Your Physician can Help Decide if it is Time for Memory Care?
A Place for Mom’s website explains that many people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia can live independently with or without the help of in-home caregivers or family members. However they also stress there may come a time when the disease progresses to a stage where the person’s safety and physical well-being is in jeopardy and more care is needed.
As a person with Alzheimer’s may have good days and bad, it can be hard to tell if they would be better served in a memory care facility. Experts say a telling sign is has their appearance has changed. Do they look unkempt and have they lost weight due to forgetting to eat? Do they appear agitated and confused? Are they unable to carry on a conversation?
Your loved one’s healthcare provider can help you decide if it is time for memory care. Dr. Philip Branshaw, an internal medicine specialist in Batavia, Illinois, says, “When talking about memory care, or some form of a different living arrangement, I’ll center the talk around their ability to perform the activities of daily living and safety.”
A Place for Mom says to gauge a senior’s abilities and safety, your doctor may ask if they:
Get lost on routes they take frequently, such as going to the grocery store or taking a walk around the neighborhood
Have trouble remembering to eat or drink
Are forgetting to take their medication appropriately
Are struggling to bathe regularly or get dressed as usual
Have they had a fall or been to the emergency room recently
Leave the stove on after preparing food
At the new MorningStar Memory Care at West Valley, we specialize in caring for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia. Our holistic approach includes purposeful activities and Montessori-based therapies. Our new community is located in West San Jose in Santa Clara County and will open to residents in winter 2022. Please visit our website today to inquire about availability, pricing and to reserve a select suite for your loved one. Inquire about savings for early depositors.
Source: aplaceformom.com/caregiver-resources/articles/is-it-time-for-memory-care