Memory care or Assisted Living Care? It depends
When people age, there is a multitude of health issues that occur. When it comes to our senior citizens, memory issues are common. Most people have either Alzheimer’s or dementia and need extra medical and personal care. The family members need to decide the type of senior care they want to choose. While some families choose memory care, others think an assisted living care unit is the best solution. There is no fixed answer to this situation. It depends on the patient’s condition and what the family members can afford.
When should you choose memory care?
In a usual scenario, no ailment strikes at an alarming rate in the beginning. It grows gradually. And when you implement proper medicine and care, the disease can reverse as well. So, when it comes to Alzheimer’s or dementia, the ailment progresses gradually. In the beginning, the patient just might be forgetting a few home errands or dates. They might be taking medicine twice or failing to consume a meal. These scenarios are manageable, and the family can decide to opt-in for home care. To know about it, you can also check with the service providers that offer Alzheimer’s care in Indiana.
In the majority of the situations, memory care is a segment of senior care. For that, you don’t have to transfer your loved one to another medical care facility or residential unit. You can appoint a memory care professional on a 24×7 basis or hourly basis, depending on your need. Usually, memory care workers’ expense is slightly high when you opt-in for an hourly basis plan. The 24×7 program, on the other hand, provides discounts. You can choose, depending on the patient requirement and your budget capacity.
When you say yes to a memory care worker, it is necessary to assess whether the person can provide the correct emotional and physical assistance. Usually, dementia and Alzheimer’s patients at an early stage need ongoing company so that they don’t get into a phase of loneliness. Family members need to assess whether that memory care professional has the correct amount of training, expertise, and compassion in managing the patient at hand. They need to understand the pulse of the patient and be extremely patient with them. The memory care workers should also stay clued into the patient’s medicines and the food chart to guide them accordingly.
When should you opt-in for assisted living?
Today, the concept of assisted living communities have become popular. It is especially famous amongst the senior citizens and the solo agers. Here the individuals can choose their residential unit and stay along with others of the same age and physical condition. That aside, there is also provision for special care for people who have dementia or Alzheimer’s. You can search for the best Alzheimer’s care near you and check the assisted living options available to you.
However, it is essential to know why you need to opt-in for an assisted living community. Leaving a patient alone who has dementia or Alzheimer’s is not advisable. But if there is a situation where you have to stay away for long hours or need to relocate for your job, you need to say yes to an assisted living community. Also, the cost is relatively lesser, and you can choose the living arrangement for your parent or grandparent. An assisted living community has specialized doctors who will attend dementia and Alzheimer patients correctly and ensure that they get the right ambiance to stay well and recuperate better.
The other reason when you need to opt-in for an assisted living community is when your loved one turns violent. Convulsions and irrational behavior are familiar with Alzheimer’s patients. And at times, it becomes complex for family members to tackle this behavior. They might want to help the situation, but they can aggravate the matter due to a lack of experience. Medicines might not work to calm down the patient, and doctors might need to keep the patient in a separate ward to treat them correctly and ensure complete safety.
There is a chance of Alzheimer’s patients walking out of their homes in a state of confusion or convulsion. It can lead to accidents or other hazards. They can also throw objects at other family members. It is always better to keep the patients within a safe environment and continue with the treatment. The assisted living communities also have social engagements, helping the patient engage with others, and not feel isolated.
You must research the assisted living community where you want to shift your loved one. Check the service record and feedback before you make the final decision. Also, assess whether the assisted living community has provisions to upgrade the residential facility on requirement or request. Make sure that the living facility is clean and comfortable so that your loved one faces no challenges. Once you keep these pointers in mind, you will know the informed decision you need to make.
