Questions That Will Help You Decide Whether It Is Time To Take Your Loved One To Memory Care
If you have never cared for someone with dementia before, you may not know exactly when to hire someone to provide additional assistance to your loved one. Besides, the symptoms are not always so obvious at first, but they could worsen with time. While admitting that you need to hire a professional to care for your loved one may not be easy, this is something you might have to do for their well-being. Below is a compilation of questions that will help determine when to look for caregiver services.
Is Their Living Environment Conducive?
If you already know your loved one has Alzheimer's, you should be mindful of their living conditions. With their tendency to forget, they can easily turn into hoarders. They may even forget to clean up after their mess, thus increasing the risk of tripping and hurting themselves. You also do not want them eating stale food or consuming anything poisonous like household chemicals. So if it has gotten to such lengths, it is best if you find them a caregiver.
Do They Remember to Take Their Medication?
Once the medication is prescribed, you should monitor and see if your loved one can remember to take them unsupervised. If they forget, the medication will not help, and their situation could worsen. It is also dangerous if they are overdosing. While you could set a reminder, it would only be effective during the early stages of memory loss—otherwise, those severely affected need professional assistance.
Are They Well Nourished?
People who have Alzheimer's should be under a strict diet to keep them going. So if they are living by themselves, there is a high chance they might not be following the doctor's orders regarding what they should eat. Undereating, overeating, or picking unhealthy foods may lead to changes in health that could worsen the situation. Therefore, they could benefit from the assistance of a caregiver service.
Have You Been Feeling Overwhelmed?
It is understandable to feel overwhelmed trying to balance caring for your loved one and yourself. The problem is you might let it out on your senior with dementia, which can negatively affect them. If it has reached such points, it would be best if you involve a caregiver.
You can trust a caregiver to take good care of your loved one. So if your answers to the above questions show you need help, do not hesitate to contact these caregivers.