Memory Care Facilities: A Better Choice Than Family Caregiving For Alzheimer's Patients

Posted on: 7 April 2016

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If your parent or other older loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, you might have always planned on providing him or her with care yourself. After all, doing so can be more affordable than opting for a nursing home, and you might feel better about providing care yourself rather than trusting your loved one with strangers.

Although some stories like these end up being success stories, the truth is that memory care facilities are often a better choice for Alzheimer's patients than family caregiving. Unlike other conditions that many older people face, Alzheimer's presents its own unique set of challenges. Many people who are not professionally trained for Alzheimer's care have a tough time with family caregiving in these situations. These are a few reasons why your loved one might be better off in a memory care facility.

It Can Be Dangerous

First of all, one thing that you have to understand is that caring for someone who has serious memory issues, such as someone with Alzheimer's, can be dangerous for both that person and the caregiver. It can be very easy for someone with Alzheimer's to forget about a cigarette that is burning or a stove or oven that has been turned on, for example, which can put everyone at risk of a fire. Someone with Alzheimer's can also wander off and forget where he or she is going and where he or she is, even in a location like the person's own backyard or neighborhood. Memory care facilities take extra precautions to help prevent these types of accidents. Plus, there are more people on staff who can keep an eye out for potentially dangerous situations.

Caring for Someone with Alzheimer's Can Be Stressful on the Caregiver

You don't just have to think about your loved one's health -- you also have to think about your own. Taking care of someone with Alzheimer's can be extremely frustrating. It can also be very sad to see someone you love going through something like this. Choosing a memory care facility makes it possible for your loved one to get the care that he or she needs while taking some of the toll off of you.

Professional Care Can Help Slow the Progression

Memory care facilities often have lots of types of therapy and activities that are used to help slow the progression of Alzheimer's. A professional will often know more about how to treat someone with Alzheimer's than you might and may be able to help more than you would be able to.

As you can see, memory care facilities can actually be a far better choice than family caregiving for Alzheimer's patients. If someone you love has Alzheimer's and you are planning on providing care yourself, you may want to look into local memory care facilities to find out about you and your loved one's options.

For a memory care facility, contact a company such as Valley View Retirement Community