Unlike many health conditions, which tend to develop or at least come to light all at once, dementia comes on gradually, and the signs can be confusing and easy to miss, or misunderstand. And the dementia symptoms most people are familiar with, such as memory loss, confusion, and disorientation, are not the only signs that someone may be developing Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Dementia symptoms can include delusions, agitation, sleeplessness, and extreme personality changes that can profoundly affect what your family member needs from a living situation. Whether your family member is living independently or is in assisted living, you may begin to feel that he or she has more specialized needs that aren’t being met. This is the time to investigate whether your loved one could benefit from specialized memory care, that’s structured and staffed to handle the increased demands of caring for someone with dementia. Understandably, many family members want to care for their loved one at home for as long as possible. But, what does “for as longas possible” really mean? Families often experience guilt and anxiety related to even the thought of nursing home placement. They may have made a promise years ago to their loved one that they wouldn’t ever put them in a nursing home, or they might feel like it’s their duty to care for them in their own home. So, how do you know when it’s time? Here are some signs that it’s time to consider a specialized memory care home:

• You’ve injured yourself while providing care.
• Your loved one’s dementia has progressed to the point where they try to hurt you or they exhibit other challenging behaviors, such as paranoia or frequent anger.
• Your loved one has wandered outside and become lost.
• You display several signs of caregiver burnout. For example, perhaps you’ve lost your temper recently when your loved one was resisting getting dressed or was following you everywhere you went inside the house.
• Your own health (either physical or emotional) is declining.
• Your doctor has said that it’s time for nursing home placement.
• Financially, a memory care home is more feasible than paying for the amount of in-home services that would be needed to meet your loved one’s care needs.

If one or more of these signs sounds familiar, it may be time to go forward with planning a visit to a memory care facility such as One Kenton Place to discuss the best options for your loved one’s care. At One Kenton Place our specialty is exceptional memory care.