Providing the Right Care at the Right Time

The decision to seek professional care for a loved one with dementia is difficult to make and can often produce feelings of guilt for family caregivers. How do you know when the right time to reach out will be? Is it too early or too late? While there can be a large discrepancy in the symptoms between any two people with dementia, if you’re thinking about professional care, then there are already services that can increase the safety, health, and comfort for your family member.

People with memory impairment, Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia have ever-changing needs, and require specialized care. Anyone who has cared for a family member with dementia can attest to the full-time nature of care—burnout is common, and the emotional toll that dementia creates for caregivers and loved ones is high. Professional care services, like those offered by ComfortCare Homes, provide the right care at the right time, so you can get back to being a family, without the added responsibility of being a full-time caregiver.

When is the right time?

Consider the following statements:

• I continually worry about my loved one’s physical safety
• My loved one is combative and upset with me much of the time
• My loved one is incontinent, and I am unable to manage this need
• My loved one is not eating properly or taking their medications correctly
• I’m caring for my loved one and it’s leaving me exhausted and not getting enough sleep
• My loved one no longer knows who I am
• My loved one is forgetting to pay bills and isn’t managing their finances anymore
• I am struggling to physically help my loved one in and out of the chair or bed
• My loved one is falling more frequently, and I have a hard time helping them back up
• My loved one thinks they can leave on their own but doesn’t always know the way back

If any of these statements are familiar to you, it’s important for you to know that you’re not alone. Family caregivers are often under considerable pressure, and too often reach out for help only when they are mentally and physically exhausted. Please contact ComfortCare Homes before you’re in crisis. We can help plan for the immediate or future care of your loved one and offer professional assessments of their current needs.