The Final Move: When it’s Time to Take Mom or Dad to a Dementia Assisted Living Facility

Do you have a parent who suffers from dementia? Are you afraid that you can no longer care for them and that you need the help of dementia assisted living facility?

The decision to place your loved one in an assisted living facility can be tough. You don’t want them to feel like you’re abandoning them. But, you also want to make sure they get the around-the-clock care they deserve.

So, how can you tell if it’s time?

Check out this guide to discover how to know when it’s time to take mom or dad to dementia assisted living facility.

1. Your Parent Leaves Their Home and Gets Lost

While we spend a lot of time thinking about the psychological and mental risks associated with dementia, we must not forget that there are physical risks as well.

Namely, it’s very common for people with dementia to wander out of their homes without a clear sense of where they’re going. At best, this can result in them getting lost or confused, and at worst, it can result in them getting injured and you not being able to find them.

If you’re found your parent wandering more than once, then it may be time to think about assisted living. Assisted living facilities that focus on dementia are designed to make it so your loved one doesn’t get lost as easily. Plus, with 24-hour supervision, you never have to worry about your parent wandering off on their own and getting hurt.

2. They Become Unusually Angry or Violent

Aggressive behavior is often associated with dementia. While there are all kinds of tactics you can employ to deal with this aggressive behavior, sometimes, it can get to be too much.

Staff in an assisted living facility will know the proper techniques for dealing with dementia patients who become angry or violent.

3. Your Parent is Isolated or Withdrawn

Has your parent stopped participating in social activities they used to enjoy? Do they sometimes go days without leaving the house?

If so, the first thing you should do is talk to them about why they’re withdrawing. It may be that they’re scared of participating in social activities because of their diagnosis or they’re scared to transport themselves.

Even if your loved one’s dementia is mild, an assisted living facility may help them feel less alone and more inclined to interact with others.

4. They Have Piles of Unopened Mail

Sure, we all have times when we let the mail pile up. But, if your parent continuously has piles of unopened mail, it may be that they’re having financial difficulties or, due to dementia, the mail confuses them.

While moving to an assisted living facility obviously costs money, it can also simplify your parent’s financial situation. If you’re not sure what you can afford in terms of facilities, talk to your parent and a financial advisor.

5. They Have Other Monetary Issues

Piles of unopened mail and late bills aren’t the other financial issue that your parent with dementia may be facing. Seniors, especially those with dementia, are often susceptible to financial scams, whether it’s from telemarketers, a fake charity, or their own friends and relatives.

Unfortunately, there have been scams out there that have put seniors in debilitating financial situations. To make sure your parent doesn’t fall prey to these scams and that their finances remain safe, an assisted living facility may be the right move.

6. Their Medical Condition is Worsening

It’s important to understand that dementia is a progressive disease, and that your parent’s condition may worsen over time. To tell if your parent’s medical condition is worsening, let’s take a look at how dementia progresses:

Mild Dementia

If your parent is suffering from mild dementia, they still might not have any issues functioning independently. However, at this stage, they’ll experience memory lapses that affect daily life. For example, they’ll forget words or where things are. Here are some common symptoms of mild dementia:

• Personality changes
• Memory loss of recent events
• Misplacing objects or getting lost
• Difficulty with complex tasks and problem-solving
• Trouble expressing thoughts
• Trouble organizing

Moderate Dementia

Mild dementia can eventually progress into moderate dementia. Those with moderate dementia will struggle a bit more to perform daily tasks and will likely need assistance in their daily lives. Here are the common symptoms of moderate dementia:

• Increased confusion
• Poor judgment
• Greater memory loss
• Needing assistance with basic tasks like bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Significant behavior and personality changes
• Changes in sleep patterns

Severe Dementia

Unfortunately, dementia can get even worse from there, leading to severe dementia. Here are the symptoms of severe dementia:

• Needing full-time daily assistance
• Increasing susceptibility to infections
• Losing physical capabilities like walking, sitting, swallowing, and bladder control
• Losing the ability to communicate

If your parent displays symptoms of severe dementia, then it’s very important that you get them the help they need via an assisted living facility. However, if your loved one is displaying symptoms of mild or moderate dementia, an assisted living facility is still worth considering. This way, you won’t need to hire someone to be with them around the clock to help them with their daily living.

7. They’ve Developed Poor Hygiene

If your parent is displaying signs of poor hygiene, then it may be time to consider an assisted living facility. Messy grooming habits, bad odors, and disorganized homes are all signs that your parent isn’t keeping up with their daily tasks. If they have dementia, it may just be that they’re forgetting to do these things.

Whatever the reason, an assisted living facility can ensure your loved one keeps up with their hygiene habits. You can read more now about how hygiene can be a sign that it’s time to consider assisted living.

Is it Time for a Dementia Assisted Living Facility?

Now that you’ve read this article, you should have a better idea if it’s time to start looking for dementia assisted living facility for your loved one.

If you liked this article, be sure to check back in with our blog for more news and tips related to senior care.