The Golden Years: How to Tell if Your Loved One Needs Memory Care

How to Tell if Your Loved One Needs Memory Care

By Phil Golden, Executive Director

Caring for an older loved one is one of the most selfless and rewarding acts that we can do in our lifetime, but when a family member has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, there may come a time when they need more care than you can provide at home. Making the decision to move into a Memory Care community may be very difficult, but it is not always possible to continue providing the level of care needed at home. Safety is one of the main concerns that in-home caregivers of dementia patients have, and those with the condition often need 24-hour supervision. That is often more than a spouse or adult child can provide without jeopardizing their own health. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the following questions may be helpful when determining if a move to residential care is a good option:

• Is the person with dementia becoming unsafe in their current home?
• Is the health of the person with dementia or my health as a caregiver at risk?
• Are the person's care needs beyond my physical abilities?
• Am I becoming a stressed, irritable and impatient caregiver?
• Am I neglecting work responsibilities, my family and myself?
• Would the structure and social interaction at a care facility benefit the person with dementia?

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At Springwell, our Memory Care services are designed to support and accommodate individuals who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia with our warm, compassionate care. We understand that each resident is unique, so we establish and follow a personalized care plan for each resident. We encourage residents to stay engaged by creating daily opportunities for interaction, socialization and activities with our staff as well as other residents.Springwell staffs a full-time Memory Care Director to lead the program, and we have licensed nurses on site 24 hours a day. Medical oversight is also provided by our Medical Director.  The daily activities program offers a wide variety, including therapeutic art and music, trips, games and exercise.And, our Memory Care program has recently grown to include additional private residences — some with accommodations for couples! We know this is a really difficult decision, and our caring professionals are here for you and your family every step of the way.For more information about Springwell Senior Living’s Memory Care program, visit our Memory Care page or call Nina or Kim at 410-664-4006.