When you have a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s, you may wonder how to provide the best memory care, especially if you want your loved one to age from the comfort of home.
Memory care can take a lot from you as a primary caregiver, and you must be psychologically prepared for this challenge. You must understand the condition to plan for your loved one’s current needs and what they might require as the disease progresses.
At Amy’s Eden, we provide specialized care to your loved ones with dementia and guide the family on this enormous journey. We train our caregivers to understand the unique needs that each dementia resident needs at each stage of dementia.
When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it’s best to ensure they are safe and living in a structured environment where their unique needs are addressed.
Most seniors living with dementia or Alzheimer’s tend to wander off. This may concern you, especially as they forget crucial details like their names and addresses and will need extra care.
Memory care facilities ensure your loved one is free to enjoy the outdoors and, at the same time, protect them from self-harm and wandering off.
At Amy’s Eden, we ensure your loved one is safe by taking extra safety measures at our assisted homes or in your loved one’s home. We provide round-the-clock professional care and support. Our residents enjoy memory care activities that help delay and ease the progression of dementia in your loved one. With memory care, your loved one will benefit from fun activities and social events, bringing them joy and contentment.
We understand your loved one’s situation is unique and requires personalized care. When you visit us, we will assess your loved one’s situation and develop a tailor-made care plan for your senior’s unique situation.
As a primary caregiver, knowing when your loved one requires extra help can be challenging as Dementia symptoms are inconsistent.
However, several signs could guide you in knowing when to seek professional assistance. They include the following:
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 60% of people with Alzheimer’s disease wander off.
Wandering or walking off aimlessly is a common challenge as you care for a senior living with dementia.
In the early stages of the disease, you may not notice as your loved one may get lost in the parking lot on their way home. As the disease progresses, your loved one may wander the neighborhood unattended. This wandering is unsafe and is usually a cause for alarm.
If you notice your loved one keeps wandering off, it’s time to seek professional help or senior care. Look for a caregiver who will reassure and redirect your loved one every time they try to wander off.
If you realize your aging loved one is not taking safety precautions as they should. For example, if your mom usually uses a walking stick and all of a sudden, she starts forgetting to use it.
During the early stages of dementia, your loved one will notice their forgetfulness which can make them self-conscious or embarrassed. With time and as their condition deteriorates, they may lack social skills to interact with family, friends, or neighbors. Isolation should be a significant concern to you and your family, as it can lead to depression.
When your aging loved one starts forgetting their social events, names, and faces, this is a cause for alarm. At other times they may even risk their lives as they may forget they are cooking, and the next thing you know, the fire alarm is on.
As dementia progresses, your loved one will have mood disruptions. You may start to notice them being anxious or easily agitated.
Changes in your loved one’s eating habits can indicate early-stage dementia. As your loved one’s dementia or Alzheimer’s progresses, they cannot carry out their ADLs like eating, preparing meals, or storing the leftovers.
While your loved one can live independently or with minimal support in the early stages of their dementia, they may need professional assistance as their cognitive ability declines.
Dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is progressive. Initially, your loved one may be able to perform activities of daily living such as bathing and grooming, but as the disease progresses, they will need assistance. Memory care helps your loved one obtain specialized care and lead a quality lifestyle.
With memory loss, your loved one’s life changes as they will require supervision and have someone assist them with their daily tasks. This change may affect your loved ones as they may feel embarrassed during the initial stages when they can understand what’s going on in their lives.
On the other hand, it will be hard for family and friends to watch as their loved ones slowly lose their cognitive abilities. You will need to understand dementia and its symptoms as this will help prepare you on what to expect.
Looking for a support group will also help you and your family cope; knowing other people are going through what you are going through will be of much comfort.
Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia have unique symptoms which vary in most seniors. These symptoms will affect your loved one’s life, making it crucial to seek specialized memory care. Although every dementia case is different and varies with the individual, several characteristics are common among most seniors. These are
As a dementia caregiver, you need to understand your loved one’s condition and how to help them cope with their condition. This is a challenging task, as sometimes you will watch your loved one forget everything they knew and held dear. Memory care is much more involved than any other care form, as you provide various services.
Your loved one may require help with performing ADLs like bathing and dressing. You can assist your loved one by lifting and moving them from sitting to standing.
As seniors’ dementia progresses, they cannot do any housekeeping or prepare meals. Some of these activities pose a hazard to them and are unsafe.
Most seniors with memory issues cannot manage their medications, and it’s up to the caregiver to help them with them. Ensure your loved ones take their medications at the right time and it’s the correct dosage. You can also drive them to their medical appointments.
Most seniors tend to be embarrassed due to the forgetfulness accompanying dementia and may try to avoid people. This behavior will lead to isolation and loneliness, accelerating their dementia symptoms. As a caregiver, providing companionship will go a long way in ensuring a senior does not succumb to loneliness and depression. Your role is to help them stay jovial and ensure they interact with other people without being self-conscious.
