How to Move a Parent with Dementia to Assisted Living

When your parent receives a dementia diagnosis, it will be difficult. There’s no way to truly be prepared for what’s to come, but it makes all the difference when you know that there is a community of support for you and your mom or dad as you go through this process together.

Assisted living for dementia patients is a popular option for older adults and seniors with dementia because care communities are all-inclusive. With personalized care plans, assistance with activities of daily living, restaurant-style dining, social events, and a wide range of amenities, everything is taken care of and considered in assisted living communities.

Assisted living often includes a memory care community on their campus to accommodate people with dementia and their family members.

During the early stages of dementia, your parent may be experiencing seemingly normal, age-appropriate memory loss and is likely still independent. By stage five or at moderately severe cognitive decline, it is recommended that your parent move into a memory care unit.

Memory care refers to a type of specialized long-term care and environment meant for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. It involves a community of dementia patients, personalized memory care programs, and a highly trained team of medical professionals.

As patients living with dementia navigate their care transition from independent living to memory care, it helps if they are already familiar with the environment and community beforehand. Therefore, it is better the earlier your parent gets acquainted with a community where they can move into memory care whenever they are ready.

Unyielding support and empathy from family and friends is so important throughout this journey.

Here are a few dementia tips to keep in mind.

The Five R’s of Dementia

When it comes to dementia care, there are five R’s to remember in any sort of behavioral emergency or crisis.

1. Remain calm.
2. Respond to feelings.
3. Reassure the person.
4. Remove yourself.
5. Return later.

Doing your best to react and respond to your parent with dementia in ways that do not escalate, but rather soothe their heightened emotions goes a long way.

If your parent is in a memory care community or nursing home, make sure to visit often and stay engaged in their life.

The fear of being forgotten by or detached from family and friends is common among memory care residents. Memory care communities allow friends and family members to visit at any time, however. They welcome and integrate family and friends to participate in their events and activities at every opportunity.

Transitioning into Memory Care

It is crucial for you to be aware of your parent’s symptoms and recognize when it is time to request extra help.

Regardless, you should never force or pressure your parent to do anything they strongly don’t want to do. Have conversations about the future as soon as possible and plan together. Research and visit different communities and reassure them that you will check in often.

You should never make your parent feel bad for their memory loss and argue to upset them. If you believe they would benefit from moving into a memory care community, present the benefits and perks that would be most exciting and relevant.

Ensuring your parent feels comfortable and relaxed is the utmost priority as they enter a new chapter of their life.

Welcome to Chelsea Senior Living

Look no further than Chelsea Senior Living for your parent’s memory care needs.

Our assisted living communities are sustainable, fulfilling, and enriching for adults ages 55 and over and our memory care residents form tight bonds with our memory care specialists and each other.

Our memory care programs are specifically designed to strengthen our residents’ intellect, creativity, and physical health. Our staff ensures dementia patients are safe and sound at night by monitoring their sleep environments and taking them to the bathroom at regular intervals.

Senior housing includes private studios, one-bedroom two-bathroom, or two-bedroom two-bathroom apartments. Choose whichever works best for you.

Schedule a tour today to see everything we have to offer.