September 21 is World Alzheimer’s Day—a day dedicated to raising awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. As we continue to look for new ways to treat this complex disease, it’s important that family caregivers recognize when a loved one may need the type of care provided by a memory care assisted living community.

Memory Care For Safety and Peace of Mind

Few things are as important as the safety of your loved ones. Alzheimer’s disease and dementia affect memory and daily functioning and can create unsafe conditions at home. Over time, safety may become more difficult for family caregivers to maintain in the home as Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and behaviors develop.

As a caregiver, you can prevent accidents and injuries by monitoring your loved one’s symptoms and behaviors and recognizing when they may need more care than you can manage alone. To that end, we’ve compiled 25 signs that indicate it might be time to consider a memory care community to ensure the safety of your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

1. Frequent Memory Loss

Memory loss, such as forgetting familiar people, places, or important events, can significantly disrupt daily life, causing your loved one to make mistakes or put themselves at risk of injury. Memory care communities provide structured environments designed to support residents with these unique needs and challenges.

2. Unexplained Wandering

Wandering is a common and dangerous symptom of Alzheimer’s disease if left unchecked. This behavior can lead to getting lost or injured. Alternatively, memory care communities have secure environments to support safe wandering practices and ensure safety.

3. Increased Confusion with Time or Place

Disorientation, such as mistaking night for day or getting lost in familiar settings, is a sign of significant memory impairment. Memory care facilities structure daily routines to help manage and mitigate confusion.

4. Difficulty Managing Daily Tasks

Struggles with routine tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, or personal hygiene, signify the need for assistance. In a memory care community, staff are trained to provide assistance with these tasks, promoting dignity and independence.

5. Poor Judgment and Decision-Making

Making poor decisions, such as giving large amounts of money to telemarketers or dressing inappropriately in the heat or cold, can have serious consequences. Memory care settings offer supervision to assist with making decisions.

6. Changes in Mood and Behavior

Sudden mood swings, anxiety, agitation, or aggression are often observed in individuals with dementia. Memory care communities offer specialized programming to properly manage and ease these behavioral changes.

7. Social Withdrawal

Avoiding social interaction or losing interest in hobbies can be a sign of progressing Alzheimer’s disease. Memory care communities encourage social engagement through carefully tailored activities.

8. Unsafe Cooking Habits

Leaving the stove on or forgetting to turn off appliances can lead to dangerous situations or injury. Memory care communities offer supervised meal preparation and dining to prevent accidents.

9. Misplacing Items

Frequently losing items and being unable to find them can cause stress and confusion. Memory care community floor plans are designed to minimize confusion and provide assistance when needed.

10. Repetition of Questions or Statements

Repeating questions, statements or stories is an indication of memory impairment. Caregivers in a memory care community typically receive dementia-care training to handle this behavior with patience and understanding.

11. Inability to Recognize Family Members or Friends

Forgetting the names or faces of loved ones can be distressing for everyone involved. Memory care communities offer a familiar and comforting environment to help maintain connections.

12. Changes in Sleeping Patterns

Frequent waking at night, difficulty sleeping, or excessive sleeping during the day can disrupt overall health. Memory care facilities provide stable routines to promote better sleep habits.

13. Unkempt Appearance and Hygiene

Neglecting personal hygiene and grooming can be signs of declining cognitive function. Memory care staff assist residents with these activities, ensuring residents maintain their dignity and health.

14. Inappropriate Behavior

Instances of inappropriate behavior, such as making rude comments or undressing in public, can be both embarrassing and troubling. Memory care staff are trained to properly manage and correct these behaviors compassionately.

15. Difficulty Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships

Problems with visual perception, such as difficulty judging distance or distinguishing colors, can contribute to accidents and falls. Memory care environments are designed to be safe and easily navigable. Purpose-built memory care communities like Serenades Memory Care feature special lighting to help overcome these challenges.

16. Increased Anxiety or Paranoia 

Feelings of distrust or paranoia can cause significant distress in those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Memory care communities provide supportive environments and interventions to minimize these unwanted symptoms.

17. Loss of Initiative

A lack of motivation to start or complete tasks is typical in advanced dementia. Memory care communities encourage engagement through structured, stimulating activities.

18. Inability to Manage Finances

Difficulty paying bills, balancing checkbooks, or making sound financial decisions are signs of cognitive decline. Memory care communities eliminate the need to manage finances and pay monthly bills, preventing costly errors.

19. Difficulty Following Directions

Struggling to comprehend and follow simple instructions can lead to frustration and mistakes. Memory care settings provide patient guidance and clear communication by professionally trained caregivers.

20. Dangerous Driving

Getting lost while driving, ignoring traffic signals, or becoming confused on the road are serious safety issues. Memory care communities provide transportation services, completely removing the need for residents to drive.

21. Hallucinations and Delusions

Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there can be frightening and disorienting. Memory care staff are trained to manage these symptoms and ensure the resident’s comfort and safety.

22. Neglecting Responsibilities

Failing to upkeep the house, forgetting appointments, or neglecting pets indicate significant cognitive decline. Memory care communities ensure important activities are managed effectively and provide assistance, care and supervision 24-7.

23. Physical Aggressiveness

Physical aggression towards family members or caregivers, often stemming from confusion or frustration, can be scary and dangerous. With experience and understanding into why these behaviors occur, memory care communities are skilled in de-escalating these situations safely.

24. Communication Challenges

Difficulty finding the right words, following conversations, or completing sentences can lead to social isolation and withdrawal. Memory care encourages communication through supportive understanding, engagement and interaction.

25. Unusual Eating Behaviors

Forgetting to eat, eating too much or too little, or strange eating habits can negatively affect health and quickly spiral out of control. Memory care communities provide balanced, supervised meals to ensure proper nutrition and prevent weight loss caused by Alzheimer’s disease.

By recognizing these 25 signs that signal a need for specialized memory care, families can make informed decisions about the care their loved ones need. Memory care communities by Sonata offer expert care, a safe environment, and meaningful activities designed to enhance quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

A move to a memory care community can bring families peace of mind and ensure the best possible care for their loved one with memory challenges. For additional information and guidance on choosing the right memory care community at all stages of Alzheimer’s disease, please reach out to us. Let us help you make the most informed and compassionate decision for your family’s unique circumstances.

To learn more about memory care costs at a Serenades or Sonata community, contact us today→ or schedule a visit →