Your loved ones’ dementia symptoms may be challenging to manage, requiring more out of you. To provide the best care to your loved one, you will need to:
To provide the best care, you must get proper education on dementia. Sometimes you may use specialized skills to help plan your loved one’s care. You must be knowledgeable about dementia symptoms and safety precautions and measures.
As a caregiver, you must be adaptable, assess situations and develop a viable solution when dealing with a loved one with any form of dementia. You must be an excellent character judge for your loved ones’ friends, as some might try to exploit their vulnerabilities. Additionally, you must be very keen on your loved one’s mood changes and adapt accordingly.
You must have a solid emotional support system to care for your loved ones’ physical and emotional needs. Such a system helps you unwind and vent whenever you feel like it’s too much.
If your loved one faces memory issues, you will be concerned for their safety and well-being. Considering the available memory care facilities in Carson City is the first step towards better care for your loved one.
The severity and the stage of dementia will help you when it comes to choosing the suitable memory care facility for your loved one. You can talk with your loved ones if their cognitive abilities allow them to; if not, you can speak with their healthcare provider to help you determine the best memory care.
Carson City has some of the best residential facilities focusing on providing memory care. These facilities have trained staff who assist their residents with declining memory issues.
There are several options regarding memory care that you can explore when looking for an ideal fit for your loved one. Some of these facilities are:
When your loved one moves into an assisted living memory care home, they will live in a supervised and secure environment. The caregivers will assist with various ADLs where the resident is struggling.
At an assisted living home, residents can live in their rooms or apartments and share some spaces like the dining room.
One thing you should note is that assisted living homes do not exclusively offer memory care, but if your loved one is in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s, then these homes are ideal.
This type of memory care provides round-the-clock health care to its residents. When your loved one moves into a nursing home, they will have help with their ADLs and round-the-clock supervision. A nursing home is ideal for seniors in the advanced dementia stage and those with other health concerns like diabetes and heart problems.
Apart from memory care, your loved one may benefit from the following services when they move into a nursing home:
These facilities usually offer memory care to seniors with mild to advanced dementia. Dementia care is more involved as some residents may have communication difficulties. The caregivers at these care facilities will help your loved ones with their ADLs and offer round-the-clock supervision and care.
The main difference between a nursing home and a specialized memory care facility is that these facilities offer specialized memory care. The main focus of these facilities is providing a safe and secure environment for people with any form of dementia.
When choosing memory care services for your loved one, ensure you choose one that addresses their unique needs. Most memory care service providers offer the following services:
When choosing an ideal memory care facility for your loved one, there is no rule to follow, but go with what you feel will benefit your loved one. Other factors to consider are:
Amy’s Eden remains one of the leading memory care providers in Carson City, Nevada. Here are some testimonials from our residents and their families.
“My grandfather was in a care home at Amy’s Eden Carson City. He said he “felt so spoiled with all the attention he receives.” This home is much more than he expected and has had such a positive impact on my grandfather. We are happy with the caregiver caring for my grandfather as a family. We have peace of mind knowing he is in better hands, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a home for their loved ones in Carson City.”
— Amy S., 9/24/2022.
“We can’t say how happy we are about the excellent care our mom receives at Amy’s Eden. Their staff is accommodating and responsive to anything we ask. The atmosphere at the home is peaceful, cheerful, and comfortable. We are confident of the care our mom receives here as she continually tells us how content she is.”
Brandy G 6/8/2022
As an adult child, you want the best for your parents, especially when they are living with dementia. Choosing a suitable memory care facility is essential for your peace of mind and your loved ones’ well-being. It’s best to select a facility with professionally qualified staff to assist your loved one. But how can you judge the quality of a facility’s service when you don’t know them well? Deena, the owner of Amy’s Eden, recommends checking these facts before deciding on a specific memory care facility:
The facility’s ambiance: when you visit the facility, are the residents vibrant? Are the residents participating in activities that aim at helping them with their memory issues?
Check the building: look for the upkeep done on the building and the furnishings. Are the residents using the facility’s amenities? Is the building clean? How are the spaces? Can they be easily navigated?
The diversity in their activity calendar: are activities on their calendar enriching and inclusive? For example, if they have scheduled activity at 10 am, it excludes those residents who wake up at 11. If their outdoor activities occur in the afternoon, it excludes those residents who like their afternoon nap.
Are the residents vibrant? Check to see if their residents are content and energetic. Your loved one will also find happiness at the facility if they appear happy.
Are the staff engaging? While taking your tour of the facility, check and see if the staff is happy, joyful and if they engage residents in their activities. The relationship between the team and the residents should play a crucial role in your decision-making.
At Amy’s Eden, we understand your worry and concern regarding your loved ones’ memory care, and that’s why we strive to provide above-industry standards for memory care in Carson, reno, and the surrounding areas.
If you are looking to have your loved one settled in one of our dementia care homes or would like our caregiver to provide care in your loved one’s home, or you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us today; we are excited to help.
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