Whether a loved one with dementia should stop living alone is an important question to consider. After all, we want to provide our loved ones with a safe, comfortable environment that positively impacts their well-being.
Signs that your loved one can no longer live independently and will benefit from memory care include:
- They’re experiencing social isolation
- Their physical and cognitive health is declining
- You have concerns for their safety
Can Someone With Dementia Live Alone?
In the early stages of dementia, many people can continue to live independently with minimal support. They may still manage their daily routines and may maintain a semblance of normalcy. However, dementia is a progressive disease; the condition only worsens over time.
Depending on their stage of well-being, a loved one with early stage dementia may not need memory care, and may be able to continue living on their own. However, inevitably, they will eventually have to transition into a memory care community. While there is no specific point at which a person needs memory care, certain signs may suggest that your loved one will benefit from more comprehensive support.
Social Isolation
An early sign that living alone may no longer be appropriate is when your loved one’s cognitive and social needs go unmet. Dementia can lead to memory lapses, confusion, and difficulty performing tasks that used to be simple. These challenges can result in isolation and loneliness, further worsening cognitive health.
Cognitive lapses can impact social interactions, leaving individuals vulnerable to depression and anxiety. Additionally, a lack of social engagement can also accelerate cognitive decline.
Building and sustaining social connections is crucial for supporting emotional and mental health. Memory care provides an opportunity for your loved one to forge relationships with fellow residents through various community events and activities. Furthermore, memory care includes a range of activities and programs designed to enhance and stimulate cognitive function.
Physical & Cognitive Health Decline
When assessing whether your loved one is ready for memory care, it’s important to look for changes in their physical appearance. Deteriorating physical health can coincide with cognitive decline in individuals living with dementia.
In particular, look for changes in your loved one’s appearance and body composition. They may forget to prepare food or eat, making them increasingly weak and frail.
Decreased physical wellness can include loss of balance, stiff muscles, body fatigue, increasing body tremors, or an overall lack of mobility. Decreased mobility or increased cognitive decline may also result in poor hygiene and personal care.
Declining cognitive health can include changes in memory, the ability to focus, and behavioral changes such as sudden mood swings. Our professionally trained staff are equipped to handle the unique challenges associated with sudden mood swings, taking care of all residents and confirming their safety and well-being.
Safety Concerns
Safety is among the biggest factors to consider when determining if your loved one should transition to memory care. The safety of your loved ones is deeply connected to their cognitive health and physical well-being.
With the progression of dementia comes increasing forgetfulness, which can pose a hazard both to your loved one and to others.
Your loved one may forget bill payments, doctor’s appointments, or their medication. They may also accidentally take the wrong medication or forget the right dosage. Consistency in medication schedule is vital. Memory care communities provide medication management, ensuring that every resident gets the right dose of the correct medication at the right time.
When your loved one no longer routinely cares for their own hygiene, there is a risk of illness or infection, suggesting a need for full-time care.
When living alone, your loved one may forget to turn off household appliances like the oven, stove, or iron, thereby creating a safety hazard. They may also have unexplained bruises and may begin wandering.
Memory care provides a safe environment that focuses on preventing wandering, falls, and subsequent injuries.
Your loved one’s primary care physician or other members of their medical team may express a growing concern for your loved one and suggest transitioning them into memory care.
How Memory Care Can Help
Memory care is a specialized form of long-term care that offers tailored services and amenities for unique needs of those with dementia and Alzheimers.
Residents have access to full-time supervised support with staff trained in memory care, a safe layout to help prevent wandering or injury, and activities that help stimulate cognitive function and provide social connections with other residents.
Memory care communities are equipped to handle the specific challenges associated with dementia and other forms of cognitive decline.
No one resident experiences cognitive decline the same way, which is why memory care provides residents with a personalized approach to care. We provide the needed care based on your loved one’s cognitive and physical health needs.
Services & Amenities
Memory care offers a variety of services and amenities designed to enhance residents’ well-being.
These include trained staff equipped to compassionately handle the challenges associated with cognitive decline, round-the-clock supervision, medication management, balanced and nutritious meals, and assistance with daily activities.
Memory care provides residents with the opportunity to explore and engage in therapeutic activities that stimulate cognitive function and increase social engagement, such as music therapy, art therapy, and light exercise programs.
These activities not only stimulate the mind, but also foster a sense of community and belonging. Access to such engaging activities can greatly improve your loved one’s overall health and happiness.
Schedule a Tour
Transitioning your loved one with dementia into memory care is not a matter of if but when. Looking for signs like increasing cognitive decline and decreased physical health allows you to determine whether it may be time for memory care. Connect with our team at Ralston Creek Neighborhood to schedule a tour of our memory care community.