5 Warning Signs to Watch for When Considering Assisted Living for Seniors with Alzheimer's Disease

If you are like many Americans, you have a loved one that needs some assistance to get through the day. If they have Alzheimer’s disease or any other dementia-related disorder, the needs challenges that may be present can sometimes be overwhelming. While you want the best for them, sometimes providing the care they need can be too time-consuming, have too many financial responsibilities, or simply require more help than you can give. If you too are having difficulties taking care of your loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease, then here is a handy list to help you decide if outside assistance may be right for them and help you to make the best choice for your family.

If you are witnessing the following symptoms, and they seem to be affecting the lifestyle and quality of care of a beloved elder in your life, it is certainly time to start the discussion of assisted living and in home care.

1. Aggression – Many seniors that are suffering from dementia will lash out at people around them either verbally or physically. When this happens, it can cause increased stress on family and friends, and even cause them to feel resentful. This can be caused by spatial and time confusion and often will require skilled assistance as symptoms progress.
2. Escalating Care Needs – If you have concerns about a seniors self-care capabilities because you feel that maybe their health risk is increasing because of unattended medical needs, if you feel they are at risk when living independently or even if you are beginning to feel burdened by taking care of them, then it is time to seek outside assistance. These can all be signs that the senior in your life requires more care than you can give on your own and it’s better to ask for assistance.
3. Sundowning – Otherwise known as “Sundowner Syndrome”, is when a senior can become greatly agitated and is more pronounced the later in the day it gets. It is a common symptom of Alzheimer’s disease and can cause many difficulties for the senior as well as increased stress to their family and care providers. If you notice that this symptom is elongating, being more pronounced as the days go on, reducing stress and having the support in place can help to reduce future occurrences.
4. Wandering – A common challenge with those with memory loss, this symptom can be exasperated further by Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. While it may seem like a minor inconvenience to outside observers, it can increase senior’s difficulty with even mundane tasks and can lead to increased risks of falls and other preventable injuries.
5. Serious Gaps in Memory– Those suffering from dementia related illnesses will show memory loss or gaps in memory in a number of ways. As this symptom becomes more common, it can effect the senior’s health because routine care such as cleaning or medications are forgotten without prompting or reminders. If memory loss is adding to your loved one’s state of mind and being able to live independently, this can indicate a safety issue and one that must be addressed.

A final consideration that you need to address is that if it is becoming too difficult or stressful for you to take care of your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, it may be a sign you need some professional assistance. While it can be a difficult decision to put your loved one in the care of another, many times it’s the best for both of you. Feeling stressful or resentful to a loved one you are caring for will only add to both of your difficulties and make things more challenging. With a skilled caregiver supporting your loved one, you will have more time to spend quality time with them as well as the joy of knowing they that their needs are being met.

ComfortCare Homes of Wichita, KS provides memory care services to the following cities and neighborhoods: Wichita, Derby, Augusta, El Dorado, Newton, Hutchinson, Pretty Prairie, Kingman, Norwich, Conway Springs, Belle Plaine, and the surrounding areas of Kansas.