Alzheimer's disease explained

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive condition, as are many other dementia or memory-related conditions. Therefore seniors dealing with these conditions need an increasing level of care and assistance over time. Naturally, many families and the affected seniors themselves prefer that they remain at home for as long as possible. This is entirely understandable, particularly since these seniors may remain physically capable and highly mobile, even as their mental acuity becomes more impaired.

That is one of the very reasons that families and loved ones of senior adults dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia are often faced with the difficult choice of seeking help from the professional caregivers at a full-time residential memory care facility. Alzheimer’s and chronic dementia can be extremely physically and mentally demanding for family caregivers, particularly a senior-aged spouse or child. This can impact the personal safety and quality of life, both for the affected senior and for the caregiver.

The unfortunate likelihood is that a person who suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's will eventually require 24-hour supervised care in a specialized setting. For people with early stage Alzheimer’s or dementia, an assisted living facility may suffice. Others in later stages will need 24-hour skilled nursing care. Some facilities combine both, so that seniors can first live more independently in assisted living, and transfer to 24-hour skilled nursing care if and when that becomes necessary.

Reprinted from SeniorAdvisor.com