Are You Caring For A Grandparent? 3 Signs That Its Time To Seek Help

The ability to serve as a family caregiver to your loved one is an honor, yet you face significant challenges as a young adult who is trying to keep your grandparent safe as they cope with memory loss. Unfortunately, Alzheimer's disease tends to get worse as time goes by, and many of the changes are so subtle that you might not notice the devastating effects it has on your life together until it is too late. For this reason, you need to be aware of these three signs that your loved one needs to transition to a more supervised environment where professionals can help them manage the next stage of their condition.

1. Your Loved One Needs Around-the-Clock Supervision 

At this point in your life, you likely have more responsibilities than just caring for your loved one. For instance, you may be going to school or trying to maintain a career. As your loved one's condition progresses, Alzheimer's care can quickly take up the majority of your schedule. Trying to keep an eye on your loved one overnight and every minute of the day is exhausting, and being unable to manage any of your other responsibilities is a huge warning sign that your loved one needs professional care.

2. Your Loved One Experienced a Frightening Mishap

When your loved one has severe memory loss, you can do everything right and still find that they are in danger. Wandering is one behavior that is frightening for caregivers, and your loved one needs to be in a secure living environment if your preventative steps are not working at their house. Transitioning to an assisted living environment also helps to prevent other accidents caused by memory loss such as medication mishaps.

3. Your Loved One Exhibits Challenging Behaviors

One aspect of memory care that people often don't talk about is personality changes. Sadly, your loved one may begin to exhibit aggressive behavior as they experience frustration with the later stages of their condition. If your loved one lashes out at you verbally or physically, then you must take action to protect your safety and comfort by seeking out support from a professional caregiving team.

The realization that you can no longer continue to provide your loved one with the care that they need is frightening. Fortunately, you don't have to go through this alone. As you begin to explore your loved one's options for living arrangements, be sure to talk to their professional caregiver about how to use this transition as an opportunity to strengthen your relationship.

For more information, contact a company like Wellspring Meadows Assisted Living today.

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