Is your loved one suffering from dementia?
Wondering if it’s time for assisted living dementia care?
Putting a close loved into specialized care can be a very hard decision to make, but often a necessary one. While you may not be able to recognize when it’s time to make the plunge, it’s important to take a long hard look to determine if it’s time.
Below are the 7 signs you need to look for to decide if it’s time for your loved one to be taken to an assisted care facility.
1. Their Behavior is Becoming More Aggressive
One sign that it’s time to find special care for your loved one is if they’ve been exhibiting a lot of aggressive behavior recently.
If your loved one’s dementia has progressed to the point where they’re exhibiting aggressive behavior and causing risk or physical harm to those around them, it may be time to look for a professional care facility.
A memory care facility can help your loved one to manage this type of behavior. They’ll have the experience and expertise needed to handle any type of aggressive behavior that arises throughout each day.
2. Increasing Cognitive Decline
Dementia is known to progress over time and their cognitive abilities may be showing signs of changing. If you’ve recognized that their mental capacity has been declining recently it may be time to find professional help and care.
Consider whether your loved one has been more forgetful than usual or has gotten easily confused. This behavior is common in dementia patients and increases as time goes by.
If confused behavior and cognitive problems have gotten so intense that your loved one has been hard to handle recently it may be time for assisted care.
3. They’re Falling More Often
Slips and falls can become a real problem for many types of elderly people but is an especially common risk for anyone with dementia.
During later stages of the disease, falling becomes an even more common problem. Your loved one may have trouble keeping their balance or walking on their own for very long at all.
If your loved one has been through an accident recently or if falling is becoming more and more common then it may be a sign that some professional care is needed for your loved one.
4. They’re Wandering
As your loved one becomes more confused and their cognitive abilities start to decline due to the disease, they may start wandering off.
This can cause a lot of stress among family members and is likely a clear sign that it may be time to seek help. If this is happening more and more often it’s time to look for a memory care facility.
When patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s wander off on their own this can be a big problem. You and other family members may get very worried when this happens and for good reason. Wandering may lead to an accident and can put your loved one in danger.
5. Sundown Syndrome
As a result of dementia, your loved one may start experiencing sundown syndrome, or sundowning. Sundowning often includes bouts of confusion, wandering, and aggressive behavior, often at the same time every day.
This condition may occur as a result of the disease and can cause a lot of stress and problems in your home. It can be worrisome for anyone who is close to the family member and can lead to a lot of stress and maybe even depression.
If this behavior has become a regular occurrence in your family member there’s no shame in seeking a professional care facility where the staff will know how to manage this kind of behavior well.
6. You’re On Your Own
While you may hate to admit it to yourself, taking care of a loved one is not easy and it can cause a huge amount of stress. If you have the sole responsibility of taking care of your loved one, it can interfere with your other life responsibilities.
It can be difficult to make the decision to get an assisted care facility to help your loved one, and you may feel like you are failing them if you do. However, especially if you’re the only one available to help take care of your loved one it is essential that you get help.
Nobody is capable of doing everything and it may be time to get the help you need. If you’re facing the task of taking care of them all on your own, it’s a clear sign that you should seek the help of an assisted care facility.
7. Their Symptoms Are Getting Worse
While there are many types of symptoms that come with dementia and Alzheimer’s, the truth is that these diseases will progress with time.
No matter what symptoms your loved one is currently experiencing if you find that they are starting to occur more often or they are becoming more intense and difficult to deal with, it may be time for a memory care facility to get involved.
Once dementia progresses past a certain stage it can be very useful to get professional care from a facility that is prepared to deal with the expected behavior and symptoms.
Not all senior care facilities are the same and there are different levels of care. A memory care facility can be a great choice and will be equipped with the skills needed to help your loved one through the disease.
Making the Choice to Look For Assisted Living Dementia Care
If you recognize the above signs in your loved one it may just be time to make a change and look for assisted living dementia care. While it can be tough to make the call, it’s important to recognize that it may just be the best choice for both you and your loved one.
Ready to learn more about assisted living and memory care in Florida? Contact us today to learn more about what Seasons Memory Care can do for you.
