Memory Care Warning Signs Families Should Not Ignore

At My Living Choice, we recognize that caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is never easy for a family. It’s not just the caregiving responsibilities that prove challenging for them; families may also struggle to recognize that memory loss has begun to show its impact. They often get confused between age-related forgetfulness and dementia-induced memory loss. This leaves them unsure whether the time to opt for memory care has arrived. Experts suggest that the decision to move a dementia-affected individual to a memory care community should never be delayed, as postponement allows symptoms to worsen and eventually leads to a diminished quality of life. Here’s a blog post on the early signs of memory loss that signal to the family it’s time to seek professional care.

Memory & Cognition
For your question, “how to know when memory care is needed,” the likely answer is to notice declining memory & cognitive abilities. At its core, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia deteriorate the individual’s different memory functions & cognitive skills. This has a direct impact on their recall & learning abilities, thinking & problem-solving abilities, and behavior & mood. Here’s a brief overview of key signs related to their memory & cognitive abilities that indicate they need professional memory care assistance.

• They might start forgetting recently learned information.
• The individual will repeat the same questions again and again.
• As dementia progresses, they may have difficulty planning, problem-solving, and following familiar routines.
• They might start to have confusion about time, place, or even events that occurred, leading them to mix up the past and the present.
• As it starts to affect their recall & learning function, they struggle to follow conversations or find the right words.

Daily Living & Safety
Your loved one’s compromised daily living habits & safety are other warning signs that it’s time for memory care. Early memory loss starts to impact their daily routine, making routine tasks difficult. It impairs their ability to continue living on their own terms and increases their dependency on others, leading them to seek professional help. Everything from cooking and managing finances to self-care becomes challenging, and they start needing professional help. Here are the vital daily living & safety signs to notice in a loved one that indicate that memory care is required.

• The individual would start neglecting personal hygiene, bathing, or wearing the same clothes.
• Misplacing items and putting them in unusual places also signals impaired memory function. For instance, they may put keys in the fridge.
• Unpaid bills, unopened mail, or difficulty managing finances show poor daily living.
• Skipping meals, unexplained weight loss, or misusing kitchen gadgets and devices are other signs that memory care is needed.
• Wandering, getting lost, or leaving doors unlocked indicates unsafe conditions.

Behavior & Mood
The progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia also takes a toll on the individual’s behavior & mood. As a result, the individual may exhibit sudden behavioral shifts that ultimately lead to a decline in quality of life. Not just with their loved ones, but with others, too, they start acting differently. Usually, these issues stem from frustration due to cognitive decline, brain cell loss, and difficulty with daily tasks. Here is a brief overview of the key behaviors and moods to notice in a loved one with memory issues.

• Frequent frustration, anger, or becoming easily upset over minor issues.
• Appearing worried, fearful, or suspicious, or sometimes threatened or unsafe.
• Depression and apathy result in a loss of interest in hobbies they once enjoyed.
• Becoming more withdrawn, passive, or rude, or acting out of character.
• Believing others are hiding things or items are being stolen when they aren’t in reality.
• Avoiding friends, family, and social gatherings due to difficulty with conversations or feeling overwhelmed.

Physical & Health Indicators
Memory issues also affect an individual’s physical health. Physically, it causes problems such as poor sleep, poor nutrition, and a decline in overall health. Besides these, it causes issues like unexplained weight loss, increased falls from gait/vision problems, incontinence, and more. All these issues stem from impaired judgment, disorientation, and other related issues. All these combined increase the seniors’ risk for malnutrition, pneumonia, and safety hazards, making professional care necessary. Here’s a brief on the key physical & health indicators you should look for in a loved one to determine whether they need memory care.

• Frequent falls or unexplained injuries.
• Poor posture or unexplained bruising.
• Forgetting medications or taking them incorrectly.
• Missing doctor’s appointments.
• Disrupted daily independence and safety.

Find A Trusted Memory Care Community With My Living Choice
At My Living Choice, we understand that not only the individual but the entire family faces numerous challenges in daily life. While the individual faces difficulties with daily activities and experiences a reduced quality of life, the family’s life is also significantly burdened. They find it troublesome to manage their own priorities and caring responsibilities. This results in a significant imbalance that may translate into stress as well. For them, memory care proves to be a lifesaver.

As a specialized long-term care setting, a memory care community offers a host of benefits for individuals with memory impairment. From comprehensive care opportunities to tailored environments and social support, everything is made to suit their unique needs and living preferences. Not just for the affected individual but for the family, too, dementia care services bring a whole lot of benefits.

Those seeking a trusted choice of a memory care community can contact us at My Living Choice. As a senior living directory, we will provide you with access to several memory care communities known for compassionate care. With advanced search filters, you can find your new home in no time. Use our platform today and find a memory care partner that delivers tailored care.