The process of finding and choosing the right care for your loved one living with cognitive decline can be overwhelming and worrisome. For some, in-home caretakers work best. For others, memory care in Marietta may be a more fitting solution. Read on to find some of the most common signs pointing toward memory care being the best option for your loved one.
Physician Recommendation
Your loved one’s medical team may recognize signs or patterns that you don’t - and that might be a good thing. Their experience and expertise can help identify if memory care is becoming increasingly necessary.
Although this may seem like an obvious reason, we still believe it’s worth listing. Taking the advice of your loved one’s doctor or physician into consideration can be quite helpful. They know your loved one’s medical history and also have years of experience to support their suggestions.
Frequently Misplacing Everyday Items
Most people will lose an item every now and then, but these items are typically used on occasion or everyday items that have accidentally been misplaced. It’s common for the television remote to inevitably fall between the couch cushions or to forget which holiday decoration box houses the specific ornament you’re looking for. However, when items used on a regular basis - like car keys or a cell phone - seem to be lost more often than they are found, it might be time to consider memory care.
Losing everyday items can be frustrating, causing extra stress or even anger. When this happens a few times each year it is likely forgettable. When this begins to happen on a weekly or daily basis, it can begin to feel overwhelming and extra assistance might be necessary.
Noticeable, Consistent Aggression
Feeling upset is a normal part of life that everyone experiences from time to time. However, when seniors who are usually calm and even tempered begin to react aggressively on a regular basis or in circumstances that wouldn’t usually elicit such a response, this is reason for some concern.
Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia often increase the likelihood of aggressive and potentially violent outbursts. These actions are not necessarily reflective of their true feelings, but this does not make them any less dangerous to themselves or those around them. Memory care staff are trained how to facilitate effective responses to these situations, helping your loved one and those around them remain safe.
Increasing Episodes of Disorientation
Forgetting where to go in an unfamiliar town is typical. Forgetting how to get home from your favorite restaurant two miles away is concerning. Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia can affect the ability to remember where you are, where you’re going, or how to navigate.
Most memory care communities provide chaperoned, accessible transportation. This eliminates the need for your loved one to drive or navigate and ensures they safely arrive at and return from any outings. Memory care communities are also uniquely designed to help residents know where they are and how to return to their own apartments.
Difficulty Completing Daily Tasks
Once simple tasks, like using the washing machine or stovetop, can become challenging for seniors living with dementia. For a while, family and friends may be happy to help by answering a phone call or coming over for a brief visit. As your loved one needs increasingly more help over time, this occasional assistance may no longer be a feasible solution.
Memory care communities eliminate the need for many household tasks, like housekeeping, laundry, and cooking. These services are provided by the community’s staff, freeing up time and reducing frustration for your loved one.
Caregivers Are Becoming Overwhelmed
Taking care of seniors with cognitive decline can become taxing over time, especially when balancing the demands of one’s own family, career, and daily life. When caregivers are not at their best, it makes the job of caring for others even more demanding. If caregivers begin showing signs of total overwhelm or near burnout, it could be time to explore other options for care.
Memory care in Marietta provides a highly trained staff who share the workload based on their expertise. There is someone different to handle engagement activities, cooking, housekeeping, transportation, and other aspects of daily life. This balanced approach coupled with first-rate training helps ease the mental and physical demands of caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
We hope this guide gives you peace of mind as you thoughtfully consider if memory care is the next best option for your loved one. If you’re looking for more information about how to care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, download our free guide. We’re honored to serve you as you serve your senior loved ones.
