When you have an elderly relative that has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, it can be an extremely harrowing time. While it is the case that most people who develop Alzheimer’s do so gradually over many months, there are instances in which it can occur more suddenly, especially if there has been a stroke or there is a genetic predisposition to the disorder causing it to accelerate.
If you are living with your elderly relative, it can be hard for you and other people in your family to decide to place them in an assisted living facility. However, many assisted living facilities can offer memory care to specifically help those who have Alzheimer’s dementia and other degenerative cognitive issues.
This article will seek to explore how assisted living can be beneficial to your relative with Alzheimer’s.
Routine
The first thing to consider is the routine that many senior living Clayton facilities have in place. Every day, there will be breakfast activities, lunch, afternoon walks, and dinner, with engagements with other members of the assisted living facility and the medical staff. Research has found that those who have Alzheimer’s dementia show fewer signs of degeneration if they are kept in a strict routine, which would certainly be a feature of every assisted living facility.
Assistance
Next is the assistance that your elderly relative will receive from the support staff, nurses, and doctors. If you work and you must leave your elderly relative at home for hours on end, they may become confused or worried if they have forgotten you have gone to work or if they cannot safely navigate their way around your home. Assisted living facilities are adequately staffed to ensure that your loved one will receive the care that they need at all times of the day and will have immediate access to medical staff should they become injured.
Safety
Safety is another concern for many people who are living with somebody that has Alzheimer’s. This disease often presents with muscle wastage as well, which can increase the chances of accidents happening in the home, as well as more concerning features, such as memory loss. In an assisted living facility, there will be grab rails, walk-in showers, stairlifts, or even lifts if needed. Your relative will not have access to the kitchen and will have all their food prepared for them, reducing burns, cuts, and scalds.
Interactions
Alzheimer’s dementia has been found to get worse if the person who is suffering from it is socially isolated. By moving your relative that has Alzheimer’s into an assisted living facility, they will have a lot of neighbors to interact with and to reminisce about their lives with, so their social interactions will increase and will slow down the progress of the disorder.
So, there you have it. Just be sure when looking for the right home for your elderly relative that they feel safe and happy there and that the facility ticks all the boxes relating to maintenance, care, and interactions.
