When Should Dementia Patients Go into Assisted Living?
People with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can choose to live alone rather than move to an assisted living facility. It’s a choice.
In some cases, however, it’s a matter of when.
Because there are situations where living alone is no longer safe or suitable for people with dementia.
Signs that Assisted Living is the Best Choice
When you or a loved one are facing safety issues at home, whether alone or with other family members. For instance:
- Frequent slips and falls, resulting in injuries.
- Bouts of physical aggressiveness to yourself or others.
- Loss of appetite or not eating regularly, resulting in unusual weight loss.
- Missing medication doses or taking too much medication.
- Starting to wonder and/or forget where you are and what you’re doing.
- Vulnerable to or is being victimized by a financial scam.
And a bigger sign that assisted living is a safer choice is when you or a loved one with dementia is believed to be physically harmed by a caregiver.
If you notice any of these signs, you should start looking for a facility to move in. Make sure to look for memory assisted living, where a facility has in-house memory care units for dementia patients.
Researching for Memory Assisted Living
Contact the Nearest Alzheimer’s Association
It can provide you with vital information on dementia care facilities near you. It will also provide social and emotional support to make the entire process easier.
Start your Search Early on
It is highly recommended that you look for dementia care while you’re still able. Don’t wait for the situation to go bad before looking for one as you’re likely to make a hasty decision. Once you know or are diagnosed with early onset of dementia, start looking for memory assisted living facility near you.
Put your Affairs in Order well in Advance
Before you start losing your memory or control of a situation, start outlining your care wishes. After diagnosis, your family or loved one is responsible for taking care of your financial and legal planning issues. With a plan in place, however, you will have a say on how and where you receive dementia care.
Speak to a lawyer with regards on who to give powers of attorney and health directives. They can also help deal with the legal paperwork.
Moving into Memory Assisted Living
Moving into aged care is never easy for both the patient and the family. There are ways to soften the blow, however.
- Visit assisted living facilities you’ve been looking at with your family. Have lunch with the residents. You can also attend events to increase the warm familiarity.
- Pair up with other social and outgoing residents. This will ease the fear of living alone in an unfamiliar environment, a feeling many seniors moving into aged care residences share. Once you make a friend or two, moving in won’t feel so lonely.
And all throughout the process, from research to moving, have your family help make arrangements. Just like you would want to have a say in your dementia care, they want to participate in ensuring your welfare too. The more involved they are the less worried they will be of leaving you in memory assisted living.
Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco
