How To Help Your Loved One Transition To Memory Care

By Discovery Village At Tampa Palms

04/21/2022 You have dreaded thinking about the day your parent or a family member will move into the selected memory care community. Now, the time has finally come for your loved one to make the move. Your loved one would most likely be feeling emotional. There might be lots of fear and anxiety too; being displaced from one’s home is never an easy pill to swallow. What would the future bring? What if they cannot adapt well in their new home? There are several things you can do to make your loved one’s transition to memory care a smooth one.
Understand the Need for Memory Care
If your family member or loved one has Alzheimer’s Disease or related dementia, it is important to have discussions early with your them one, the physician and your family, so while they are able, they can contribute to the plans for future care. Perhaps you and your loved one may have been hesitant to learn more about the disease for fear of the future. Immediate reactions of denial and fear are normal. Whatever the circumstance, accepting a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia requires time.
It is important to support your loved one as they come to terms with their condition. Patience, flexibility, and open communication can provide reassurance that the person with the disease does not have to face their diagnosis alone.
Educating yourself and your loved one on the nature and progression of their disease will be beneficial in making decisions so accept that having professional care in a memory care community will be the most beneficial living arrangement for them.
A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia is often accompanied by uncertainty around one’s identity and life purpose. Your loved one will likely experience feelings of insecurity and might even think that we no longer love them. Spend time with them and provide them with lots of assurance. Let them know that they are not alone, that you are in this together.
Be Honest with Your Family Member
It is best to have heart-to-heart talks with your loved ones about their move to memory care. Let them know what to expect and give them as much details as possible about their move. Offer reassurance to them about being in a memory care and where possible, validate their feelings. Do get your loved one’s doctor to weigh in on their current medical condition so they can understand how memory care will benefit them.
Involve Your Loved One in the Memory Care Selection
Your family member or loved one should be involved in any decision making early in the diagnosis, when they can make their wishes known. As dementia progresses processing and reasoning skills are affected, and it may be difficult for them to contribute to these decisions. Encourage them to visit the memory care communities with you as you tour each community. Once they have selected their preferred memory care community, bring them to visit the place often and provide opportunities for interacting with the staff and residents before they move in. Getting to know the area, learning how the residents live, and communicating with the staff and residents is the best way to get to help them establish a sense of familiarity with the place. This will help them to overcome or cope with the fear of the unknown.
Tour Our Grounds at Discovery Village At Tampa Palms
At Discovery Village At Tampa Palms, we have a secure memory care community for dementia and Alzheimer’s residents. Our SHINE® Memory Care curriculum has gained nationwide recognition for excellence in memory care. With our proven track record, we are your most reliable memory care community in Florida. We warmly invite you and your loved ones to meet our staff and tour our beautiful grounds. We can even arrange for your loved one to experience what it’s like to be our resident for a day! Learn more about our memory care program today.

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Discovery Village At Tampa Palms

Discovery Village At Tampa Palms provides a stylish and functional senior living. We offer the care, services, and activities that residents need now or may need in the future all in one place. We specialize in supervised independent living, assisted living, and SHINE® Memory Care. If you are explo…