- Memory Care -
About Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease
The Gables provides a secure memory care community that caters to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and other kinds of memory loss challenges. As the mind deteriorates, a person suffering from memory loss will eventually become unaware of their condition. This can be incredibly confusing, frustrating, and difficult for those suffering from the disease and those who care for them. When a loved one is diagnosed with a form of dementia, the best thing for them is to be in a memory care home as soon as possible. The potential benefits of making this decision earlier include fewer accidents/injuries and heightened quality of life.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, “Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms eventually grow severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.” It is a disease that gradually worsens over a number of years. “In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but as the disease progresses, individuals lose the ability to carry a conversation, respond to their environment, or properly care for themselves.”
Signs of Dementia and What You Need to Do
First and foremost, this list of symptoms may indicate that someone suffers from dementia; however, you should consult a doctor for an official diagnosis before assuming anything or taking the necessary course of action to provide the care needed for someone with dementia. Early signs of dementia may be very subtle and not immediately obvious, but getting the care and help needed sooner than later can make all the difference.
- Increasing forgetfulness – things like names of people they know well or even just missing many appointments for lack of remembering them.
- Struggling with daily tasks – they make consistently become distracted and forget to complete all the steps involved with a given task.
- Disorientation – someone with dementia may have difficulty finding their way in a familiar place or believe they are in a previous time in their life.
- Communicating – everyone struggles with words sometimes; however, a person with dementia may forget simple words or substitute inappropriate words, making it difficult to understand what they are trying to say.
- Changes in abstract thinking – for example, managing finances can be difficult, but someone with dementia may struggle to know what the numbers mean and they affect their lives.
- Poor judgment – for instance, they may not understand what to wear in the cold or fail to comprehend when they are getting too warm and need to go inside and regulate their body temperature.
- Poor spatial skills – struggling to judge distance or direction.
- Misplacing things – forgetting where you put your keys once in a while is one thing. Not know what the keys are for can be a sign of dementia.
- Mood, personality, or behavior changes – rapid mood swings without any apparent reason. Some can become confused, withdrawn, or suspicious; others can become more outgoing or disinhibited.
- Loss of initiative – some may lose interest in activities that they have always been passionate about, or require cues to prompt them to become involved.
The Gables Way
If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, they will require the help of others to stay safe and remain physically and mentally active. They will need help and support with thinking, making decisions, and completing the activities of daily living. For these reasons and more, dealing with memory loss can have a significant impact on the lives of families and loved ones. It is important to have a strong support system in place for your loved one that includes specially trained professionals that can provide around-the-clock supervision and assistance.
Though many families would like to keep their aging loved ones comfortable at home during this time, memory care quickly becomes the safest option. With more people are being diagnosed with memory loss conditions, memory care is one of the most important services that we provide here at The Gables. Making the decision to move into a memory care community may be difficult and cause conflicting feelings, but it is simply not always possible to provide the level of care needed within one’s own home.
We are here to help your family in a time of life that can be very stressful and taxing your family. Our goal is to give your loved one a home that is completely safe, offers care for their every need in a personal and genuine manner, and gives you peace of mind. It is important for you to know that your loved one is taken care of, even when you cannot physically be there for them in every moment. The Gables gives you that. We give you hope, and above that, we give you and your family another person that you can rely on.
Memory Care Activities
The Gables offers a variety of cognitive activities and understands the importance of creating meaningful memory care activities, not just ones that fill time. Certain activities may work better at different times of day. We have safe outdoor areas with raised flower beds and gardens that our residents can help plant and tend.
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More Information
The Gables Assisted Living and Memory Care homes are committed to providing Care Comfort and Compassion to our residents. The Gables is dedicated to meeting each resident’s needs while treating them as a family, in a small home like environment. Our Caring staff develops personal relationships with each resident and their families. We also offer In-Home Care, Memory Care, Short Term Stay and Hourly adult care services.
