Do you have an elderly loved one who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s? Maybe you have been caring for him for some time, or she’s been cared for by her spouse, but you realize that it’s beginning to be too much. At some point, the topic of assisted living may come up. When it does, what should you look for in the assisted living facility?
An Alzheimer’s assisted living community should be staffed with people who understand the disease, who are compassionate, and who have the resources available to them that will make a positive difference in the life of your loved one.
Not all assisted living facilities are the same, so you shouldn’t assume that the reputation of one would be the same for another. You need to do your research in order to find the right place for your loved one with this disease.
Ask the administration staff what they would do for your loved one in certain situations. At times, when the disease progresses, your loved one may wake up one morning and be confused about where he is. He might have trouble getting his bearings. When this happens, he may be less inclined to want to partake in certain activities, even to the point of refusing to bathe.
How would the staff handle this situation? If they claim that they would still encourage and even convince your loved one to take part in the particular activities of the day, then this has the potential to lead to increased anxiety and even aggression.
Does this assisted living facility have outside resources? In other words, do they have specialists who come to the facility on a regular basis to work with patients who have Alzheimer’s? There are certain therapeutic practices that can help the patients manage their care, and understand their condition more effectively.
Does this facility offer memory care assisted living options? Will they help your loved one take part in mind games, doing puzzles, or other activities that will strengthen their brain function? If not, then your loved one could be missing out on some important activities that could delay the more commonly thought of aspects of the disease.
While there is no cure yet for Alzheimer’s, that doesn’t mean that your loved one who has been diagnosed with it can’t be comfortable while in assisted living. Just make sure that the facility has the most important aspects covered.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living in Mobile AL, at 251-317-3017.
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