Deciding on memory care for your parent can be a complicated process. Many senior care services provide excellent memory care whether your mom or dad lives in a senior community or ages in place here in the Dayton, OH area. The professional senior care services recognize that memory loss, at any level, can be frightening for your mother or father as well as for you and the extended family. Since the medical community cannot precisely identify if your parent’s memory loss will worsen or not, decisions should be made to enhance your mother or father’s life with little to no burden for you. It is your job (if we recognize it as a job) to be supportive.
It is your responsibility to follow the lead and decisions your parent may have wished for if this situation were to arise. Keeping your mom or dad’s needs met in a manner that they would want is essential for their overall health and happiness. This all begins with learning what your loved one’s unique requirements are. A complete diagnosis by a qualified geriatric specialist is recommended by most senior care services. Anyone that you select to provide the senior care services should be capable of meeting mom or dad’s needs. Also, keeping your parent involved as best you can in choosing the provider is essential. This is the individual or individuals that your mother or father will be depending on to guide them daily.
When selecting senior care services, your parent may be aging in place or in a community. Some communities have memory care specialists pre-selected, and this may or may not work for your parent’s needs or fulfill the requirements you would like for your loved one. It is crucial that you make the correct assessment using the knowledge and guidance of your mom or dad’s medical team. What you may want to consider is the following criteria:
- How is the care provider trained?
- Will the caregiver provide meal prep, or do you need to be responsible for grocery shopping and meals?
- Is the senior care provider providing personal care in addition to memory support?
- If your parent lives in a senior community are outside staff members accepted?
These are just a few questions you may need to ask yourself before making any memory care decisions.