Caring for a loved one with dementia can be both gratifying and a challenge. As the disease progresses, once-manageable tasks often become overwhelming. Ensuring safety and well-being can require around-the-clock attention. Many families reach a point where they wonder: Is it time for professional memory care?
This decision isn’t easy, but it’s an important one. While every situation is unique, there are clear signs that indicate a memory care community may offer a safer, supportive and engaging home for your loved one.
10 Signs It’s Time for Memory Care
If you’re unsure whether additional memory support might be needed, here are 10 key signs that suggest a compassionate and specialized community may be the best option.
1. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Increasing Memory Loss and Confusion
If your loved one is forgetting recent events, important dates or the names of close family members, it may be a sign that the dementia is progressing. If they struggle to follow conversations or you’re having trouble communicating, the specialized support of a secure environment could be beneficial.
2. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Frequent Wandering or Getting Lost
One of the more dangerous effects of dementia is wandering, and this can happen during any stage of the disease. Safety is always a priority issue. If you worry your loved one might leave home and be unable to find their way back, memory care communities are designed to prevent wandering but allow residents to move freely within secure spaces.
3. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Neglecting Personal Hygiene and Daily Tasks
If your loved one is wearing the same clothes for days, not wanting to bathe or struggling with daily hygiene, it may be time to consider memory care. Specially trained staff can provide assistance with these daily tasks.
4. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Changes in Eating Habits
Dementia can impact a person’s ability to recognize hunger or remember to eat. If your loved one has lost weight, forgotten meals or is struggling to eat safely, memory care communities provide nutritious meals, assistance and special utensils that can encourage healthy eating.
5. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Increased Anxiety or Mood Swings
Dementia can often lead to significant personality changes. Your loved one may become irritable or anxious and you may not know why. If their behavior changes or they’re expressing paranoia, depression or agitation, they may benefit from a structured and supportive memory care environment. Staff are trained to respond and de-escalate anxiety.
6. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Unsafe Living Conditions
If your loved one is living at home alone, you might discover their living environment is cluttered, unclean or unsafe. These can all be a sign that they are struggling to maintain their living space. Unopened mail, spoiled food or unpaid bills can also mean they are no longer able to manage their daily responsibilities.
7. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Difficulty Managing Medications
Taking medications correctly is crucial for overall health. If your loved one forgets to take their medicine, takes too much or can’t remember what they’ve taken, they could be at a serious health risk. Memory care communities ensure medications are administered properly and on schedule.
8. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Withdrawal from Social Activities and Isolation
Has your loved one stopped engaging in hobbies, social events or visits with family and friends? Isolation can worsen cognitive decline, depression and anxiety. Memory care communities provide engaging activities and social opportunities that can be tailored to promote the resident’s well-being.
9. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Increased Safety Risks and Emergency Situations
If your loved one has experienced frequent falls, forgets to turn off the stove or might pose a danger by wandering, safety has become a serious risk. Memory care communities are designed to prevent accidents and provide a secure environment with trained staff available 24/7.
10. Signs It’s Time for Memory Care: Caregiver Burnout
Family members often provide care for as long as possible, but at some point it can become overwhelming. If the caregiver is feeling exhausted, anxious, unable to meet their loved one’s needs or is neglecting their own health care, it may be time to explore a memory community. Not only is around-the-clock support available, but families also gain peace of mind knowing their loved one is well cared for.
Making the Decision for Professional Memory Care
If you are considering whether it might be time for your loved one to move into a memory care community, this can actually result in better health and safety. Often, the individual’s quality of life improves because they now have access to specialized programs, dining, therapy and social interactions.
Turning to a memory support community also provides peace of mind for the family and the relief of knowing they don’t need to face the challenges alone.
Memory Support at Presbyterian Village North
At Presbyterian Village North, we support both the individual and the family as they navigate the dementia journey.
We focus on the quality of life for our residents with a staff specially trained in the best practices of dementia care. Residents make their homes in private apartments while benefiting from the daily interactions with others and participating in our exercise, music, art and cognitive therapies.
With outdoor seating and dining possibilities, our secure garden courtyard and protected walking paths encourage our residents to venture outside while remaining safe from wandering.
We also provide the following services:
- Licensed nursing staff onsite 24/7
- Medication administration
- Assistance with activities of daily living
- Chef-prepared cuisine
- Special activities and social programs
- Access to a full continuum of care
Presbyterian Village North is a compassionate resource for your loved one and your family. Please call (800) 400-4130 if you have any questions or would like to schedule a personal visit to our community.