symptoms can be managed by professionals.
Signs To Look For
No family member or spouse wants to think that their loved ones need specialized care. They want to think of their seniors as they once were: healthy, vibrant, and sharp. They want to remember the times before the illness took hold of them. But it is essential to keep a lookout for the indicators and signs of dementia so you can be prepared to make the right decision when the time comes.
After doing extensive research on what might be the best plan for your loved one, you will discover there are safe and reliable options available. For example, the caregivers at our community in Cleveland, TN are experts in memory care and are dedicated to providing personalized care plans for each resident’s individual needs.
If your loved one exhibits any of the following signs of dementia, it may be time to consider Memory Care.
They seem overly confused or disoriented
The concerned family member or spouse needs to know the difference between natural memory loss due to aging and something more dramatic. It is important to know what to look for because “slow cognitive decline is expected as we get older,” according to Joel Salinas, a neurologist at the Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Neurology. Some loss of memory is normal, but when it begins to affect the senior's day-to-day life, intervention may be needed.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, in the later stages of the disease, a senior with this disease may not remember familiar people, places, or things. They may start to lose track of dates and might not even be able to recognize the changing of the seasons anymore.
These kinds of episodes require an extreme amount of understanding on the family's behalf. In the senior’s mind, nothing is out of the norm, but from the family’s perspective, their loved one’s loss of memory may seem scary, frustrating, and upsetting. It is possible to navigate this with patience, understanding, and help from a memory care specialist.
They live in an unhealthy environment
Your grandmother who has kept her house in immaculate shape all of her life is now letting things slip. According to helpforalzheimersfamilies.com, this could be a sign of a bigger problem. What may look like laziness could actually be a cognitive inability to do basic tasks without guidance, cues, or step-by-step instructions. For the concerned family member or spouse, this can be a tough transition and likely calls for a major adjustment in approach.
There are dramatic changes in their behavior
Your once patient, loving grandfather is suddenly lashing out at family members in an uncharacteristic manner. This anger is likely a result of the frustration caused by his inability to comprehend the world around her. Your fiery-tempered, outgoing dad now acts shy around his closest family members. Your spouse is starting to forget key details of your wonderful marriage and important memories you shared together as a loving couple. In these cases, depression often results from the confusion and distress caused by dementia or specifically Alzheimer's.
Some worrisome behavioral changes:
Social isolation or withdrawal
Disruption in appetite that is not related to another medical condition
Disruption in sleep
Agitation or slowed behavior
Irritability
Fatigue
Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, or inappropriate or excessive guilt
Recurrent thoughts of death, suicide plans or a suicide attempt
With these behavioral changes, a gentle approach must be taken and specialized care should be considered.
They are putting themselves in danger
The confusion and disorientation caused from a senior with dementia can prove to be dangerous as well. The senior might develop troubles with their vision like misjudging distances and determining contrasting colors. This can quickly become a hazard for seniors with cognitive decline who still operate a vehicle or live by themselves.
Likewise, people with mid- to late-stage dementia tend to wander due to nervous energy or an unfulfilled need that they are unable to voice. They may wander out of their home, forget where they are driving, or lose track of time completely. People with dementia may also experience delusions, which are false, fixed ideas that repeat in their thoughts. Paranoia may set in, which could lead to disastrous consequences.
For all these severe cases, the senior experiencing these difficulties should be consistently supervised. There are many GPS devices available to purchase which are designed to keep elderly people safe when they are alone. In many cases, the senior may need to be moved closer to family so they can receive the care and attention they need. The home they've lived in may no longer be a safe environment for them if they are unsupervised. If you are unable to make these necessary changes when the time comes, moving your loved one to a memory care community may be in their best interest.
Not sure if your loved one needs memory care?
It’s okay not to know—we spent years taking care of our mother before we realized she needed specialized care in the hands of professionals. With our questionnaire below, you can start to find out the best option for your loved one (or yourself).
Their Physical Health Declines
Do you notice a change in your senior's complexion? Are they becoming frail, weak, or losing strength that they once had? Are they shedding weight in an unhealthy way? Or are they gaining weight from eating unhealthy foods?
In some cases, those experiencing late-stage dementia neglect to buy groceries or they forget to take their daily or weekly medication. They may also forget to bathe and change their clothes, which can create unsanitary conditions that lead to other illnesses. These worrisome symptoms are signs that expert help is needed.
They Experience Incontinence
For some families, it is possible to care for their loved one at home and make sure they have the attention and medical care they need. They may have the money, time, and resources required to handle the task without professional help.
But according to Dr. Scott Turner, Director of the Memory Disorders Program at Georgetown University, the one thing that is hard for some family members to handle is incontinence. “They feel overwhelmed, they feel it's more than they can handle, more than they signed up for,” he says. Having to clean up after a grown adult is difficult, especially when juggling all other pressures of work and daily life.
A Caregiver Becomes Unable to Continue to Provide the Necessary Care
Usually, a specific family member or spouse will end up handling the responsibility of caring for their ill loved one. However, what happens when that caretaker becomes ill or even passes away? The responsibility may fall to someone else not not as equipped to handle the senior’s care, and in that case, memory care should be considered.
They Can't Communicate Effectively
One of the most difficult symptoms of dementia or late-stage Alzheimer's is the inability to communicate effectively. Your loved one may find it impossible to find the right words or to comprehend what others are saying. This confusion can lead to serious behavioral changes like mood swings, depression, and anger.
Get Professional Help
If you are noticing any of these troublesome signs in your loved one, you should seek out help and guidance from experienced medical professionals.
Alzheimer's Disease is a severe illness and should be treated as such. According to Alz.org, finding a doctor that can help diagnose the patient is not a difficult process. In fact, doctors today can diagnose Alzheimer's Disease with ninety percent accuracy and can detect it very early on. Your primary care doctor can administer simple memory tests, and depending on those results, they can refer the patient to the right specialist. Usually the recommended specialist is a neurologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, or geriatrician.
It is important to take note of your elderly loved one’s behaviors, actions, and lapses throughout the day so you can paint an accurate portrait to the doctor. The more honest you are, the better the doctor can help. It is normal to feel reluctant to accept the diagnosis when you hear the words dementia or Alzheimer's Disease, but memory care experts, like the ones at Remember Me Senior Care, can help make the transition easier for everyone involved.
Memory Care in Cleveland, TN
Finding the right type of care for a loved one is never an easy process. But if their health is deteriorating or they are putting themselves in danger, it is in their best interest to seek professional help as soon as you notice symptoms. To learn about more memory care and its most commonly asked questions, check out our blog “Top Memory Care Questions” here.
The more prepared you are, the smoother the transition to memory care will be for seniors and caregivers alike.
For more information about our memory care community in Cleveland, Tennessee, or to speak to one of our memory care experts, contact us today.
Interested in seeing our memory care community in person? Schedule a tour today!