How to Know When Your Loved One Needs a Memory Care Community

First I would like to start by introducing myself my name is Jolene Barnett when I was sixteen I started out as a candy striper in the Hospital which I really enjoyed helping people I decided to go to school to become a certified Nursing Assistance working with seniors in skilled nursing I found to be very rewarding, I have always had a love for the elderly which comes from being very close to my grandmother who suffered from Alzheimer’s, I then went back to school to become a Activity director which landed me a job working with Alzheimer’s and Dementia residents bringing laughter and joy into their lives was very rewarding, while doing this I was asked to become a Care Coordinator which I gladly excepted taking on the role of caring for the well-being of residents with Alzheimer’s and Dementia working with families and their Doctor’s which I did for 10 years this bringing me now into being a Care Coordinator in Assisted Living Community which I truly enjoy.

Working in Assisted Living over the years I have seen residents who comes in with mild cognitive impairment and then later needed to go to a Memory Care. Sometimes the signs can come on suddenly and sometimes they can come on over a period of time When you may notice your love one starting to wander, becoming more forgetful not knowing where to find the restroom becoming incontinent not knowing where there room is not knowing where they live or they do not recognize there surroundings.

Forgetting that they have eaten or even forgetting it’s meal time, they seem to be more confused and forgetful you see a change in their behavior may become more anxious sleeping patterns change may be sleeping to much or not sleeping at all, with drawing themselves from activities things they once enjoyed doing now they have lost Interest, your love one may become more secluded staying in the room more, not wanting to socialize like they once did. Wanting to be more alone, sometimes you will see your love one may become depressed because it like they know something is happening to them they just don’t know what is going on with them.

A lot of times we will see a resident who start showing these signs and will move to a Memory Care Community were they start to thrive sometimes when they are in a bigger community they become overwhelmed and need a smaller environment where they feel more comfortable sometimes these symptoms can also be a sign of a urinary tract infection which can be treated by the doctor prescribing an Antibiotic, Dehydration can also be a serious matter getting your love one to drink water and other fluids can be challenging, things like having them drink flavored waters, Ensures, these can be helpful when trying to get your love one to drink more fluids, also the Ensure is a good supplement if your love one is not getting enough Nutrition.

Having your loved one go to their doctor for a mini mental check can also help the doctor determine if they have a diagnosis of Dementia. When we see our loved ones start to change in their cognitive abilities it can be overwhelming in what to do for them. There are some Doctors that are now starting to go to communities to see their patients which is really nice for the families and residents, we are hoping that more doctors will get on broad it is such a relief for the families and residents when they don’t have to take them out to a doctor’s appointments that the Doctor will come to them.

I’m so glad that Jason Reyes came up with this ideal to bring awareness to those who don’t know what to do when you see sign that it may be time to move your loved one into a Memory Care Community.