Learning to Weather the Storm of Alzheimer’s with Memory Care Assisted Living

June 28, 2021 by ·

Alzheimer’s can feel like a category five hurricane blasting into the shores of your life. For days, weeks, months, and possibly even a couple of years you noticed the signs, whether within yourself or someone you love. The winds started picking up, the birds fled for shelter, and you knew something bad was coming.

But nothing can really prepare a person to hear those words: you have Alzheimer’s.

Maybe it isn’t you, but a parent or spouse, or close friend who has recently been diagnosed with this form of dementia. It doesn’t matter because just like a hurricane blasts thousands of homes and can upend millions of lives in a day, so too can a diagnosis like this.

How to weather the storm.

Assisted Living Chickasaw, Al: Alzheimer’s and Memory Care

Thankfully, when a person is first diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, it will generally still be in the early stages of the disease. While most people will progress through the different stages, some will go slower than others, but they will all move through a similar pattern.

That is why it is so critical to plan ahead. Just because the senior can take care of himself or herself for the most part right now doesn’t mean that will remain the case. And it might not remain the case for long.

Here are a few things you might consider when facing the impending and worsening storm of Alzheimer’s, either in your life or that of a family member.

1. Understand that things will get tougher.

It’s certainly nice to assume everything will be fine because this senior can manage his or her care by themselves right now, but it is going to get tougher. As long as you understand and accept that, focus on long-term care priorities.

2. Talk about those long-term care options.

As a family, whether it’s just between spouses, with adult children, friends, or others, discuss the realities of different long-term care options. Some people will prefer to remain home, but more and more begin to realize the value of a memory care assisted living facility.

Having that level of support on hand when the time comes could be incredibly beneficial, so discuss them among those you love.

3. View things from both perspectives.

That means from the senior’s as well as their family support system. Things aren’t just going to get tough for the senior with Alzheimer’s; it will also be tough on loved ones.

When you view the storm from both perspectives, memory care assisted living truly becomes a topic of value, and one to discuss before the storm actually makes landfall.

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

Filed Under: Alzheimer's and Dementia · Tagged: ,
About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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