At New Haven we understand that caring for a parent or senior loved one can take a toll on families, caregiver and their loved ones – especially if a senior has been diagnosed with dementia. Many of our New Haven families considered moving their parent into an assisted living community during this period. We have shared some of those signs in hopes that it will help families determine when it is time for assisted living.
6 Signs That It Is Time for Assisted Living
Alzheimer’s Association reports that more than 16 million Americans devote their unpaid energy and time to caring for a parent or senior loved one with dementia. Often caregivers find themselves unable to bear the burden of providing home health care without suffering from health issues themselves. This is when the cost of caregiving becomes too high and when it is time to consider moving a loved one into New Haven Assisted Living & Dementia Care.
New Haven Assisted Living and Memory Care Home
At New Haven we understand that moving a parent is never an easy decision to make, but there are some signs to look for that will help you recognize when it’s the right time for Assisted Living or Dementia Care.
- Aggression.
Physical, sexual or violent aggression frequently happens in people with dementia, and caregivers or other family members may begin to feel resentful or stressed. We often tell the families we are working with that have either just started their search or collecting information, this is a good time to go ahead and consider placement.
- Caregiver stress.
Caregiver symptoms like increased stress can be just as telling a sign as the dementia behaviors described above.
- Increased care needs.
Ask yourself: “Are the person’s care needs beyond my abilities physically?” or “Is the health of the person with dementia or my health as a caregiver at risk?” If you have answered yes to either of these, we suggest a family conversation to discuss options as New Haven.
- Home safety.
Consider your senior loved one’s health and safety and your own abilities to care for them. Is the person with dementia unsafe in their home?
- Sundowning.
“Sundowners syndrome” — agitated behavior that becomes more pronounced later in the day — is a common characteristic of those with dementia. Sundowners can take a heavy toll on caregivers, if sundowners is beginning to severely disrupt routines, we would consider this a sign that the caregiving burden might be too difficult to handle.
- Wandering.
In later stages of dementia, the risk posed by increased wandering. If your senior loved one is wandering even if you just take them to the bathroom, most likely falls, and injuries increase as well.
How Caregiver Stress Might Indicate a Need for Help
With the cost of caregiving and having to make difficult care decisions, some experts are linking the affects to post-traumatic-stress disorder. Let New Haven provide the care your loved one needs, in order for the caregiver in your family to have some much-needed relief. Let New Haven take over the caregiver duties, so that your loved one can enjoy quality time with your senior loved one.
Symptoms of Caregiver stress might include:
- Avoidance behaviors
- Disabling anxiety
- Hyper-vigilance
- Intrusive thoughts and more
The stress and pressure for caring with someone with dementia disrupts normal activities such as eating and sleeping by spending too much time on caregiving. Stress caused by the brain always being on high alert, several things could happen- lack of nutrition due to poor diet and physical heath suffers.
Caregiving can take a toll emotionally, mentally and physically for spouses of those that need constant care. One of our family members that joined our New Haven family, shared with us that she was having to call 911 to have them come pick her husband up off the floor after falls, she just couldn’t do it anymore and made the decision to make New Haven home. Situations like this, should be a clear sign their loved one needs New Haven Assisted Living & Dementia Care. We always tell our families, do not let the demands of care become too great where there might be a catastrophic event occur before you decide that New Haven Assisted Living or Dementia Care is the right time.
