One of the toughest decisions you can make as a family caregiver is knowing when your loved one requires 24-hour dementia care. Memory Care neighborhoods in retirement communities like Friendship Village provide comfort and support for seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, while also giving you peace of mind knowing your loved one’s needs are in expert hands.
How do you know when your family member needs more support? Read these five signs it’s time for 24-hour dementia care, and find out how your loved one can flourish at Friendship Village.
1. Wandering
Seniors with dementia may want to leave locations that have become unfamiliar because of increasing memory loss. In fact, three in five people with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia will wander, and this behavior only becomes more frequent as the condition progresses. When a person with dementia wanders, it’s difficult to keep them safe in a home environment, because unsupervised wandering can lead to falls, injuries and getting lost.
Everyday activities can lead to wandering. If your family member starts to wander when attempting to follow their usual routine, navigating their home or when they feel overstimulated, it might be time for a more secure environment in Memory Care.
The 24-hour dementia care at Friendship Village includes an especially easy-to-navigate environment with private apartments, beautiful and safe social spaces, and enclosed outdoor courtyards with gardens. They can safely explore our Memory Care neighborhood, and you can relax knowing they’re living in a secure location, receiving the care and attention they need to thrive.
2. Sundowning
Sundowning is when a person with dementia enters a state of confusion during the late afternoon that may last into the night. It’s usually accompanied with other behaviors like anxiety, aggression and pacing. This can disrupt your and your loved one’s schedule and add more stress to caregiving duties.
The exact cause of sundowning is unknown, but factors that may increase late-day confusion from sundowning include:
- Boredom
- Pain
- Fatigue from poor sleep patterns
- Hunger or thirst
- Low lighting and increased shadows
- Spending the day in an unfamiliar place
One of the best ways to prevent the symptoms of sundowning is by planning daytime activities that keep your loved one engaged. The resident-centered programs in Memory Care neighborhoods, like ours at Friendship Village retirement communities, are designed to include both planned and spontaneous activities that are customized to each resident’s interests. The day may begin with arts and crafts but quickly move to music therapy. It’s our goal to remain flexible, so each resident receives the best care possible.
3. Aggressive Behavior
As Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia progress, it’s common for seniors to experience irritability, agitation and aggression, which can often take the form of shouting, screaming, verbal and, sometimes, physical abuse of their family caregiver.
While these behavior changes can be a symptom of dementia, there may also be other causes, such as:
- Feeling like they’re not being listened to or understood.
- Frustration with not being able to do things because of increasing memory loss.
- Pain or discomfort they’re unable to communicate.
- Overstimulation or not enough stimulation.
- Feeling uncomfortable in their physical surroundings.
If your loved one’s aggressive behavior is affecting you or other members of your family, it’s most likely time to seek 24-hour dementia care. Professional caregivers at retirement communities like Friendship Village are specially trained with soothing response strategies that are tailored to your family member, so they can find ways to redirect their aggression away from other people.
4. Mobility issues
Mobility issues can accompany the mid- and late stages of dementia for several reasons, including problems with balance, side effects of dementia medication, vision loss or an uncomfortable environment. Mobility issues can lead to a host of other problems including:
- Difficulty walking or using a wheelchair.
- Difficulty dressing and grooming.
- Inability to stand from a seated position, especially when getting out of bed or using the bathroom.
- Increased risk of falls and fall-related injuries.
- Appearance of pressure ulcers from remaining in one position too long.
- Unhealthy weight loss because of difficulty eating with utensils they were once familiar with.
With 24-hour dementia care, your loved one has constant support tailored to their individual capabilities. The Memory Care teams in our retirement communities at Friendship Village, provide the right amount of assistance while also respecting your family member’s dignity, which empowers them to take part in the daily activities that shape their lives.
5. Family caregiver burnout
Caring for a family member with dementia is tough work, and can easily lead to burnout as their needs evolve. You may feel physically, emotionally and mentally exhausted, along with experiencing constantly changing attitudes that range from positive to negative, and, at times, unconcerned. Caregiver burnout usually occurs when you’re taking on more responsibility than you can handle.
Burnout can lead to several negative effects on your overall health including social isolation, changes in sleep pattern, getting sick more often, loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy and feelings of resentment.
Meeting your own needs, as well as those of other family members and your loved one with dementia, can quickly become difficult to manage. Retirement communities have entire Memory Care Teams filled with expert caregivers working toward the success of your loved one. With their support, you can get back to spending more quality time with your family member and start taking better care of yourself.
Learn More About Memory Care at Friendship Village
Every member of our Memory Care Team is a Certified Montessori Dementia Care® Professional, and is trained to focus on each resident’s individual needs to create a vibrant and engaged community. To learn how your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia can lead a happy and healthy lifestyle at Friendship Village, contact our senior living experts online. We’d love to hear from you!