Is It Time To Enroll Your Loved One In Memory Care? 4 Signs You Should Not Ignore
The decision to move your aging parents from their home to a memory care facility is not easy to make. Unfortunately, golden years come with drastic cognitive decline that is hard to ignore. You have probably suspected that your parents have severe memory loss but aren't sure whether taking them to a memory care facility is the right decision. This piece will highlight some indicators that you need to consider taking your aging parents to a memory care facility.
1. The Caregiver Is Overwhelmed With Responsibilities
It is not uncommon for caregivers to experience burnout when dealing with patients with memory loss conditions. Taking care of a loved one with memory loss involves providing attention and care 24/7. Later stages of memory loss require increasing levels of medical and emergency assistance. They also involve unending tasks that individual caregivers may not handle.
If you get to a point where caregiving is too demanding and unsustainable, it's better to consider memory care facilities. These facilities have enough trained caregivers to satisfy your parents' care needs.
2. Minimal Social Interactions
With fast declining cognitive abilities, your loved one's social life is bound to shrink considerably. If left untreated, they may lead to other mental health conditions such as depression. However, you can ignite their social lives by moving them to memory care facilities. Here, they get low caregiver-to-client ratios and medical care that might help improve their social lives. They also get to interact with their peers. Generally, participating in supervised activities with their new peers can help improve their cognitive abilities and overall quality of life.
3. Poor Health
Your once pleasant and healthy parents are probably weak and unable to do many things without help. You might have noticed that their health has declined rapidly recently. When memory loss sets in, your loved one might start to lose their sense of independence. They may forget to cook, take medication, or even eat.
As their circadian rhythms get tampered with, you could notice signs such as rapid weight loss, poor personal hygiene, and physical injuries. These are enough reasons to consider memory care.
4. You Worry About Their Safety
You probably get mini-attacks every time you call home to check on your loved one. Something deep inside tells you that your elderly parents are not safe on their own. Maybe it is because they once got lost while getting groceries and had to be taken to the authorities. If you worry about your loved one's safety, it's time you moved them to a memory care facility. With trained caregivers, tight security, and well-designed living spaces, they will enjoy utmost care and freedom while you enjoy peace of mind.
Do you wonder if moving your parent to a memory care facility is a good idea? These signs discussed above clearly indicate it is time to look for a reliable memory care facility.