Memory Care Facilities Can Help Loved Ones with Dementia

Every September, Alzheimer’s Disease International recognizes World Alzheimer’s Month. It’s a way to raise global awareness of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, and challenge the stigma and misinformation that still surround dementia. 

To that end, Eagle Senior Living is devoting this blog post to facts and information about dementia. If you’re caring for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, or if you’re an older adult who has been recently diagnosed, we’ll also examine some benefits of choosing Memory Care in a community setting like Eagle Senior Living.

What causes memory loss?

There’s a difference between forgetfulness and memory loss in aging adults. The Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institute on Aging says mild forgetfulness is a normal part of aging. Seniors who forget certain things from time to time may have no need to worry. However, when you notice your memory loss is disrupting your daily life, it may be time to talk with your doctor.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers these 10 warning signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s or other forms of memory loss:

  1. Forgetting recently learned information, dates or events, or asking the same questions over and over.
  2. Difficulty developing a plan or working with numbers, following a recipe, or keeping track of monthly bills.
  3. Having trouble driving to a familiar location, organizing a grocery list, or remembering the rules to a favorite game.
  4. Losing track of dates, seasons, and the passage of time.
  5. Experiencing vision problems or struggling to judge distance.
  6. Being unable to follow or join a conversation.
  7. Putting objects in unusual places, losing things and being unable to retrace steps to find them.
  8. Exhibiting poor judgment or decision-making.
  9. Withdrawing from work, hobbies, social activities and engagements.
  10. Becoming easily upset, confused, suspicious, depressed, fearful or anxious.

The National Institute on Aging offers a helpful chart to explain some of the differences between normal forgetfulness and memory loss. But if you’re wondering whether an older adult is simply forgetful or it’s something more serious, consider this: It’s normal to forget to pay a bill occasionally, or to struggle to think of the right word. The problem is when an aging adult does this sort of thing frequently.

That’s when Memory Care in one of these settings may offer certain benefits to someone struggling with memory loss.

Benefits of Memory Care

A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine found that 70% of the 5.2 Americans living with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia stay in their homes. But without proper support, both the caregiver and the person they’re caring for can suffer.
If you’re a caregiver for an older adult experiencing memory loss, you know how emotionally and physically taxing it can be. While dementia and memory loss are progressive, having the right care may help slow the disease. 
That care can be found as part of a Life Plan Community with a continuum of care, at a stand-alone memory care community, or provided in your home by in-home health care services. But wherever the care is received, there are many benefits of Memory Care:

  1. Experience. Having someone trained in dementia care can make a positive difference in the type of services and attention your loved one receives.
  2. Nurturing relationships. Having someone present who provides memory support means a caregiver can take a break and recharge their batteries. 
  3. Professional care. The older adult with dementia may need assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, getting dressed, eating or using the bathroom. Some of these may be physically demanding for a caregiver, which is why having someone trained in providing this support is beneficial.

How Memory Care facilities can help

Even with in-home Memory Care, there may come a time when an aging adult with dementia may benefit more from living at a Memory Care facility. Here are some ways in which a Memory Care facility may help your loved one:

  • Consistent, around-the-clock care and monitoring
  • A safe and secure living environment
  • Social interaction with staff and other residents
  • Person-focused care based on the older adult’s unique needs
  • Coordinated care with other health care providers
  • Supportive dementia therapies delivered by staff trained in dementia care
  • Peace of mind for the older adult’s caregiver and other family members

Choosing Memory Care at a senior living community like Eagle Senior Living offers these benefits and so much more. Find a Memory Care facility near you, and schedule a tour for your loved one and family by contacting us.