Are you the adult child of a senior that is dealing with dementia? Has your senior parent?s dementia made it unsafe for them to live at home alone? The solution for many adult children is to move their parent into their own home. This way, they can provide them with the assistance and monitoring that they require, without having to move them to local nursing homes. However, it will take a period of adjustment to provide your senior parent with a safe and comfortable memory care home.
Consider home care services
Even with your senior parent living in your home, you cannot realistically watch them 24 hours per day, 7 days a week. If you have a job, children to take care of, or a social life, you will find that there are still many hours that your senior parent spends at home alone. Instead of worrying about them or changing around your daily schedule to increase check ins throughout the day, consider using home care services. These are drop in caregivers that will assist with cleaning, meals, and other daily needs of your senior parent. This can also take some of the burdens off of your family.
Choose a first floor bedroom
You may have to move around some things, but your elderly parent is likely to be most comfortable in a first floor bedroom. It can also be helpful to give them a bedroom that is close to needed amenities, including the bathroom, kitchen, and main living area. If they also require mobility assistance, make sure they are near open hallways and that they have easy access to these needed rooms. Try to avoid stairs and you will feel safer when you are not home with them.
Equip their bedroom for optimal safety
Even the ablest of seniors can slip and fall. One of the most common times of the day for dangerous falls is in the middle of the night. Using foam rollers and side bed bars can prevent falls from occurring. It can also be useful to install an automatic light in the room. It can be troublesome for some seniors to get out of bed safely and reach the light switch. An automatic light can also notify you when they are getting out of bed and might require additional help.
Hire memory care workers
Although dementia and Alzheimer?s cannot be entirely cured, some believe that it can be slowed in progression. Currently, there are over 100 different types of dementia, but Alzheimer?s is the most common, accounting for 60 to 80% of dementia diagnoses. Memory care tasks include crossword puzzles, reading, and recalling memories. In addition to providing memory care for your elderly parent, the memory care workers will also serve as entertainment when you and your family are not at home.
Know when an assisted living facility is safer
Dementia can progress quickly and it can affect your elderly parent?s ability to live safely in your house. If safety becomes a primary concern, it might be time to consider an assisted living facility. Assisted living facilities can give your parent a safe and secure living environment. Many facilities even have specialized memory care programs. According to data from the American Health Care Association, there are 15,655 skilled nursing care centers in the United States. Additionally, almost 40% of residents living in residential care facilities in 2010 received assistance with three or more activities related to daily living.
Dementia is extremely common for today?s seniors. Adult children often become the primary caregiver for their elderly parent. While moving your elderly parent into your house is an option, it may not always be the best option. Ensure that your house is safe and conducive to their memory care. If safety becomes a concern, it might be time to consider an assisted living care facility that can better meet their needs.
