Care Perspectives From Senior Solutions

It can be devastating when seniors develop dementia. Their needs for dementia care become so profound. But contrary to what you might believe, dementia doesn't have a sudden onset. In general, most people can point to certain first signs in their senior loved ones that were early indicators of dementia.

End-of-life care: it’s not a subject we want to think about. Yet as we watch our loved ones age, it’s important to learn about hospice care. The word ‘hospice’ originates from the name for lodging offered by monks for weary travelers. Today, it’s become an increasingly trusted form of medical care and comfort for terminally ill people who aren’t expected to live longer than six months. Hospice care focuses on making the dying patient comfortable and providing a peaceful and dignified setting.

As parents age and have diminished abilities to see and navigate around the home or even outdoors it is increasingly important that their children and loved ones become increasingly aware of these challenges.  Most are probably more aware of the medical and health issues which are discussed by doctors or medical caregivers, but all too often the risks that accompany failing sight are typically not addressed as much.

When evaluating options for senior care one is presented with many options. But the majority of families end up choosing between assisted living and skilled nursing in a nursing home. Each has their merits and one must evaluate their senior loved one’s capabilities and needs when making this decision. Review these differences between assisted living and skilled nursing to help with your assessments.

When a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, often families can cope with the side effects and decreasing functionality at home or with some additional care. But when the disease progresses to the point that advanced care should be considered, here are 25 questions for evaluating memory care communities.

Mom has been changing. It started with little things like forgetting doctor’s appointments and not recognizing a family friend. But depending on the cause of the dementia and the area of the brain that is affected, family concerns will continue to increase. As the symptoms mount, concerns for her safety and well being may outweigh her reluctance - and yours - and it might be time for Tennessee Dementia Care Living for Mom. 

Most senior loved ones will be resistant to conversations about moving to an assisted living community. They are comfortable in their current location, your home or their long-time residence, but safety and more supervision may be required. When the time comes to broach the subject here are some strategies to help make for a smoother transition.

The initial diagnosis is heartbreaking and you may not immediately be considering dementia care. But symptoms sneak up on you and your senior loved one. At first it is just the little things that they forget, but the configuration and chemistry of the brain suffering from dementia continue to diminish over time. Their ability to remember, understand and communicate decreases gradually. It can be hard to decide when someone who has ordinarily been independent and self-sufficient is suffering from dementia and should no longer live alone. Here are a few questions to help you determine if it is time for dementia care in an assisted living community.

It may be time to consider Georgia assisted living care when a senior loved one has become unable to perform any of the necessary activities of daily living: eating, taking medication properly, bathing, and dressing, toileting, transferring or maintaining continence. But these are not the only considerations. Even a senior loved one capable of most daily activities can benefit from the activities and interaction in a thriving assisted living community. 

When the time comes that a loved one is no longer able to safely remain in their homes due to dementia, the options, questions and choices can be overwhelming. The key to a content senior is having them in the right community that will ensure their safety and provide them with interaction and activities that will continue to enrich their lives. Use these screening questions when evaluating dementia care in Tennessee: