Alzheimer's Care in Charlottesville: When is it Time?

When you first start to realize that Mom or Dad's memory is fading, it's understandable to worry about what lies ahead. If they're diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or another type of dementia, will they be able to spend their retirement at home as they always wanted to? What kind of care will they need to stay safe? At Visiting Angels^® Charlottesville, we've helped many families figure out their options at this stage, including if and when they should look into Alzheimer's care in the Charlottesville area. 

How to Tell It's Time to Talk About Alzheimer's Care

The choices you make on behalf of your loved one with Alzheimer's disease are deeply personal, and will probably be the result of many conversations with family members, medical professionals, and Alzheimer's care providers in the Charlottesville area.

To help your family begin these discussions, consider the following questions about your loved one's needs and your ability to meet them:

• Are they in good physical health? - Substantial weight loss, visible pain when walking, a slumped posture, and other physical changes could indicate that your loved one already requires additional support to maintain their health.
• Are they socially active? - If your loved one has always been a social butterfly, suddenly pulling away from their social circles could indicate that they're more confused, anxious, or hesitant to engage with others. Social isolation can lead to depression and may also cause dementia symptoms to get worse, so it's important to make sure your loved one has access to companionship and conversation.
• Are they keeping up with their appointments, bills, and other commitments? - If your loved one is missing bill payments, forgetting about appointments, or losing track of what medications they take, their comfort and health could eventually be at risk.
• Are you physically and emotionally able to provide in-person care at the level your loved one needs? - Though you may not know exactly what kind of support your loved one needs at first, you may already be helping out with cooking, cleaning, or other basic tasks. Be honest about how much you can handle in addition to your own personal responsibilities.

Book a Free Consultation for Your Loved One in Charlottesville

If you're ready to have a conversation about Alzheimer's care for your loved one, call Visiting Angels Charlottesville at (434) 227-5917 to schedule a free in-home consultation with our care professionals.