As a caregiver for someone with dementia, you may be faced with the hard decisions that occur with taking responsibility for their health. You may eventually need to make the decision that your loved one needs 24-hour memory care. There are multiple situations when having continuous care for your loved one is the better option.

You Can't Manage Their Care on Your Own

Guilt may keep you from making the necessary decision to relocate your loved one to an assisted facility specializing in memory care. At some point, the care your loved one needs may become unmanageable, especially if you are the lone caregiver and have other responsibilities. The decision can be especially hard if you are an adult with an aging parent or you are making the decision for your partner. Finding a facility for your loved one is not abandoning them, it just means they need more care than you can provide.

Living at Home Is Unsafe

Safety issues can signal it is time for your loved one to move to a specialized facility. Problems with cooking and wandering are common with dementia. Your loved one may have multiple instances of leaving food unattended in the oven and may not remember starting to cook. A loved one with memory problems may suddenly leave out in the middle of the night and it can be difficult to locate them. At this point, they need 24-hour supervision to minimize their chances of being lost or running into a person who may take advantage of their memory problems.

Your Loved One Is Violent

Behavioral changes in your loved one can take a physical and emotional toll on you. As the progression of Alzheimer's or dementia occurs, some people can say or do things that are out of character. Your loved one may call you names or become combative, especially if they do not recognize you. For the safety of you and your loved one, it is better to have professional caregivers involved.

The Costs Outweigh the Benefits

The expenses of your loved one staying at home may become equally or more expensive than living in a specialized facility. You need to factor in the out-of-pocket costs of maintaining your loved one's household, any type of in-home care they receive, and your personal costs. You may find you are skipping work frequently to be a caregiver, which affects your income, productivity, or job security.

Making the decision to place your loved one in a memory care facility is not easy, but it might be the right choice. When your loved one's safety, health, or appropriate care becomes a challenge, it may be time to reconsider them living at home. For more information about memory care facilities, consider searching for one in your area.