The time has come for you to consider memory care for your family member. They likely have a memory impairment, like Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. You notice their medical condition is advancing, and you no longer feel like you can give them the care they need. Seeking expert support from a memory care facility can bring you relief and peace of mind, knowing that your loved one is in good hands.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is a type of senior living community specializing in caring for people with memory problems. The staff, with their expertise in supporting people with memory loss, will provide your family member with a secure, comfortable environment that keeps them safe. Their professional knowledge and experience will give you confidence in your decision.
Your family member will follow a structured routine, which typically includes regular meals, medication management, and daily activities designed to stimulate memory and cognition. These activities can range from simple puzzles to group exercises. The care staff will guide and assist them in these activities, ensuring they are engaged and their memory is being exercised.
When Should Someone Enter Memory Care?
As you care for a family member with moderate to advanced dementia, you have likely heard talks of memory care come up.
Maybe a friend has expressed concerns with your loved one’s current care. Perhaps your family member’s doctor or care manager suggests it to you. You may even just be exhausted because caring for a family member with dementia is exhausting.
No matter your reason, you are checking the option out. Yet, we assure you that you are not the only one.
Many families eventually look into memory care because their loved ones can get expert support and care 24/7. The staff is trained in working with people with dementia and in dementia strategies. However, it’s important to note that memory care can be costly, and it’s crucial to consider your financial situation when making this decision.
Common Reasons for Memory Care
Danger
You may notice that your family member is not acting like themselves or in a rational manner. Maybe they are wandering off or having aggressive outbursts, putting them in danger of harming themselves or others. A memory care facility is trained to address these issues.
Incontinence
As your family member’s disease progresses, they may become incontinent. Incontinence is when bathroom fluids are involuntarily leaking out of you, and there are two main forms.
- Urinary Incontinence: Urine involuntarily leaks out of your bladder.
- Fecal Incontinence: Fecal matter involuntarily leaks out of your rectum.
Caregiver Health & Well-Being
Caring for a family member with dementia is not easy. It can take a toll on your mental and/or physical health. Your health and well-being are just as important as theirs. So, there is no shame in seeking support from memory care experts.
No Shame In Memory Care
As you make the difficult decision to use a memory care facility, you will likely feel many emotions. You may even question whether you are making the right decision. Do not let your emotions overpower you. We promise that your choice to use memory care is wise.
Most people with dementia do not recognize they need help. So, it is up to you to make the decision for them. It is common to feel the following emotions – guilt, betrayal, shame, or worry. But remember, these feelings are normal and valid. You are not alone in this journey.
Guilt or Betrayal
Maybe you promised your parents that you would never send them to a nursing home.
Sometimes, we cannot keep every promise we make. You did not know they would get dementia or how hard it would be.
We recommend visiting a few memory care communities to find the right fit. With their focus on keeping residents happily engaged in activities, they are usually a much sunnier place than a nursing home.
Shame or Embarrassment
Others may judge you. That is okay. You need to ignore them. No one has walked in your exact shoes, so who are they to judge you for your decision?
We recommend that you build a strong support system. There are many support groups for family caregivers, and you can hear their feedback. Your decision will address the need for everyone’s health and safety.
Worries About Their Health
You may worry about your family member’s health declining. You may think no one can care for them as well as you. That is true at first. Your family member may seem more confused and disoriented at first. Yet, it will not last. After about six weeks, you will likely see them more engaged with others in activities.
Still Need Help?
If you are still struggling to make this decision, that is okay. You can consult a care manager or social worker. This healthcare professional can even help facilitate a family meeting to get everyone on the same page.
As Greater Cleveland’s experts in family caregiving, we often see family caregiver’s health decline as they care for their loved one with dementia. You may not be able to stop your family member’s health from declining, but you can stop your health from doing the same.
Let us support you by contacting us. We can reduce your caregiving stress.
