Having been diagnosed with dementia is difficult enough. If it’s you or somebody you love, you may feel completely helpless. You may worry about the future, knowing there is no cure at the moment for any form of dementia, including Alzheimer’s. You may wonder whether you can stay where you are if your elderly mother or father should move in with you, or if some other solution is more practical. You may have heard about memory care assisted living, and other elder care options, but which one is best?
Is it enough for you, with all your love and time and ability to devote to this person to be able to care for them? It might be. However, many people regret taking on the role of a primary caregiver for somebody with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia because they realize, without experience, a lot of things were missed along the way.
There are numerous ways that a memory care assisted living community can make a difference for somebody with dementia. The more you know, the better the decision you can make for them or yourself and the future.
1. Memory care offers a buffer for family and friends.
Instead of having to take on the role of parenting a parent, for example, you can just be that adult child to that parent. You don’t have to spend all your time and energy worrying about their safety, telling them what they can or can’t do, or trying to prevent them from being hurt. That often causes tension in the relationship.
With that tension comes broken relationships. While you may not feel it in the moment, when you go home in the afternoon or evening, to sleep at night, and think about things that were said to one another, you may feel heartbroken. Don’t worry about that again with memory care assisted living stepping into the mix.
2. Memory care offers experience.
Most family caregivers don’t have prior experience supporting an aging loved one. Memory care facilities do. That experience is essential for not only providing safety and security, but comfort to those whose memories are failing with each passing month and year.
3. Dementia care offers powerful strategies.
Along with experience comes the knowledge of certain strategies that could be effective in helping those with dementia. Did you know that staying mentally engaged and active, even after diagnosis, has the potential to slow down the progression of memory loss (Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation)? If you didn’t know that, that’s a clear sign that experience and effective strategies can be a positive influence for somebody with dementia.
4. Dementia care offers consistency and patience.
That doesn’t mean you and other people in the family are impatient, but when you end up having to repeat yourself numerous times when the person you’re talking to is acting like a spoiled child, unwilling or unable to accept what you are telling them, you can easily lose your patience, especially when you’re stressed.
A memory care facility has staff members who understand the various signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s, the behavioral quirks, and how to maintain objectivity because there is not that close personal relationship built into the connection. That can make a world of difference for maintaining consistency and patience.
If you or an aging loved one is considering a move to an Assisted Living Facility for Memory Care Services in Marietta GA please contact the caring staff at Woodland Ridge today. 770-431-7055
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