Memory Loss: When to Seek Help From a Professional

If a senior you love has been diagnosed with dementia, you’ve probably asked yourself many times how you will know when it’s time for a move to one of central and south Florida’s memory care communities. For most families, it is difficult to even consider turning a loved one’s care over to someone else.

Sometimes families live close to one another and an adult child begins to notice the changes in an elder early in the disease process. This gives them time to plan and prepare for the future. Other times the senior lives farther away. The distance makes it more difficult to detect those early signs that indicate something is wrong. The senior’s disease may be more advanced before their family realizes something is wrong. It’s also important to know that some older adults start to realize something isn’t right and try to hide the changes from family members. So what are the signs that suggest it’s time for memory care? We have a few guidelines you might find helpful.

When to Consider Memory Care for a Senior Loved One

As dementia progresses, it creates a variety of unique challenges depending on what type of dementia the senior has been diagnosed with. Some of the challenges Alzheimer’s disease creates, for example, are difficult to safely navigate at home. Wandering, agitation, and aggression are among them. These are all behaviors that experienced memory care professionals can usually find positive ways to manage.

Here are some other signs it might be time for a move to a memory care community:

• Becoming disoriented or lost in familiar places
• Falls and mobility challenges
• Unintended weight loss caused by a poor diet or lack of interest in food
• Poor judgment with finances
• Vision changes, especially loss of depth perception, that are putting the older adult at risk for falls
• Problems with continence care
• Stress and fatigue that are starting to cause health problems for the family caregiver
• Difficulty finding activities that keep the senior engaged in meaningful ways

When you notice more than one or two of these signs in a senior you love, it might be time to consider your options for memory care.

The Support of Memory Care

Memory care programs offer the support a senior with dementia needs to feel successful and empowered. It also gives their family members the peace of mind that comes from knowing their senior loved one is safe.

A few standard features of a memory care program include the following:

• Life enrichment activities designed to work with the senior’s remaining abilities and help them live more productive days
• Dedicated dining programs that encourage a senior with dementia to focus on their meal
• Secure, thoughtful environment that prevents wandering and promotes safety
• Caregivers who receive additional training on how to support the independence of adults with dementia

Serenades by Sonata Memory Care Assisted Living

Because we want you to make the best possible decision for your loved one, we created Guide to Finding the Right Memory Care Community for Your Loved One. This comprehensive resource discusses every aspect of memory care, from nutrition to costs and financing solutions. Download it with our compliments to learn more.