It can be challenging when you are the one with full responsibility for taking care of a loved one with memory loss. Memory loss comes with ever-shifting needs that can be difficult to meet without special training. Of course, you want to be able to provide the best quality of life for your loved one. But the choice to hand that responsibility over to professionals is often a difficult one.
Most people understand that the choice to move their family member into a memory care facility is a positive long-term choice. But in the short term, it is common to experience guilt and anxiety around the change.
In time, most family members experience increased peace of mind thanks to the benefits of memory care facilities.
When to Consider Memory Care
When should you consider professional memory care for your loved one? It can be hard to decide. Moving before it is an emergency can help make the transition smooth and preserve your peace of mind.
Below are a few warning signs that might mean it is time to consider memory care.
- Ignores personal hygiene
- Mistakes with medications and doctors appointments
- Difficulty maintaining the daily routine (cooking meals, cleaning, grocery shopping)
- Wandering
- Shakiness or falling risk
- Depression or loneliness
- Difficult personality changes
- Forgetting loved ones’ names, confusing family members, and getting lost
- Caregiver stress
Special care helps people who are experiencing memory loss live better lives. If you notice your loved one experiencing any of the above, it may be worth considering moving them to a memory care facility.
Benefits of Dementia & Alzheimer’s Care Facilities
In a memory care facility, your loved one will experience benefits ranging from planned meals to increased social connection.
Provided Meals
Memory care facilities can prepare personalized meal plans for every resident. You can enjoy peace of mind knowing your loved one or family member will receive all the vitamins and nutrients they need.
In a senior living home that specializes in memory care, the meals may be geared specifically toward the needs of memory loss patients. Certain foods boost brain health, which can keep your loved one feeling their best.
Of course, food isn’t just about nutrients—it also helps us feel happy and at home. Your family member or loved one will be able to enjoy their favorite foods so they feel relaxed and well cared for.
Personal Safety
Personal safety is important for any senior living facility. However, this is especially true for memory care facilities. People who experience memory loss may get lost or wander. In a memory care environment, your loved one will be monitored closely, so you can rest assured they will always be safe.
Another benefit of daily monitoring is that residents get to enjoy more independence. When living in a highly monitored facility, they can go about their lives with staff members on-hand to help as needed.
Thanks to a well-trained staff and secure facility, you can rest easily knowing your loved one is safe.
Help with Medications
One challenge of managing memory loss is remembering to take medication. Medications keep residents feeling their best, but without assistance from staff, it is easy to forget.
When caring for your loved one on your own, you may find yourself worrying about whether or not they took their medicine. Let professionals at memory care facilities take care of medication management, so you can enjoy peace of mind and quality time with your loved one.
Social Connection
Older adults often experience a certain level of loneliness due to social isolation. Friends may lose touch over time, so socialization and connection become harder to access. Memory care, along with other types of elder care facilities, make social connection much easier.
Living in a community of other older adults makes it easier to have meaningful interactions and even make new friends later in life. Residents can strike up conversations in common areas and bond over common experiences.
Of course, not everyone is a social butterfly. Even so, chatting with caretakers or a small selection of friends provides much needed social connection for maintaining mental health and sharpness.
Get Help from Local Memory Care Experts
Here at Copeland Oaks, we know the decision to move your loved one to a memory care facility is not an easy one. We are here to help.
Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns you might have.