Caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is a constantly evolving journey. It can be filled with heartwarming moments, but it also presents emotional challenges. As your loved one’s needs change, it is important to assess how best to support them to maintain their quality of life and overall well-being.
When the time is right, memory care can be an ideal solution. Memory care programs are designed to provide round-the-clock specialized assistance in a safe and structured environment. Consider the 10 signs below to help guide you and empower your family to make a confident and loving decision about memory care.
#1: Memory Loss Is Disrupting Daily Life
While it’s normal to occasionally forget someone’s name or misplace your keys, asking the same questions repeatedly or frequently forgetting recently learned information or important dates may be a sign of cognitive decline. A higher level of care may be needed when memory loss begins to interfere with eating, bathing, or basic safety.
#2: Wandering or Getting Lost in Familiar Places
Discovering that a loved one has wandered away from home or has been found disoriented in their own neighborhood can be a frightening experience for a family. As Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia advance, confusion about time and place can increase. Memory care communities are intentionally designed with secure layouts to help prevent wandering while still promoting the freedom to move freely.
#3: Forgetting to Take Medications
Missed doses, double doses, confusion about which pill to take, or finding medications stored in strange places are serious red flags. Medication errors can cause significant side effects and sometimes lead to hospitalization. Memory care nursing staff provide medication management and assistance.
#4: Difficulty With Everyday Tasks
Everyday tasks can become frustrating and challenging when someone is experiencing cognitive decline. For example, your loved one may struggle to cook a favorite recipe, balance their checkbook, use the TV remote, or drive to a familiar location. Planning, problem-solving, and completing routine chores may become a struggle. Memory care settings can reduce both frustration and risk through routines and guidance.
#5: Noticeable Changes in Mood or Personality
Dementia can affect an individual’s mood or personality, such as causing someone who was easygoing to become anxious or suspicious. Your loved one may become irritable or withdrawn, or make unfounded accusations about others, including friends, family, or caregivers. These types of observations may indicate a need for more specialized support.
#6: Decline in Personal Hygiene and Self-Care
As dementia advances, self-care can become more difficult. Your loved one may wear the same clothes each day, skip bathing, or lose weight from forgetting to eat regularly. A memory care setting ensures an individualized plan of care to meet your loved one’s daily needs, including bathing, grooming, and nutrition.
#7: Home Is No Longer Safe
If your loved one is leaving the stove on, forgetting to lock doors at night, or experiencing frequent accidents or falls, a memory care environment with 24-hour supervision may be necessary to ensure their safety and your peace of mind.
#8: Increasing Confusion, Disorientation, or Sundowning
Not recognizing loved ones, losing track of the year, or becoming increasingly agitated in the late afternoon and evening are signs that the disease may be progressing. Memory care staff are specially trained to ease these difficult moments with calming routines and therapeutic approaches.
#9: Difficulty Communicating or Holding a Conversation
As dementia advances, your loved one may struggle to find the words to hold a conversation or follow a discussion. Social isolation may occur, which can increase their risk of loneliness or depression. Memory care can offer meaningful engagement tailored to each resident’s current abilities.
#10: Caregiver Burnout Is Ongoing
If you’re caring for a loved one and feeling exhausted, depressed, or are missing work and neglecting your own health, you may be experiencing caregiver burnout. Your health and well-being are important too. Asking for help is giving your loved one access to a team trained in memory care and support programming.
Move Forward With Compassion
If several of these signs feel familiar, consider taking the next step:
- Talk with your loved one’s physician about the stage of their disease and care recommendations.
- Tour memory care communities to see the environment, meet the staff, and ask questions.
- Connect with a support resource such as the Alzheimer’s Association, which offers a 24/7 Helpline and family guidance.
Choosing memory care isn’t a failure on your part — instead, it can be viewed as love’s next chapter, where your loved one receives specialized care, and you can return to being their friend or family member again.
Download this checklist to know what to look for on your memory care tour >>
Get Your Free Guide to Memory Care
Know you’re not alone. We’re here to answer your questions and help you understand your care options. Download our free guide to learn about Devonshire at Waverly Heights, a licensed personal care home that offers specialized memory care for individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.
