Caring for Aging Parents: When Is Memory Care the Right Choice?
Your parents are an important part of your life, and it is understandable to want to care for them for as long as possible. However, memory care might be necessary if their symptoms are putting their safety at risk or becoming too much for you to handle.
Memory care offers a memory-specific approach to senior health problems. You never have to worry that your loved one is hurt, lost, or neglecting their health when they’re in memory care.
Here are some signs that it’s time to consider memory care for your aging parents.
You Feel Caregiver Burnout Creeping In
If you have chosen to care for your senior parents, you likely want to see them thrive and stay healthy. However, the average family caregiver doesn’t have the knowledge and resources to avoid burnout while always ensuring their loved one’s needs are met.
Some signs of caregiver burnout include:
Depression
Irritability
Mood swings
Trouble sleeping
Low or no appetite
Stress-eating
Random physical pain
Constant fatigue
Resentment toward your aging parents
If you notice any of these signs in yourself or another family caregiver, it’s time to consider memory care.
The professionals that work in memory care have extensive training and experience that allows them to handle complex senior health problems. You don’t have to do this by yourself.
Your Parents Are Increasingly Unsafe at Home
The average home has hundreds of potential safety hazards that can be dangerous or even fatal for your aging parents. Hot stoves, electrical wiring, unlocked doors, and high windows can all threaten the safety of your parents as their memory issues progress.
Memory care communities are much better equipped to avoid unnecessary health risks for your parents. These facilities are supervised and secured 24/7 so that there is a much lower risk of accidental harm.
They Can’t Take Care of Themselves Anymore
If your parents now struggle to complete basic tasks, like brushing their teeth or showering, it might be time for memory care.
You might be tempted to take over their care once your aging parents can’t do it for themselves, but this involves risks. Caregiver burnout and lack of medical training are both serious risks to your loved one’s well-being (and your own).
In memory care communities, staff members are always available to assist with feeding, clothing, showering, and grooming your loved one. They don’t have to take on housekeeping and personal care by themselves.
Find a High-Quality Memory Care Community for Your Parents
You aren’t abandoning your parents by placing them in memory care. That is where they receive the highest quality of caregiving and personal assistance.
Start researching memory care communities if these signs ring true for your family.