At What Point Should You Discuss Other Elder Care Options for a Parent Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s?

If you have a parent who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it might take you, your siblings, your spouse, your other parent, and even other individuals some time to process. Whatever you do, don’t try to force somebody through the process of accepting this diagnosis.

We’re talking about the stages of grief. Everyone grieves differently and when you have somebody in your family, somebody you love who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia, you want to make sure everybody has time to process this revelation.

In time, many family members realize they just don’t have the time, energy, or maybe even desire to continue acting as a caregiver for this person dealing with Alzheimer’s. Even a spouse will hit his or her limits before too long.

There are other options available, though, including memory care assisted living. This is arguably one of the better elder care options for aging men and women who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

So, how do you know you’ve reached that point that you have to talk about more realistic long-term elder care options, like memory care assisted living?

Let’s look at these four warning signs and you should be able to determine if you’ve reached that point and have only been putting off this important conversation out of fear, doubt, or even misplaced feelings of guilt.

 

1. When caring for them is simply too much.

You might have devoted a lot of your time and energy to helping this person over the past several months or years. You lived in the same town, not too far away, or they live with you and it made sense.

Yet, everyone has their limitations and you might very well be pushing beyond yours. If caring for this senior is just pushing you to your emotional and mental limits, maybe even your physical ones, it’s time to talk about an alternative, such as assisted living.

 

2. Honestly, as soon as possible.

Your loved one might have been diagnosed several years ago, but even if they were recently diagnosed or are still waiting to get to their doctor for formal diagnosis, start talking about other elder care options, including memory care.

There are far too many things family and friends don’t know about when it comes to Alzheimer’s that vital strategies get missed. The sooner you know of the strategies, the sooner you talk about all elder care options openly and honestly, the sooner you can help the senior get on the right track for their future.

 

3. Memory care offers short and long-term benefits.

This does not apply to all assisted living communities, but for those that offer respite care, that could be a great transition from you providing the majority of support to the senior relying on a community.

Respite care is basically defined as short-term stays. This could be overnight where you drop the senior off in the evening and pick them up at night to bring them back home. Or it could be daytime care. Or it could be for a week or two at a time.

It’s a great way to help that senior recognize the true value assisted living offers for those who need memory care.

If you or an aging loved one are considering a move to an Assisted Living facility near Mobile, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.