Determining that your loved one living with Alzheimer’s or dementia requires more care than you can provide at home can be a difficult decision – one only your family can make. However, some indicators may suggest it’s time to consider a more advanced level of care, like a memory care community.
This blog will provide an overview of those indicators and offer a list of questions you can ask to help with your decision.
Health and safety concerns
When you start to have concerns over your loved one’s health and safety while at home, it’s often necessary to consider additional memory care services.
Health issues
As your loved one progresses through the stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia, they may experience a decline in health. Some common physical changes include:
- Problems with incontinence
- Decreasing mobility
- Weight loss or gain
- Medication mismanagement
- Poor hygiene – bathing, grooming
Caring for your loved one’s health may be more than you can handle, and it’s important to ensure your loved one maintains their dignity and has a high quality of life. For these reasons, memory care may be the best solution for both you and your loved one.
Safety issues
People living with Alzheimer’s or dementia may show signs of confusion and exhibit concerning behaviors, like wandering, getting lost while driving, or forgetting to turn off appliances.
Keeping your home safe can become increasingly difficult as your loved one’s cognitive health declines. Your loved one may confuse day and night, set the thermoset too high or low, or make unsafe choices overall.
When you begin worrying about your loved one’s safety, it may be time to research memory care options.
Questions to ask yourself
As you think about your loved one’s health and safety, ask yourself the following questions to ensure you’re keeping their best interests in mind:
- Does your loved one seem depressed or isolated?
- Do they have enough social stimulation?
- Are they exposed to activities to strengthen cognitive functioning?
- Do caregivers know how to appropriately respond to behaviors like agitation, wandering, and aggression?
- Is your loved one’s life as rich and full as possible, despite their illness?
Benefits of memory care
Often families may feel guilty about moving their loved one to a memory care community. Even though the transition is an emotional one, there are numerous benefits to memory care communities.
Some of the benefits of residing in a memory care community may include the following:
- Decreased risk of falls and injuries
- Access to meaningful activities
- Wellness and fitness classes
- Socialization among peers and trained caregivers
- Specialized programming for individuals experiencing cognitive decline
- Safe and secure environment
- Personalized care services
- Properly managed medications
- Round-the-clock nursing care assistance
- Increased independence
- Nutritious meals and snacks
- Secure outdoor spaces
- Supportive network of staff and families
Life at Sonrisa Assisted Living
If you’re looking at options for senior living, we invite your family to visit Sonrisa Assisted Living, designed to support your loved ones to live their highest quality of life.
We offer studio and one-bedroom private apartments for our assisted living residents as well as private or shared memory care suites for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Our memory care residents are cared for by our compassionate and specially trained team — who meet them wherever they are in their journey with patience and kindness. The residents also have access to customized activities, programs, and an elevated secured courtyard.
Our amenities and services encourage our residents in assisted living to engage with others, remain as independent as possible, and be reassured that help is available whenever needed.
In addition to our personalized services, we offer:
- Assisted Living dining room, bistro and two sitting lounge/living room areas
- Memory Care living and dining room
- Elegantly designed common areas
- Fitness and wellness center with physical and occupational therapy room
- A commercial kitchen
- Barber and beauty salon in both assisted living and memory care areas
- 24-hour on-duty care staff
- Secured community
- Art room
- Multipurpose room
- Large state‐of‐the‐art theater
- A large secured Assisted Living and separate Memory Care courtyard with walking paths
- On‐grade parking for immediate use of visitors and staff
- Dog Park
If your family is considering retirement living, we hope you will visit Sonrisa Assisted Living. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a tour.
You may also download our complimentary brochure to get additional details about Sonrisa Assisted Living.
