Deciding when it’s time for Alzheimer’s long-term care in Kansas City can be extraordinarily difficult for caregivers. You may feel guilty or anxious about placing your loved one in a long-term care facility and feel as if you’re letting your loved one down. While there are some advantages to keeping someone with advanced Alzheimer’s at home for as long as possible, Alzheimer’s long-term care in Kansas City offers an exceptional level of care that is focused on maximizing the person’s quality of life.

It is never an easy decision to make, and if you’re struggling with trying to decide which is better for your loved one – to stay at home or go to a facility on a long-term basis, here are five considerations that may help you with your decision.

1. What is your loved one’s behavior like? Dementia can affect a person’s behavior in subtle ways, in the early stages. However, as the disease progresses, certain changes start to take place. For instance, someone who is ordinarily very independent may suddenly be apprehensive about driving, begin to decline social invitations, and become withdrawn. They may suddenly forget daily hygiene or how to do basic tasks like bathing and hairstyling and are too embarrassed to ask for help, and they may become more anxious or agitated without any obvious reasons why.
2. Alzheimer’s dementia can cause confusion and disorientation, which can lead to accidents. Falls are one of the leading causes of death among older adults. If your loved one is still driving, car accidents become a huge risk when they forget the rules of the road and run through a traffic light. It’s common for people with dementia to wander from home on foot and don’t know how to get back. When your loved one is continually putting their physical safety at risk, it’s time to consider Alzheimer’s long-term care in Kansas City.
3. Physical changes in your family member are often one of the most notable differences to indicate it may be time for Alzheimer’s long-term care in Kansas City. Weight loss and frailty are standard in many aged adults due to the aging process, but when they become markedly thin or frail, it may mean they are forgetting to shop for groceries or take medications as directed. In addition, some people with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia forget to take their prescription medication or take more than they are supposed to.
4. Being a caregiver for someone with Alzheimer’s is stressful at the best of times, and when a caregiver dies or their own health falters, it can mean the person who is being cared for needs a higher level of attention, such as Alzheimer’s long-term care in Kansas City.
5. One of the symptoms of dementia is incontinence and it can be a huge problem for caregivers of seniors with Alzheimer’s. They feel overwhelmed and feel it’s more than they can handle. This can affect both family caregivers and hired medical providers who come into the home to provide assistance. Further, heavy lifting can take its toll on caregivers, among other difficulties in caring for someone, which makes it a reality that an alternative must be found to staying at home.

When you feel it’s time to move your family member to Alzheimer’s long-term care in Kansas City, contact the administrator at Clover Care Home in Shawnee. We provide conscientious, professional, caring services to residents throughout the metro. Call us at 913-991-2605 and schedule an appointment to find out how we may help your loved one find competent, person-centered care in a safe, clean environment.