It is often assumed that home is the best place for an older person to be. You may have promised your parent (and maybe even yourself) that you would not force them to spend their final years in a care center or nursing home. As well-meaning as this promise may have been, though, everything changes when your parent is diagnosed with Alzheimer's. While you may be able to care for them in the early stages, eventually, a memory care facility will become the better choice. Here's why.
1. Memory care centers have skilled nurses on staff.
The more advanced your parent's condition becomes, the more medical care they'll require regularly. Unless you are a skilled nurse yourself, you will likely have to hire someone to come into your home and provide some of this care. Transporting your parent to numerous doctor's visits can also be a burden. Not only does this take a lot of time, but convincing a person with waning memory to get into a car and go to the doctor can be a real challenge. At a memory care center, there are skilled doctors and nurses on staff so your parent can get all the care they need in one place.
2. Memory care centers are set up to accommodate the needs of your parent.
Chances are, your current home setup is not a safe place for a patient with Alzheimer's. There's a stove, and your parent could probably turn it on and burn themselves (or start a fire). Navigating the stairs may be tough, and the mere fact that they can open the front door and wander off down the sidewalk is not safe. Memory care facilities, on the other hand, are set up to accommodate the needs and safety requirements of an Alzheimer's patient. There are no hot appliances in the rooms, and exterior doors lock to prevent patients from leaving.
3. Memory care centers take the burden off you.
Caring for an elderly parent with Alzheimer's is a full-time job. You may have to quit your real job or cut back on your hours to provide this care. Not to mention, you will have to give up the activities you enjoy. Letting the professionals at a memory care center care for your parent allow you to keep living your life. And when you live your own life, you are better able to remain the loving, caring son or daughter that your parent needs at this time.
Memory care centers are designed specifically for patients with Alzheimer's and dementia. If your parent is one of these people, bringing them to an Alzheimer care center is often a great way to ensure they get the care they need.
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