One of the hardest things that adult children need to do for their older parents is deciding when it is time for their older loved one to start receiving professional senior care. When a loved one has dementia, this decision is tougher still.
First, it’s important to note that getting a loved one connected to care isn’t giving up. It isn’t saying that you don’t love them enough to help them anymore, either. Seniors can have difficult, unique, needs that the average person simply isn’t equipped with the right skills in order to help them out.
An easier transition into professional level senior care would be better for everyone.
Moving into memory care isn’t just hard for the person receiving it. It’s hard for the whole family. According to some estimates, about 11 million family members in the U.S. care for someone with dementia on an informal basis. If you’ve ever cared for an older loved one–you know just how stressful this can be. But stressful doesn’t necessarily mean bad. Caring for an older loved one can also be quite a rewarding experience.
Dementia symptoms tend to worsen over time, especially with Alzheimer’s disease. When these changes become too much to handle, a transition into professional memory care might become necessary. But this is seldom easy. Having a loved one struggle with dementia is hard enough–but when it comes to them moving into a facility to receive care, it can be emotionally traumatic.
Symptoms like withdrawal can make administering care difficult for family members, too. For example, just because someone doesn’t want to talk doesn’t mean they don’t need help. If you help a loved one, there’s likely to be some hard feelings on both sides. Having someone help out with care can preserve the family bonds of love that already exist. However, being present and available for your loved one when they need you can make this transition easier for them. It shows them you’re supportive, but doesn’t make you into a bad guy.
Another way that this can be alleviated is through the use of in-home care. In-home caregivers come to the person in need, rather than the other way around. An in-home caregiver can give professional level care in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. There’s no need for a difficult transition because there’s no moving involved.
We know that in-home care isn’t the ideal solution for everyone. That’s why it’s important to talk about and go over your options before making a decision. If you have questions about care, it can be helpful to talk about those options with a professional prior to finalizing anything.
We’d love to help you out here. Take advantage of our absolutely free consultation service by giving us a call. One of our trained caregivers would be happy to go over your unique situation, answer your questions, and get you pointed in the right direction. There’s no obligation and no pressure.
If you are interested in learning a bit more about transitioning into memory care, please reach out today.
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