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Helping Someone With Dementia & Memory Care Options

By Rue Nichols


For the millions of Americans living with dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other similar conditions, daily life can be filled with confusion, fear, depression and difficulty. Caregivers and loved ones also face huge challenges and it can be overwhelming to provide care and support. Still, there are some strategies to consider that can help make each day a bit easier for you and your loved one with dementia. Sometimes, the option of memory care at a facility for assisted living in San Diego can be your best choice.

Stress is something that many people do not handle well, and that is definitely the case if a person also has some kind of dementia. Many things can cause stress, such as crowded situations and lots of noise or trying to have a person accomplish too many tasks during the day. Keeping things simple and quiet can help. Remove clutter from the home and set things up so that it is easy for your loved one to find clothes, fix a snack or perhaps find the TV controls. It can help to write down a daily schedule for your loved one, so they remember various tasks and know how the day will go. When you opt for assisted living in San Diego, the day will be somewhat scheduled, as well, and apartments will be designed with memory care residents in mind.

While a person with dementia may no longer be able to work or handle stressful tasks, that doesn't mean they don't want to contribute to the family or the household. People want to be helpful, and there are plenty of important tasks that your loved one with dementia. Your loved one can help with dinner preparation, fold laundry, vacuum, dust, pulling weeds, raking leaves or grooming a pet. At a home for assisted living in San Diego, there will be daily activities such as sorting, art classes, games and more that can keep a person busy and engaged. Be sure to provide encouragement and to thank the person and express appreciation.

While it's true that losing memories can be very painful for the person with dementia and his or her loved ones, it's often the personality changes that are the hardest issues to handle. Sometimes people with Alzheimer's or another type of dementia are verbally abusive or even physically abusive to their caregivers and loved ones. When this occurs, it is best to try to either distract the person's attention or use a calm and soothing voice. This can be difficult, but if possible, keep in mind that it's truly not personal but rather a symptom of this disease. Still, often this is a big reason why you might consider assisted living in San Diego. The staff at a memory care facility is trained to deal with the difficult behavior common to some people with dementia.

One of the biggest reasons why families consider moving a loved one into a facility for assisted living in San Diego is safety. At home, a person with dementia might leave doors open, leave food cooking on the stove or perhaps wander far from home. In a memory care facility, a person is more secure and there is staff on hand 24 hours per day. This can bring great peace of mind for family members, and the staff is trained to interact with residents with dementia and severe memory loss.

There are many facilities for assisted living in San Diego, and before you pick a facility, you will want to review several different ones and talk to both residents and staff. Sample the food, look at the apartments, discuss activities and what is included in the monthly fees. It can take time to select the ideal facility for your loved one, but an eldercare referral service can help you identify several options that suit your budget and your needs. Once a decision is made, it also takes time for a person to adjust to this huge change. You can make it easier by decorating the small apartment with familiar items such as a comfortable chair, bedding and quilts from home, plenty of family pictures and a few other familiar items.




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