The Arbor Company Senior Living Blog

Virginia memory care supports seniors with dementia and other cognitive issues to live dignified lives filled with meaning and joy. Caring for a person with dementia requires a unique approach tailored to the needs and challenges of each senior who has it. The best Virginia memory care communities offer this personalized approach, helping seniors to achieve greater independence and a better life. Here’s what you need to know about choosing the perfect memory care community for the senior you love.

A few generations ago, seniors contemplating retirement had frustratingly few options. They could live at home, move in with their kids, or roll the dice and move into a nursing home, uncertain about the type of care they would receive. Today’s seniors have already changed society a lot. From protesting injustices to demanding greater equality for all groups, they’ve now turned their attention to revolutionizing the aging process. They want better senior living solutions, and increasingly, they’re getting them. Seniors retiring in Georgia now have a number of great options for senior living.

More than 18 percent of Maryland residents are 60 or older. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 in 3 seniors will be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia. Seniors who need memory care in Maryland have a number of options. Narrowing down a long list and deciding which choice is right for your family can be challenging — especially if family members disagree about the need for memory care or are skeptical of a senior’s dementia diagnosis. If you’re hoping to transition a senior you love to memory care in Maryland, here’s how to navigate the many hurdles you face and find the perfect fit.

The aging process can make it difficult to continue pursuing activities a person once loved. It’s normal to slow down a bit with age, but many caregivers mistakenly assume that apathy and disconnection are normal parts of aging. According to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry, apathy is actually a significant health risk factor that doubles the risk of developing dementia.

Love is a powerful force, especially when it motivates you to provide loving care for a senior loved one. Love can motivate you to keep going when you’re exhausted, be patient when you’re overwhelmed, and give up once-beloved hobbies to care for a loved one. More than 30 million Americans are driven by love and concern to provide unpaid care to an ailing loved one. And while their sacrifice is laudable, love isn’t always enough. Love can’t build more hours into the day, or eliminate the need to sleep. It can’t free you of your own need for downtime and loving human connection. Assisted living and memory care, however, can help bridge the gap between what you want to do for your loved one and what you’re able to offer.

A simple conversation can be life-changing for a person with dementia. Dementia can feel isolating and frightening, but warm conversations remind people with dementia that they matter and they’re not alone. Supporting a person with dementia to overcome communication barriers can improve their quality of life. One study even found that just an hour of social interaction a week improves quality of life in seniors with dementia. Conversation can also ease the stress that caregivers and loved ones feel by reminding them that their loved one may be struggling, but they’re still in there. So get talking. Here’s how:

The warning signs of dementia can be subtle at first, especially if your parent lives on the other side of the country. By the time the signs become obvious, your parent may have moderate to advanced dementia and need extensive care. Recognizing the warning signs early can help you encourage your parent to get a proper diagnosis, begin planning for the future, and implement lifestyle changes that keep your parent safe while making their life easier.

There’s no substitute for the bond between a grandparent and grandchild. Many people spend their whole lives looking forward to spoiling grandchildren, so dementia in someone who has grandchildren can feel especially cruel.

Thoughts of a memory care facility may immediately raise concerns that you’ll be leaving your loved one in a nursing home with a bunch of strangers. Yet, today’s memory care communities are loving, nurturing places that maximize independence, preserve your loved one’s memory as long as possible and alleviate the caregiver of the burden that prevents you from having a better relationship with your loved one.