If you’re caring for a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, then you’re not alone. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you’re one of more than 11 million caregivers who help people with dementia-related conditions receive care in their homes.
Caring for someone while they’re in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia may strengthen your relationship with them. However, as the disease progresses, it may start to take a toll on your mental and physical health as a caregiver. The stress and demand of caregiving can hinder the ability to take care of your health.
Specialized memory support, like the memory care households offered at Marjorie P. Lee, can ease the stress on families and shift time with your loved one from quantity to quality. With memory care support, residents receive quality care even as their needs evolve, and loved ones have peace of mind knowing they are safe and in the care of expert professionals. By having care needs provided by professional partners, you are freed up to have quality time with your loved one.
How do you know when your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia needs more support than you can provide? Let’s take a look.
In addition to memory-related risks—like forgetting a pan on the stove—care partners must also consider age-related safety concerns. One of the most common hazards for older adults is falling. Everyday items such as misplaced rugs, floor clutter, or slippery surfaces can easily lead to a fall.
Some safety precautions are relatively simple, such as clearing walkways, installing railings, or removing tripping hazards. But other home features are harder to change. Many homes have bedrooms on the second floor, and stairs can become dangerous for some seniors. Even with modifications, the layout of a home may no longer provide the safest environment.
Memory care communities are purposefully designed for older adults with memory loss. Although the risk of falls given the changes caused by dementia can never be eliminated, these spaces are easier and safer to navigate, with minimal obstacles and no stairs in living areas—helping reduce fall risk and promote independence.
Considering your loved one’s health is likely at the forefront of your mind. But you also need to consider your health when thinking about if it’s time to explore memory care options. Are you postponing self-care because you’re juggling work, family, and your loved one’s care needs? Is your loved one’s disease progression pushing you beyond your physical abilities?
Caregiving can cause an increase in emotional stress. If the stress affects your mental health, you may be at a higher risk of depression and anxiety. Not only does this impact you, but it also impacts your family and the loved one you are caring for. Your stress may begin to manifest as irritability or impatience with your loved one. This is also known as compassion fatigue.
If you find yourself increasingly worried about the safety of your loved one, as well as your own physical and mental health, you may want to consider the numerous benefits of moving your loved one into a specialized memory care household like Marjorie P. Lee in Cincinnati’s Hyde Park neighborhood.
So, how can memory care support communities help your family to avoid burnout?
Memory care communities are designed to meet the unique needs of seniors living with memory loss. Most offer enhanced security in secured households to promote safety. These households are optimized for fall prevention, such as reducing trip hazards and arranging furniture and grab bars to make moving around easier. Households may even have shared and private spaces to encourage residents to come together for meals and enriching activities.
Memory support, including cognitive therapies and other wellness activities, can help slow mental and physical decline. Most family caregivers aren’t experts—they do what they can because they love the person living with dementia. However, expertise can play an essential role in the quality of life for those with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
Whether your loved one prefers art therapy, music therapy, or another activity, staying engaged through expert-led therapies contributes to a better quality of life and can even slow down the progression of dementia.
Families can find more moments to cherish. Instead of daily pressures that can wear caregivers down, moving a loved one to a memory care community gives families better balance, allowing them to truly enjoy their time with their aging loved ones.
Deciding to move a parent with Alzheimer’s to a memory care household isn’t easy. Megan Bradford, vice president of Middle Market and Ministry, says, “It’s a very emotional decision for anyone to place a loved one in memory care. Families sometimes feel guilty for not being able to care for their loved one at home.”
Having your family member with cognitive loss live in a memory care community can allow you to make the most of your time with your loved one. By allowing experts to care for your family, you can return to being the spouse, the child, the friend, etc. You can also balance your loved one’s needs with your needs.
If you’re exploring the benefits of memory support for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, we invite you to take a closer look at how Marjorie P. Lee is working to provide intimate living environments, quality programming and care, innovative training programs, and community outreach to help families cherish every moment.
To learn more about Marjorie P. Lee’s Memory Care, schedule a complimentary tour today by contacting our Director of Community Relations, Jenn Schlotbom, at 513.533.5000 or jschlotbom@erslife.org.