Could Assisted Living Help Your Loved One Suffering from Alzheimer’s or Dementia?

There might come a point when you have to accept that a loved one is struggling to cope with their daily routine because of their dementia.

Sadly, it is often the case that when someone is diagnosed as suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia their condition is likely to worsen over a period of time and that means they will inevitably find it difficult to remain self-reliant.

A viable solution in that scenario could be assisted living. You can find out more about this option by visiting a site like www.pegasusseniorliving.com today, also, you might want to read this guide to help you decide whether assisted living is the right option to choose for your loved one.

Understanding the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia

The first thing to get clear is that there is a fundamental difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia and it matters to know what the difference is as it can have a major influence on what steps you take to look after your loved one.

Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease and, unfortunately, that means the symptoms your loved one is showing are going to get worse as time goes on.

In the early stages, their memory loss is relatively mild but as the condition progresses your loved one could eventually get to a point where they are unable to interact with their surroundings or hold a conversation.

There is no current cure for Alzheimer’s so you can be sure that a person with this condition will need ongoing care.

Dementia is a specific form of cognitive degradation and there are actually many different forms of dementia. It can often be the case that someone could be diagnosed with two different forms of dementia and Alzheimer’s is actually a specific form of cognitive degradation.

Understanding these differences can help you to be more informed about what is happening to your loved one and will allow you to make the right decisions with regard to the level of care that they will need now and in the future.

Why choose assisted living?

If you are unable to give your loved one the level of care and assistance they need because of your own work and family commitments it could be that assisted living might address the problem.

Assisted living offers your loved one a safer environment than if they remained in their own home. The reason this is the case is that you have to modify their home and make a lot of changes to make it safe for them, whereas an assisted living community has been specifically designed to accommodate their needs.

Another important point to consider is that an assisted living facility helps to address the issue of loneliness and social isolation as it gives your loved one the opportunity to be around their peers.

Add in the regular trips and social events as part of the package and there should be plenty of chances for your loved one to enjoy a happy and contented existence in these surroundings.

Safety first

It is always a concern when you have a loved one who remains in their home despite struggling with dementia and there is almost a constant worry that they might suffer a trip or fall and there is no one there to help them.

An assisted living facility provides a safer environment for your loved one. As they have been designed with safety in mind the facility will enjoy mobility and accessibility with fewer opportunities to suffer a fall.

If they do have an accident, you can have peace of mind that someone will be there to give them the assistance they need in no time at all.

Keeping their mind as well as their body in the best shape

Maintaining a level of fitness is a challenge for someone with dementia but there are benefits attached to enjoying regular physical activities and maintaining a certain level of fitness.

Assisted living communities to encourage residents to take part in group exercise classes and the odd Tai Chi class can work wonders for keeping body and mind in the best possible shape, given the circumstances.

Help with housekeeping and other regular trips

It is likely that your loved one will want to make fairly regular trips into town or to go and see friends or family and a typical assisted living facility will often offer transportation assistance.

As well as offering help with social engagements there is also assistance available if your loved one needs help with their housekeeping chores.

Put this all together and what you get is an assisted living package that should provide the sort of daily help that your loved one needs to retain their independence as best as possible.

That can mean a lot to you if you have the peace of mind that your loved one is getting the sort of help you would like to give them if it wasn’t for your other family commitments.

A stimulating environment

As your loved one is struggling with Alzheimer’s or dementia it becomes even more important that they get regular intellectual stimulation to keep their mental capacity at the best possible level.

Assisted living facilities often aim to provide lots of options to enjoy stimulating activities with things like book and art clubs which means that your loved one can enjoy the chance to continue their lifelong learning journey and keep their mind active.

Nutritional help

Finally, it is also a concern when your loved one is at home alone that they are not getting the right amount of nutrition, and you can’t be expected to monitor this situation on a daily basis.

It is a common scenario that a senior living on their own will not be that motivated to cook a healthy and nutritious meal for themselves. In an assisted living facility residents have the opportunity to enjoy three good meals a day, which have been tailored to meet their health and nutritional needs.

It is always going to be a tough decision when deciding whether a loved one could enjoy a better and safer life in an assisted living environment. If you know what is option promises to deliver it could make that decision a little bit easier.