Is it Time for a Memory Care Neighborhood?

Caregiving for a loved one with dementia is not easy – especially as the disease progresses. There are many symptoms and behaviors that pop up as a result of dementia, which are not only hard for your loved one to navigate – but can be difficult for you to witness and cope with. As the disease progresses, your loved one may become frustrated and lash out irrationally or become more upset. While it may have been easy to calm your loved one down in the past, dementia can complicate things and make it harder for them to communicate what is bothering them. Fortunately, there are professionals in this space that can help your loved one and you.

In this article, we will discuss the tell-tale signs that it’s time for your loved one to receive professional support in a memory care neighborhood.

Major Changes in Behavior

As we mentioned briefly above, the biggest signs to look for are major changes to your loved one’s behavior. If they forget to do daily tasks like keeping up with their hygiene or forgetting to turn off the oven, it is a cause for concern. If your loved one can’t maintain their home anymore, it’s a sign that it is time for a lifestyle change. Another concern is that they may become more agitated, anxious, or frightened. This can be difficult for an untrained caregiver to handle. Some seniors with memory disorders can also become antisocial and withdrawn, heightening their emotional responses.

Disorientation or Confusion

If your loved one has started to show signs of disorientation or confusion, they are at a higher risk for accidents and unsafe situations. If they are beginning to wander off alone and are risking their safety, the best place for them is a secure memory care community. A specialized memory care neighborhood is tailored to these residents’ unique needs, focusing on easing their anxiety and maximizing their safety and quality of life. Additionally, a memory care program has professionally trained caregivers to guide them through disorientation, agitation, or any other powerful emotions they may be struggling to express.

The Caregiver is Overwhelmed

Being a caregiver is an around the clock job, and not something one person can manage on their own. Even when you’re able to bring in help, the situation might be too difficult to handle in your loved one’s current environment. If you’re constantly finding yourself overwhelmed in the caregiving process, we suggest making a change. Whether at-home care with UMC HomeWorks or a move to a memory care neighborhood, like UMC at The Shores’ Tapestries program, we can help.

Give Your Loved One The Care They Deserve

If you’re in the thick of it as a caregiver to a loved one with a memory disorder, we understand how difficult this time can be for you. While you might feel guilty for considering outside care for your loved one, it’s time to examine the flip side. Moving your loved one to a memory care community is giving them the best care possible that they deserve. At a memory care community, your loved one is safe and cared for by professionals. A community setting, like UMC at The Shores, also provides socialization, new hobbies, and exercise. In our care, your loved one can follow their own schedule. They can eat and sleep whenever they want, allowing them to live as they please, safely and happily.

For more information about our Memory Care Community in Cape May County, please visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/theshores/