Deciding where to spend your years after retirement isn’t easy. In fact, it is one of the most important (and difficult) decisions seniors can make. Various senior living options offer different levels of care. In fact, selecting the one that will provide the right balance between independence and assistance often seems like a daunting task. For those seniors with impaired memory and decreased cognitive function, assisted living services offering memory care may be the optimal location.
At Summer’s Landing, we help seniors who value their independence yet may need some assistance with daily activities. We can also help loved ones recognize the signs when it may be time for an assisted living option that includes memory care for the seniors in their life. Therefore, find out how we can develop a care plan by calling 850.265.9829.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is a living environment reserved for seniors who need additional care for memory issues like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. While these two conditions seem similar, there are some differences among them:
- Alzheimer’s disease. A degenerative brain disease in which brain cells are damaged, and cognitive function slowly decreases. Learning and retaining new information is difficult and as the disease progresses, confusion and disorientation become more prevalent.
- Dementia. Dementia is a broad term. It refers to a significant reduction in cognitive function, interrupting one’s ability to manage normal, daily tasks and responsibilities. While researchers have identified many potential causes of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease has been noted as the most common cause.
It is easy to assume that memory loss is an inevitable part of the aging process. In fact, it has been found that brain cell health plays a more significant role than age. That’s why millions of people under the age of 65 experience a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.
How Do You Know When It’s Time For Memory Care?
Are you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia? If so, memory care can give you and your family members peace of mind. Seniors may not always recognize the signs of memory loss in themselves, but loved ones should be on the lookout for some of the following symptoms:
- Personality changes – As mental faculties diminish, an outgoing, friendly person may suddenly display unprovoked outbursts. A once meticulously neat person may display unusually messy behaviors, often forgetting where items were placed or located.
- Appearance – Seniors forget or dismiss essential healthcare habits and routines. This causes a person with dementia to neglect their appearance, forget to shower, brush their teeth, or take essential medication.
- Unintentionally engaging in risky behaviors – A person with dementia or Alzheimer’s may unintentionally endanger their physical safety, neglecting to use a crosswalk or wandering away from a familiar location.
If you recognize any of these signs or symptoms in your loved one, be sure to speak with their primary care physician about their overall health and mental well-being. There is no cure for dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, it may be time for the support of professionals in an assisted living community.
Summer’s Landing: Helping You Recognize the Signs It’s Time for Memory Care
The professionals in a senior living community understand the struggles dementia and Alzheimer’s bring to seniors and their loved ones. Some of the services offered to support loved ones with their memory care needs may include:
- 24/7 care and monitoring
- Secure environment
- Medication assistance
- Activities of daily living (ADL), including bathing, dressing, and eating
At Summer’s Landing, the family of residents can rest assured that their loved ones are receiving the care and attention they need in our family environment. Learn more about how your loved ones in need of memory care can safely navigate their senior years by calling 850.265.9829.
