When is it Time to Consider a Memory Care Community?
A Place for Mom’s website explains how many people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia can live independently with or without the help of in-home caregivers or family members. However, they also stress there may come a time when the disease progresses to a stage where the person’s safety and physical well-being is in jeopardy and more care is needed.
As a person with Alzheimer’s may have good days and bad, it can be hard to tell if they would be better served in a memory care community. Experts say signs include: has their appearance changed? Do they look unkempt and have they lost weight due to forgetting to eat? Do they appear agitated and confused? Are they unable to carry on a conversation?
Your loved one’s healthcare provider can help you decide if it is time for memory care. Dr. Philip Branshaw, an internal medicine specialist in Batavia, Illinois, says, “When talking about memory care, or some form of a different living arrangement, I’ll center the talk around their ability to perform the activities of daily living and safety.”
A Place for Mom says to gauge a senior’s abilities and safety, your doctor may ask if they:
Get lost on routes they take frequently, such as going to the grocery store or taking a walk around the neighborhood
Have trouble remembering to eat or drink
Are forgetting to take their medication appropriately
Are struggling to bathe regularly or get dressed as usual
Had a fall or been to the emergency room recently
Leave the stove on after preparing food
MorningStar at Bear Creek offers compassionate memory care assisted living in Colorado Springs. Our unique approach to memory care is all-encompassing and provides an environment in which your loved one is given the support they need to make the most of each day. As our community is devoted to memory care only, every aspect of our home is designed to make individuals suffering from Alzheimer’s and other dementia-related diseases feel comforted, safe and secure. Please contact us or visit our website for more information.
MorningStar at Bear Creek embodies the very best in memory care assisted living with a distinct mission statement of “to honor, to value, to invest”. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing seniors and investing in staff with a felt calling to serve, we offer loving, compassionate care within a home-like setting. Please contact us or visit our website to learn more about our exceptional community.
Source: aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/is-it-time-for-memory-care