Hello, my name is Amelia. Welcome to my site about nursing homes and assisted living facilities. When my mother developed a hip problem that prevented her from safely living at home alone, we started the long search for a suitable place for her to live. We toured each of the facilities in our area to find the one that felt most like home while providing all of the support and security she requires. Through this site, I would like to help other people weed through the options to find the best possible place for their loved ones to live. Thanks for visiting my site.
Exploring Nursing Homes and Assisted Living
When Diagnosed With Early Dementia: Maintaining Independence While Remaining Safe
John Wilson
For most people, dementia comes on very slowly. Over time, the individual may start to have trouble remembering things like the steps to cooking a meal. Some of the first signs that a person may be struggling with dementia include getting lost in familiar places or consistently forgetting to complete basic daily tasks. If you are worried about a person in your life that is beginning to show signs of confusion which may be dementia, it's important to ensure that this person is safe if they are living at home alone. As dementia can come on slowly, the need for help may not be obvious until it's time to step in and make some changes.
If Cooking Becomes Troublesome
Cooking can involve a variety of complex steps, which makes cooking hard for those with early dementia. You may notice that your loved one has been burning food or has decided not to cook at all. While putting together an entire meal may be too difficult, heating up a meal in a microwave may not be. You can prepare meals ahead of time for your loved one so all they have to do is heat up their food. If your loved one is receptive, you can also cook some meals together.
Setting Up Medication Boxes
Another issue for people suffering with early dementia is forgetting to take medication on time. If your loved one doesn't have medication boxes already set up, it's time to do so. While it may be hard for a person with early dementia to struggle with all kinds of pill bottles, being able to open a pill box and take what is inside is much easier. If necessary, you may need to start calling at medication times to make sure that the pills are taken as prescribed.
If Your Loved One Gets Lost Easily
Getting disoriented is an early sign of dementia. If your loved one gets lost frequently, they may be further along in the dementia process than you think. You can use door alarms to help keep your loved one safe or a GPS bracelet if you are worried they are going to wonder off alone.
When dementia begins to get worse, it will become time to find a memory care facility that will keep your loved one safe. At an assisted living facility, independence is always promoted, while at the same time your loved one will be watched over to remain safe. Click here for additional reading on dementia care.
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