Is It Time to Start Thinking About a Memory Care Community for Your Senior?

It is not a sudden shift that you notice from one day to the next. Instead, memory loss represents one of the slowest-developing medical conditions. A senior loved one might show occasional signs such as forgetting where he put the car keys or temporarily failing to remember the name of one of her grandchildren. Because of its slow-developing nature, memory loss often goes unnoticed until it reaches the critical stage of development. This begs the question: How do you notice the signs of memory loss suffered by a loved one? 

If you notice the signs of memory loss, you are faced with just as important of a question. Is it time to start thinking about a memory care community in Phoenix, Arizona?

What Are the Signs of Dementia?

Memory loss is just one of several signs that indicate a loved one might be suffering from some form of dementia. Forgetting the placement of car and house keys once in a while does not indicate your loved one has dementia. However, combined with other signs in addition to memory loss, the time might have arrived to think about a memory care community for your senior.

Difficulty concentrating represents one of the most common signs of dementia. What was once a leisurely and mind-stimulating activity such as completing a crossword puzzle has turned into an exercise in immense frustration. The inability to concentrate can reach the point when a loved one becomes frustrated enough to lash out at you and other family members. A loved one with memory loss might struggle to hold a conversation, as well as become confused about time and place.

Another telltale sign that a loved one has at least reached the early stage of developing dementia concerns finding it difficult to complete standard daily tasks like bathing and cooking meals. When a loved one has trouble completing basic daily living responsibilities, the time has come to consider moving your senior loved one into a memory care facility in Phoenix.

What Should I Look for in a Memory Care Community?

Every one of the residents at our senior living facility has unique needs that need to be met in an assisted living environment. To begin your quest to find the best memory care facility, make sure the environment exudes a home-like environment. You should avoid facilities that present austere design features such as white linoleum floors and super-bright fluorescent lighting. Safety should be an important criterion as well, as the best assisted living facilities like MorningStar at Arcadia feature safety elements like an in-room alert system.

Providing memory care requires an incredible amount of patience and empathy. During a visit to a memory care facility, observe how the staff interacts with memory care residents. They should display genuine compassion for the residents, as well as receive ongoing training to remain current with dementia care topics. Because memory care patients typically require mental stimulation, the memory care facility that you choose should offer a busy and engaging activities calendar. In addition, one-on-one interactions between staff and residents are important for typically solo activities like solving a jigsaw puzzle.

Set in a scenic area of greater Phoenix, AZ, our senior living facility provides highly-rated memory care for older adults that struggle with all stages of dementia. Learn more about our memory care facility by scheduling a comprehensive tour.