1. AFTER a dementia or Alzheimer’s diagnosis
If your loved one is exhibiting signs of Dementia, it is best to be proactive by scheduling a visit with a general practitioner. Symptoms can include memory loss, difficulty finding one’s words, mood changes, confusion, disorientation, lack of balance, difficulty with day to day self-care, changes in eating habits, and general changes in behavior. It may be emotionally challenging to accept an official dementia diagnosis, but afterwards, you will be armed and informed to make the best care decisions for your family member.
2. BEFORE a major physical setback
Once someone has Dementia or Alzheimer’s, their risk for accompanying health problems increases. Due to disorientation and a lack of balance, fall-related injuries are extremely common and can lead to concussions and fractures. Following a dementia diagnosis and a significant fall, options for long term care can become limited and expensive. In some cases, falls can lead to untimely death. It is strongly preferable to seek out a quality Memory Care setting for your loved one BEFORE the negative outcomes of a significant fall. Additionally, things such as dehydration, malnutrition, urinary tract infections, and declines associated with difficulties with mobility are ALL risk factors for those who suffer with Memory issues. Proper 24-hour care and supervision under the direction of a registered nurse in a Memory Care focused environment can head off these problems that most often arise in situations when one family member is trying, often heroically, to provide 24-hour care to their family member.
3. BEFORE depression, isolation and loss of independence
It can be counterintuitive at first thought, but the appropriate Memory Care setting can actually preserve the independence and dignity of those who face a dementia diagnosis. Many families through best intentions, try to keep a loved one at home for as long as possible, but in doing so, often find that their loved one is frequently alone, isolated, losing independence, and experiencing diminished enjoyment towards all the things they used to enjoy. Anyone who is largely homebound and spending hours of time alone will eventually fall into moderate or severe depression or cycles of negative thoughts and feelings. Sometimes, this negativity can be directed towards the main caregiver, as they are simply the most available target. Psychotropic drugs are sometimes prescribed in these instances, often adding another list of potential side effects and risks. It is not unusual at all to see men and women begin to THRIVE emotionally and psychologically, despite their memory care issues, once they are in a therapeutic setting with multiple, authentic relationships and opportunities to connect with others each day. As well, family members often discover that their relationship with their loved one is renewed, once the caregiver/patient relationship is given the opportunity to return to a natural familial bond.
One cannot emphasize enough the importance of finding the appropriate Memory Care setting after a dementia diagnosis but BEFORE physical and emotional setbacks complicate and limit your loved one’s long term care options and quality of life! Visit maplecottagetn.com for a quality memory care option in Hendersonville, TN.
