Deciding when it’s time to consider a memory care facility for a loved one with dementia is not easy. Not only is this an emotionally charged subject liable to trigger family conflict, but there is no single set of criteria available to guide your decision. Dementia arrives in stages, but no two cases are the same—and every family has different needs.
Whether memory care for dementia is appropriate for your loved one depends on many factors—but it’s not a subject you can ignore. To assess whether it is time for your loved one to enter a memory care facility, ask yourself the following questions:
- Have friends or family members commented on changes in their behavior?
- Does your loved one often become agitated or combative?
- Is your aging relative withdrawn or nervous?
- Are their hygiene needs met?
- Does your loved one wander?
- Are their living conditions safe?
- Are their medications properly managed?
- Is your loved one well-nourished?
- Have you started to feel caregiver burnout?
- Is caring for your loved one going well?
- Are you feeling resentful towards them?
- Is caregiving affecting your own health?
- Are you and your family safe?
Subtle changes in behavior are often the first sign that a loved one will soon need memory care, though these changes can be hard for family members to pick up on. Furthermore, aggression and agitation can be dangerous signs of dementia, especially when that person is being cared for by an elderly spouse. Changes in hygiene, wandering off, and the inability to navigate their living conditions can also be signs that a loved one needs additional assistance. Finally, caregiver burnout is a common problem when caring for someone with dementia, and it can have serious physical and emotional consequences—both for the caregiver, and the patient).
Addressing the need for memory care for dementia is not just a medical matter, but a legal one, too. Getting the right legal documents in place early can save a lot of time, money, and aggravation when dementia becomes a bigger issue later.
A failing memory can complicate the estate planning in countless ways. If your aging loved ones are showing signs of dementia, please consider it an urgent matter that demands immediate attention. To learn more about what you need to do (and how to do it), download our free Living with Dementia e-Book using the brief form below, or reach out to Miller Estate and Elder Law to request a free consultation today.
At Miller Estate & Elder Law, we have decades of experience helping our clients with every aspect of estate planning and elder law. We’ve seen every mistake in the book, and are here to make sure you don’t make any of them! Give us a call today at (256) 251-2137 or use the contact form below.