According to recent research, 25% of senior people in their 60s and older age suffer from memory loss or confusion. The earlier period of memory loss or dementia problems can damage a person’s ability to live freely and make them dependent on the care of others.
People with severe dementia or memory loss will always lose cognitive abilities. You must make decisions that may have long-term consequences for your loved one’s safety and well-being.
Your loved one with dementia may need to be transferred to a memory care center to improve their quality of life and protect their safety. Here are the 10 signs that this is the case.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are degenerative illnesses that progress over time. As a result, the question is:
When is it time to move into a memory care facility?
Your loved one may be self-sufficient in the early stages of dementia, but as the disease progresses, it will require 24-hour care. When should you put a loved one in memory care?
Seirra Oak was founded to meet the special needs of those suffering from dementia. Other dementia symptoms that are harmful to you and your loved ones include delusions, agitation, drastic personality changes, confusion, and disorientation.
We are aware that families are making every effort to provide care and love to their family members. We also know that senior people who are suffering from dementia need specialized care from caregivers who are professionally trained in order to understand their requirements.
How do you know when you’re no longer able to provide your loved one with the care they need? Basically, it is not an easy decision when you consider moving your loved ones to a memory care community for caregiving. You must understand the signs of pain in seniors with memory loss and act accordingly.
The following 10 signs may indicate that it is time to move your loved ones into memory care:
1. If you are concerned about the health and safety of your loved one
Nobody can understand the choices of your loved one better than you do. As you are the best person to decide whether or not it’s time to look into memory care is nearby to you.
If you are always worried about the safety of a loved one, whether they live with you or alone, it may be time to think about moving them to memory care.
Your loved one will always be safe in the care of the well-trained professionals.
2. If you are also concerned about your own safety
As dementia progresses, many people experience significant personality changes and can develop confusion and agitation that leads to violence or threats of violence.
If your loved one is exhibiting these signs and you are concerned about your own safety or the safety of others in your home, it may be best for your loved one to be in a memory care facility.
We are familiar with these signs and symptoms and know how to help your loved one work through emotions in a productive manner.
3. If you are unable to give proper care to your loved one
It may be difficult to care for a senior family member who needs a significant amount of aid, especially for a patient with dementia. This may result in a scenario that quickly becomes unsustainable.
Memory care can be the best choice for you and your senior family member if you are on the verge of or have already reached the stage when you feel burdened by the obligations of being a caregiver.
4. Your loved one is neglecting finances.
If your loved one is living alone, you must be aware of any notice they receive through the mail. If you observed frequently late notices on unpaid bills? You must have an open conversation with your loved one about their financial situation.
Neglecting such notices is one of the common signs of dementia for many and can cause trouble for your loved one such as financial scams, putting them into legal trouble or fines.
5. Your loved one is neglecting personal care.
If you notice your loved one is neglecting personal care. They wear unwashed or wrinkled clothing, bad smells, messy hair, and other issues with personal hygiene are other indications that it’s time to consider moving into memory care.
It can be a signal that your loved one is affected by dementia, neglects to take a bath or wash their hands, or ignores their regular hair and nail treatments.
We provide daily personal care assistance so that the client may continue to take care of what they can on their own.
6. Your loved one’s behavioral changes
If you observe a significant change in your loved one’s behavior. This could range from the anxiety of traveling or avoiding social activities to increased anger or changes in personal hygiene.
These changes in behavior may signify that your loved one’s dementia is rising faster.
Your loved one could possibly travel outside of the home if he or she wakes up at midnight or becomes confused and worried. Traveling can be so harmful to your loved ones since your loved ones will walk and have no idea about where they are or how to return home.
This can put seniors in danger and expose them to severe conditions in the summer and winter seasons.
Our Communities are safe memory care facilities with enclosed outdoor tables to protect your loved one from stepping away while yet enjoying the outdoors.
7. Living conditions are not in proper balance
Early dementia can sometimes present itself as hoarding. If you see that your loved one is no longer caring for his or her home, the mail is piling up, food is spoiled in the refrigerator, dishes are left out, and other household messes become uncontrollable, it may be time to move to memory care.
8. If your loved one feels lonely or isolated
Dementia makes it difficult to interact with family, friends, and neighbors, often negatively impacting a person’s social life. If your loved one is isolated and lonely, it can even make an impact on their mental and physical condition.
In a memory care community, your loved one can experience daily organized activities, creative outlets, and supervised excursions to keep social isolation at bay.
It is difficult for a dementia patient to move outside of the home as a result dementia sufferers can quickly become socially isolated. Being socially isolated increases one’s chances of being more anxious.
We keep an active and exciting program with events designed specifically for people dwelling in the facility based on the resident’s interests and skills.
The activities are intended to be entertaining and productive, as well as to alleviate some of the agitation, anxiety, and loneliness that dementia can induce.
9. Your loved one has unexplained physical changes
Our team frequently observes every resident’s hygiene and physical wellness, making sure that they are getting proper nutrition.
Any trouble in your loved one’s physical wellness may be an alarming sign that memory care might be needed. You must observe:
- Regular weight loss
- Any occurrence of an overdose of medication or not taking it in a timely manner
- Any neglect of personal hygiene
- Noticeable household injuries
Any of the above signs demonstrate that your loved one’s quality of life is decreasing. They also mean that their chances of being injured at home are increasing.
Additionally, their ability to seek help decreases as cognitive skills continue to be neglected. It means they may forget how to call the emergency number or press a life alert button.
If you are too concerned about the physical well-being of your family members, the Sierra Oak Memory Care community is the right place. Get a safe living environment with supervision for all of your loved one’s needs.
10. You want to restore your relationship with your loved one.
As dementia symptoms appear, you become your loved one’s caregiver. It has changed your responsibilities and now you need to spend more time taking care of them.
Moving into the Sierra Oak Assisted Living community will help you to spend time with your loved ones. You can do the things you love to do together while letting the team handle the professional care.
In a Nutshell
Making the decision to transition a loved one to a memory care facility is never easy. It is often necessary for their safety, well-being, and quality of life. Recognizing the signs that indicate a need for professional care—such as neglecting personal and financial responsibilities, significant behavioral changes, and increased safety risks—is crucial.
