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Signs That Your Loved One May Need Memory Care

by November 17, 2021

Memory loss is a challenging and frustrating condition for seniors and their families. Nevertheless, memory care can provide tremendous support for these same parties. Learning the symptoms of significant memory loss—strange injuries, difficulty recalling daily activities, and failure of a mental status exam—can help you and your loved one decide when to pursue full-time care. When that time comes, seek assisted living and elder care services.

Tysons Woods is a small, assisted living community that provides holistic care services to residents of McLean, VA. We facilitate a free-living lifestyle so that our patients can maintain their privacy and personal routines. Furthermore, we treat them with respect and uphold their dignity. Our team provides 24/7 medical care to protect the health and safety of our residents. Contact us today at (703)-846-0395.

Below, we outline the signs that your senior loved one may need memory care services:

Safety Concerns Are Present

The first effects of memory loss may be ambiguous and slow-appearing. However, you should still interpret these common signs of memory loss as warnings that call for memory care. 

Loss of memory can result in aimless and dangerous behaviors. Oftentimes, elderly adults with memory loss do not report their unusual and unsafe behaviors to loved ones or doctors. Caregivers who observe the following scenarios should keep memory loss in mind: 

  • Frequent visits to the emergency room
  • Forgotten/unexplained bruises
  • Pets poorly cared for
  • Appliances or burners left on after cooking
  • Senseless wandering

Difficulty Remembering Activities of Daily Living

Observe whether your loved one regularly attends to activities of daily living. Ask the following questions to gather some information about their behavior:

  • Do they often forget to eat or drink?
  • Do they take their medication as directed?
  • Do they bathe and dress regularly?
  • Do they struggle taking regular routes (i.e. to the grocery store)?

Compare your loved one’s recent behavior with previous observations to identify changes. Also, note the difference between physically struggling, willfully neglecting, and forgetting to complete daily living activities, as the third indicates memory loss. 

Failure of Mental Status Exam

If you notice some memory loss behavior, have your loved one’s doctor perform a mental status exam for memory loss. Doing so can provide a baseline for keeping track of memory loss over time. 

During the exam, doctors will ask patients to remember certain terms, spell words backward, perform basic math equations, identify objects, and understand spatial concepts (i.e. proximity and distance). Another memory test involves patients drawing and numbering a clock. Incorrectly placed numbers indicate memory loss. 

Patients whose test results indicate signs of dementia will be referred to a neurologist for further diagnosis.

When to Opt for Memory Care

Discuss memory loss concerns immediately upon recognizing symptoms. Diagnosis and care can be more accurately determined when signs of memory loss are tracked over time. 

Elderly adults with memory loss should transition to a long-term care home when they cannot maintain their safety and independence or when family caregivers can no longer fulfill the level of care required. You should discuss continuous care options with your loved one at the earliest stage of diagnosis so they can be involved in the process before a decline occurs.

Tysons Woods: Professional Elder Care Services for McLean, VA, Residents

Elder Care McLean VA

For memory care, assisted living, and elder care services, turn to Tysons Woods. We offer a unique environment for elders with all-inclusive daily care. Our staff-to-resident ratio is 1:4, which helps us deliver consistent and personable care. Residents enjoy enriching activities, a comfortable private space, and outdoor living areas. Moreover, our specialized nursing staff is available night and day. We are always transparent about costs and offer a free pre-admission assessment. Contact us at (703)-846-0395.