Assisted living has become a popular option for older adults who need help with day-to-day living. You can keep your parent in their home and still have them live independently, but with an added support system if necessary. But what happens when this kind of support isn’t enough? When does assisted living to become too much? At what point do you make the decision to move from assisted living to memory care? It’s not an easy one, but there are some signs you can look for to help guide you through the process:
They have Social Difficulties Or Withdrawal From Others
The first sign that your aging parent might need care beyond assisted living is if they start to isolate themselves, avoiding social situations and interactions with friends and family. Your aging parent may not want to go out in public or leave the house anymore. They may be shying away from activities that involve being around large groups of people (like church services or large dinner parties). This can also be a sign that they need to get more attention during the day while living in an assisted living community; maybe they don’t have any visitors because no one knows where they live!
They’re Not Bathing Or Changing Clothes
If your loved one is not bathing, it’s time to look into memory care. You might think it’s fine for them to go without a shower or two, but this can lead to more serious problems like infections that are difficult to treat in older adults. If they’re wearing clothes that haven’t been washed in a while, ask them when they last bathed or changed clothes. If they need help remembering or needing clarification about the answer, you should find out whether anyone else has noticed a change in their behavior.
Their Medication Isn’t Working As Well
As people age, their medications will no longer work as well. The medication may be working too slowly or have side effects that are hard for them to handle.
It’s important to monitor your parents’ medications and ensure they’re taking them correctly. If you notice the drug isn’t working well, talk to your healthcare provider about other options or dosage changes.
If a side effect is bothering your parent, talk with their doctor about whether another medication would work better for them in that case. If there are some interactions with other medications, it might take some trial and error before finding the right combination of drugs that helps alleviate symptoms without causing additional issues such as dizziness or confusion (which can lead to accidents).
In addition to monitoring how well medications are working over time, you should also look out for any new symptoms popping up after starting new ones—like weight gain from an anti-depressant—as this could be a sign of an interaction between two medications taken together regularly by your loved one!
They’re Regularly Losing Items Like Their Wallet Or Keys
If your parent is regularly losing items like their wallet or keys, it could be a sign that they need memory care.
In addition to slowing down their ability to remember things, aging also affects the brain’s ability to recall information. Memory loss is a common problem in older adults. As people get older, they may have trouble remembering the names of people they know well or important dates like birthdays and anniversaries. Some people may even experience mild forms of dementia that result in forgetting simple tasks such as taking medication or paying bills on time.
Conclusion
It’s always hard to decide about your aging parents and move them from assisted living to memory care. But if you see that it may be time for a change, then maybe it’s time to take action. Moving from assisted living can be stressful for everyone involved, but it is also an essential step in ensuring that your loved ones are cared for by people who know what they are doing and can meet their needs as they age.
