When Is the Right Time to Move Your Loved One into a Memory Care Community?

If you’re the primary caregiver for a loved one with progressive dementia, you might be wondering when the right time is to move them into a memory care community. This decision is a difficult one to make but often necessary for your well-being and that of your loved one. The Terra Vista team is here to walk you through the decision-making process from start to finish.

5 Signs It’s Time for Memory Care

Behavioral changes associated with dementia hinder your loved one’s ability to complete daily tasks—like cooking, getting dressed, and driving—on their own. If your loved one with dementia exhibits any of the following signs on a frequent basis, it might be time to seek professional memory care.

1. Progressive Memory Loss: Most people living with dementia need professional help once the condition has reached its later stages due to significant cognitive decline. The more prevalent your loved one’s cognitive decline becomes, the more they will require specialized dementia or Alzheimer’s care.
2. Aggressive Behavior: The cognitive decline associated with dementia can cause increased frustration and irritability in your loved one, to the point of physical aggression. From kicking and biting to verbal abuse, aggressive behavior can be dangerous for both the person with dementia and their loved ones.
3. Caregiver Stress: Whether it’s a spouse, sibling, or adult child caring for a loved one with dementia, it can quickly become overwhelming and exhausting. Caregivers often experience what’s called caregiver stress or caregiver burnout. This is the point in the dementia care process when an at-home caregiver can no longer provide the help their loved one needs. Professional memory care provides not only the daily, personalized assistance someone with dementia needs but also relieves the pressure experienced by the family members caring for them.
4. Disorientation and Wandering: Everyday people, objects, and tasks often become unfamiliar to people living with dementia. Whether it occurs when driving a car or taking a walk, increased confusion can put your loved one and others in harm’s way over time.
5. Sundowning: Sundowning occurs when one’s dementia or Alzheimer’s symptoms—like agitation, restlessness, and confusion—intensify in the evening. This can create further stress for at-home caregivers.

An Award-Winning Memory Care Community

If you feel it’s the right time to seek professional memory care for your loved one, Terra Vista can help. Our all-inclusive memory care assisted living community in Oakbrook Terrace offers compassionate memory care for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia. We offer both long-term stays and trial short-term respite memory care services.