Alzheimer’s

Is Memory Care the Right Choice During COVID-19? The coronavirus pandemic has been, in a word, life-changing. Everyone’s life has been touched in some way to different extents, but perhaps the hardest-hit demographic are those with senior loved ones. This is especially true for family caregivers who care for a senior loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. In a smaller sense, individuals whose loved ones reside in a memory care community like Avalon Memory Care also share a similar sense of worry and stress. Your family’s main priority is to keep your loved one safe and healthy. How is that possible in an enclosed community that’s filled with high-risk individuals? We want you to know, we understand. The idea of moving your loved one into a memory care community right now can seem scary and impossible. Even if your loved one is already in a memory care community, you may wish to pull them out so you can care for them at home in a safe, responsible manner. We at Avalon Memory Care will never stand in the way of family members doing what they think is best for their senior loved ones. However, we wanted to take this article to talk to you about how safe a memory care community can be, particularly at this time in our society. Although it may seem counterintuitive, individuals with memory issues can actually live more safely and with less risk at a community that’s been designed specifically for them.   Enhanced sanitization and health practices. As a commercial business – one that is dedicated to the care and safety of seniors with memory care – we are required to follow strict guidelines laid out by [...]

When you or a loved one are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia, there are many things to consider and plan for. One of the biggest concerns most seniors and their families have is paying for memory care. Since dementia is a progressive disease, the care that the individual will need increases as the disease progresses. Eventually, an individual with dementia will need around-the-clock care, which is usually administered – but not always – in a specialized memory care community like Avalon Memory Care. Nearly 5.5. million Americans are living with a form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy Body dementia or frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This number is only expected to increase as the Baby Boomers continue to age and medical technology continues to extend our natural lifespans. And that means that the cost of memory care is likely to continue to increase for many American families. Currently, the worldwide cost of dementia care is approximately 1 trillion U.S. dollars. In other words, if dementia care were a country, it’s GDP would be the 17th highest in the world! That’s a lot of money being spent...and fortunately, there are a variety of programs available to help provide financial assistance, respite care and other forms of aid to help seniors, families and caregivers. At Avalon Memory Care, we understand very well the cost of providing memory care – financially, emotionally and mentally. Our goal is to not just be a home for your loved one, but also a resource for you and your family members. Part of that is providing the information you need to help you make a wise decision with regards to care. To that end, we’ve put together some helpful information [...]

What to Do If You Think Your Mom Has Alzheimer’s When mom doesn’t appear to be as sharp as she once was, or seems to forget topics you just discussed, or begins to falsely accuse you of taking her things a red flag goes up.  Is this normal behavior for the aging or could she be suffering from Alzheimer’s or some other form of memory loss? People tend to second guess a call to her doctor, but you shouldn’t.  Proper care as early as possible is critical. There isn’t a cure, but there are some treatments that can help to slow a degenerative condition.  However, before you pick up the phone for professional advice make sure to document what you are seeing and hearing. Keep track of your observances for a short period of time. Observe and keep a written record of memory loss problems. Memory loss is a rather generic term to describe Alzheimer’s, but it doesn’t mean that’s the diagnosis.  We all experience a moment of memory loss here and there. It is when memory loss is so significant that it impairs everyday life when we need to take notice.  That’s when doctors begin to suspect someone needs dementia care. Here’s what you want to look for: Forgetting to go to appointments Forgetting how to navigate to a frequently visited destination Asking repeated information Poor judgment Problems managing money Forgetting task just done Difficulty completing familiar tasks Problems with planning Disorientation to time or place Withdrawal and other changes in personality Talk to your mom’s doctor. Adult children are often unsure about how best to get involved with an elderly parent’s healthcare or if they are violating HIPAA laws. Everyone in the U.S. has the [...]