Did you know that over five milion adults in the United States have Alzheimer’s disease? Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia associated with memory loss and forgetting how to carry out basic tasks. It is the most prevalent type of dementia and will affect much more of the population in the coming years.
If your loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, then you may be wondering when it is the best time to move them to assisted living for Alzheimer’s. Here are some traits to recognize if you need to get care for dementia.
1. They Feel Lonely
Loneliness is a huge factor among many old people. When you retire, you lose much of your social circle and the structure around your day, so it can be difficult to make new friends or find things to do.
However, people with Alzheimer’s may have an even more difficult time with loneliness if they forget who they socialize with or cannot drive to do certain activities that they once loved. When choosing a nursing home or assisted living for Alzheimer’s, you should see what the social life is like for residents.
If you have other responsibilities and you do not have time to visit with your loved one, then a memory care facility may be the best option for you. They can socialize with other patients and caregivers to get the quality interactions they need.
2. They Forget Their Medication
Being forgetful is sometimes a part of getting older, but memory loss occurs rapidly with Alzheimer’s disease. Forgetting to take medication or supplements can be incredibly harmful if your loved one has a serious condition that needs attention.
You can help your loved one to remember to take their medication by setting it on a timer and giving them an alert when they need to consume it. However, if it requires multiple doses a day or they still forget, then it may be time to look into assisted living.
In a nursing home, the staff will monitor when your loved one takes their medication and can even keep track of dosage so that they never miss a dose. They can carry on with their life as normally as possible without having to fret over their medication schedule.
3. They Can’t Perform Basic Hygiene
Bathing and taking care of yourself can become a challenge when you suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, your loved one may not notice that their hygiene habits start to change as the condition progressively gets worse.
The level of assisted living care that you choose can influence how your loved one takes care of their hygiene. This often depends on how bad their condition is.
For instance, if they simply need reminders, one of the staff can tell them that they need to bathe. In more extreme situations, they may need assistance with bathing or even sponge baths to stay clean.
4. They are Unable to Cook and Clean
If you notice that the house is not clean or your loved one seems hungry, they may be struggling to cook and clean on a regular basis. Since Alzheimer’s disease takes away motor processes and muscle memory when it comes to daily tasks, they may feel lost that they do not know how to do something they have been doing for years.
Many assisted living facilities offer varying degrees of independence, depending on what the residents want and what their doctors will allow. You can help your loved one find a unit that has safe cooking options if they like to prepare their own food.
5. They Spend Irresponsibly
You may not associate it with classic symptoms of dementia, but irresponsible spending and reckless purchases certainly qualify. Your loved one may buy items repeatedly because they forget that they purchased more than one.
Another symptom of dementia is forgetting to pay bills and fees. This could cause serious financial problems if not taken care of, such as late fees that can compound and even go to a collections agency.
When you get dementia care, your loved one will not have to worry about paying their bills any longer. You can manage their finances and the cost of living at a memory care facility so they can spend time doing things that they love in their golden years.
6. They Have Trouble Speaking
In advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, it is possible for people to lose their ability to speak and communicate. Speaking loudly is a common sign that they have trouble understanding social cues or forget how to properly engage in conversation with others.
With care for dementia, the caregivers will be able to know what your loved one needs and interpret how they communicate. You will not have to struggle as much to understand.
7. You Cannot Take Care of Them
If you are the primary caregiver for someone with dementia, it may become overwhelming once they reach a certain stage of the disease. Once the symptoms are out of your control, then it may be time to look into choosing a nursing home for Alzheimer’s treatment.
When they are in assisted living for memory care, you can make your visits much less stressful. Since they will have all of their basic needs met, you can focus on spending quality time with one another and growing your relationship.
Find Assisted Living for Alzheimer’s
If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, you should not have to worry about getting them the care that they need. With this guide to assisted living for Alzheimer’s, you can find great care for dementia that will make your loved one feel comfortable and safe.
Want to learn more about how you can help take care of the elderly in their golden years? Take a look around our site for more tips and tricks for caring for parents as they age.
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