In the U.S., Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death. It is not necessarily the final blow that ends a person’s life, but rather a larger problem that allows for the development of smaller periphery problems to take root.
The types of dementia vary. Some may require more specialized treatment than others. The main concern after a diagnosis is how will a person’s health be defended, and figuring out how their quality of life be effected. This is a slowly progressing disease that can not be stopped.
What Care Options For Alzheimers Patients Need to Be Considered?
The concern for all people with dementia, not just Alzheimers, is actually (in no particular order) how to: preserve their sense of freedom, their health, and manage progression of the disease. Many patients dislike the idea that their autonomy will be compromised. That is a valid concern, but so is the fear that the patient’s health will decline due to their memory loss. For some, memory care facilities might be a possible option.
What Are the Initial Health Concerns of Dementia?
While it is not uncommon to have some minor trouble remembering details as we age, there are some specific examples of memory loss that indicate a larger problem. These include trouble remembering what has happened during the day, and trouble making choices each day. It is this daily forgetting that can easily cause trouble over the long term.
The trouble with dementia is that the person forgets easily. This can be very frightening for someone, as they might leave the house knowing where they are going, but get lost halfway. Then they might not be able to find their way back home. Or maybe it is as simple as forgetting to take their medication pills each day. The problem is that the incidences will get worse as time goes on, and they need to be prepared.
What to Look For In a Good Memory Care Facility.
Unlike a retirement home, assisted living facilities with a focus on memory care try to bridge the gap between feeling independent and feeling babied. Good memory care facilities focus on both the resident’s health, and their happiness. They accomplish this in a number of ways.
Any good assisted care facility will have a schedule for their residents. The goal is to have regular meal times, planned activities, and options for those who are unable to participate. There should be laundry services, and at least one nurse available on the grounds at all hours. It is also necessary for the facility to offer transportation services of some type, as this encourages the feeling of autonomy for most residents.
How Do Memory Care Facilities Help Patients With Dementia?
Health care services, supervision of medication, and therapeutic services are also good and necessary for the resident’s long-term health. For about every four out of 10 assisted living residents, it is also necessary to have assistance with about three basic daily tasks such as bathing and dressing themselves. These are the simple daily tasks that a dementia patient may struggle with, in making proper decisions in regards to execution, or remembering if they completed them at all. If a lack of proper self-care continued for too long, the patient’s health would be compromised.
A diagnosis of one of the types of dementia can be life-changing. As the disease progresses, the concern is for the health of the patient. It is all too easy for the patient to slip up in their daily care practices. This is especially concerning if they are required to take daily medication. While they might not be the right choice for every patient, memory care facilities can provide much-needed care for those suffering from dementia. It is a simple matter of health.