When Is It Time To Consider Long Term Care?
- Southern Comfort Senior Living
- Jan 26, 2021
- 3 min read
Caring for an elderly loved one can prove a bit challenging especially if they have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s/Dementia and need constant supervision and around the clock care. We understand that there comes a point in time when you are unable to provide your loved one the level of care they need and have to consider other alternatives of care to ensure that your loved one is receiving the kind of care they need and deserve. Considering long term care is not an easy thing to do and can be overwhelming on all parties involved, but in situations like this, long term care might be the best option for your loved one.
Long-term care is a great option for seniors who need extended care to ensure their wellbeing in all aspects of life – mentally, socially and emotionally. When it becomes difficult to provide the higher level of care needed at home, long term care provides an avenue to ensure your loved one’s wellbeing by taking over the day-to-day tasks and providing the level of care your loved one needs.
Signs It’s Time to Consider Long Term Care
There are several signs to watch out for when trying to determine if long-term care is the next viable option for care for your loved one.
1. Aggression
People with dementia may display physical, sexual or violent behaviors and care givers or family members may begin to feel stressed or frustrated. This is a major sign that they may require assisted living. Your loved one can receive the care they need from professionals who have handled patients with dementia before.
2. Escalating care needs
“Is the health of the person with dementia or my health as the care giver at risk?” is a question you can ask yourself while considering the signs. If your answer is yes, it might be time to talk to your family. Though the conversation may be tough, you may be able to help out your loved one feel and be safe.
3. Sundowner syndrome
This is an agitating behavior that is a common characteristic of those with dementia. This can be very frustrating to the caregiver and may take a heavy toll on them. If it begins to be more frequent and even disrupt family routines, then it is time to consider assisted living.
4. Wandering
Patients with dementia may be at risk from wandering especially in the later stages. They can wander whenever you take a bathroom break and the probability of falls and injuries increase as well.
5. Medical Circumstance
Most people may need a long-term care at an older age but some of a younger age are cases either due to disability or sometimes unexpected illness may end up in these situations. It is not strictly an "old age" thing. Assisted living may come in handy if they need intensive care and help to perform daily tasks such as brushing their teeth or bathing.
We understand that making the decision to move your loved one into a long-term care facility is a challenging one and is filled with so many emotions. You might feel like you are giving up on your loved one or abandoning them, but we are here to assure you that’s not the case. The reality is that, if your loved one is not in a position to take care of themselves and you are not in a position to provide the level of care they need to live a healthy, safe, and meaningful life, then long-term care is needed. By all means, this shouldn’t be taken as a sign of failure on anyone’s part, rather it just means it’s time to let a more qualified team take over.
You can always visit and spend time with your loved one in the community at any time and it will be a great and satisfying feeling seeing them thrive and leading an enriched life because you made the wise decision to move them to a long-term care community.
Georgia does offer two long-term care options – assisted living and personal care homes. Our previous blog titled “Personal Care Home Vs Assisted Living Facility: What’s the Difference?” provides more information on what they both have to offer to help you in making the best decision on what long-term care setting will best suit your loved ones needs.
Southern Comfort Senior Living is a licensed personal care home and we pride ourselves in providing exceptional care to all our residents. We take the time to listen to the needs of each resident in order to understand their limitations and find better ways of meeting those needs.
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