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.
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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. If your family member’s increasing health needs are surpassing your abilities and causing family disruptions, it may be time to consider a memory care facility.
2. Aggressive Behavior
The cognitive decline associated with dementia can cause increased frustration and irritability in your loved one, to the point of verbal, physical, and even sexual aggression. From kicking and biting to verbal abuse, this can create a strain on caregivers and other family members and become a danger for both the person with dementia and their caregivers. This is an indicator that it’s time to consider another living alternative.
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. As the disease progresses, the risk of wandering becomes greater and the probability of falls and injuries increases. Is your family member becoming increasingly unsafe in his or her own home? An honest answer to this question might give you clues that the moment has come to evaluate a memory care community.
5. Sundowning
Sundowning is a common characteristic among those with Alzheimer’s and it occurs when one’s dementia or Alzheimer’s symptoms—like agitation, restlessness, and confusion—intensify as the day wears on, particularly 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.
