5 Signs Your Senior Parent Needs Memory Care

Let us paint a familiar picture for you. You’re watching your favorite show on Netflix when suddenly you remember that you left your drink in the kitchen. Naturally, you pause the show and make your way there. However, once you get to the kitchen – you completely forget why you decided to go there in the first place. This has happened to everyone at least once and is usually not a cause of grave concern. Everyone experiences a “senior moment” once in a while. It’s normal to forget why you came into a room, where you left your keys, or someone’s name here and there. Especially if you’re having a bad week.

However, if you are noticing more serious memory loss or perhaps the early signs of dementia in your loved one, it can be concerning for everyone involved. If you are starting to wonder whether your mom or dad are in need of memory care, our experts at JCHC put together a list of tell-tale signs to look for.

Major changes in daily behavior. Like we mentioned above, this is more than the occasional brain freeze. The changes in your loved one’s behavior should be very dramatic and indicative that they are not themselves. For example, your mom starts declining invitations to go out and becomes very withdrawn, when she is usually a social butterfly. Other common behavioral changes that are linked to memory disorders are feeling very anxious and becoming easily irritated.

Unhealthy living conditions. Upkeep is a normal part of life, and a part that requires a sound memory. If you start to notice your loved one is letting trash pile up, forgetting to pay the bills, not remembering to shower or brush their teeth – these are signs that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Forgetting regular hygiene and home maintenance is unhealthy and is indicative that your loved one needs assistance on a daily basis.

Unsafe home environment. A tell-tale sign of dementia that you’ve probably heard of is wandering. This can become especially dangerous if your loved one lives home alone. If your loved one has wandered away from their home and has gotten lost, this is a sign that they are no longer safe living alone.

Incontinence. This can become a very unsanitary problem for your loved one, even if they have a sole caregiver. Incontinence is a huge task to take on alone. If your loved one is at the point where they are not remembering to go to the bathroom, they require the help of trained staff in a memory care unit.

The main caregiver is overwhelmed. As mentioned above, there are behavioral and other health changes that develop when a loved one is battling a memory disorder. Often, these issues can become too overwhelming for one caregiver to take on. Especially if the caregiver has a family and career of their own to worry about. If your senior parent’s needs are becoming too much to handle, it’s time to consider the professional support of a memory care facility.

Advanced Memory Care in Morris County, NJ

At Lester Senior Living, seniors in the memory care unit keep both their minds and bodies active with our specialized care. They listen to music, do arts and crafts, and engage in cognitive exercises with other memory care residents, like Scrabble and Bridge. Our caregivers understand the challenges that come with memory disorders and treat each resident in a comforting environment where their care needs are addressed at all times.

For more information about professional memory care in Morris County, New Jersey, contact us today for visit our website at: https://jchcorp.org/

 

The original blog is posted on: https://jchcorp.org/5-signs-your-senior-parent-needs-memory-care/