Is It Time to Pursue a Memory Care Facility for Your Loved One?

Perhaps your parents haven’t been “themselves” lately. You notice they seem lost or confused more often. Small things like losing keys or forgetting basic tasks that used to be automatic keep occurring at a higher frequency. It’s starting to significantly impact their daily lives. Or maybe there have been a lot of strange signs that their memory is failing them in new ways.

Situations that used to be easily handled now cause them to be upset or disoriented. It’s not uncommon in these circumstances to start thinking more seriously about where to find memory care near me. But how do you know if it’s truly time to make the big step?

Table of Contents

Their Home is No Longer a Safe Haven for Them

Safety concerns in the current home can indicate a need for memory care, such as:

Leaving appliances on – Seniors may forget to turn off the stove, iron, or other appliances, creating fire hazards.
Wandering behavior – Those with dementia are prone to wandering and getting lost if they walk out the door, unaware of safety risks.
Falling risks increase – Hazards like rugs, clutter, or poor lighting led to more trips and falls as cognition declines. Injuries can result.
Inability to self-evacuate during emergencies – Memory issues may prevent safely exiting the home alone in cases like fires due to impaired ability to navigate.
The environment is no longer accommodating – Physical changes are needed, like grab bars or alarm systems that the family cannot easily provide in the private home setting.
Lack of supervision – Wandering and other risky behaviors happen when a person is unsupervised, and the family cannot be there 24/7 to monitor safety.
Medical vulnerability rises – Urgent health issues may not be addressed promptly if the person is isolated without oversight by caregivers.
Personal care declines – Poor safety practices emerge as hygiene, diet, and mobility care lapse, leaving the person at risk.
Risk to others increases – Agitation or confusion grows, and the person may become abusive or combative if not in a controlled, monitored setting.

Placing a loved one in a memory care residence provides structured supervision to keep them safe when hazards exist within the private home environment.

They Can No Longer Take Care of Their Health

Declining ability to care for one’s health can indicate a need for memory care:

Medication management becomes unsafe – Forgetting doses, double dosing, or taking the wrong pills increases health risks without oversight.
Chronic conditions go unmanaged – Complex regimens for diseases like diabetes or heart conditions cannot reliably be followed.
Doctor appointments lapse – Screenings, vaccines, and management of new issues fall through the cracks without reminders.
Nutritional needs are unmet – Preparing balanced meals, grocery shopping for healthy options, or eating regularly are compromised.
Oral health declines – Brushing, flossing, and dental visits are missed, leading to infections and tooth loss.
Skin breaks down – Incontinence issues, sitting for long periods, and inability to communicate discomforts risk sores and infections.
Mobility deteriorates – Physical therapy routines are not maintained, leading to loss of function, falls, and weakness.
No advocacy when sick – Symptoms may be overlooked, downplayed, or untreated without someone ensuring medical attention.

Placing the individual in a memory care center enables consistent oversight, education, and routines to help keep them as healthy as possible for longer.