Memory Care near Saskatoon, SK

Memory Care in Saskatoon, SK

Most families wish to care for their aging loved ones themselves, but often times, life has other plans. Families are busier now than they were even a generation ago, and it's impossible to dedicate the time necessary to ensure the safety and well-being of a senior. This is even more true when your loved one has memory impairment. Leaving them unattended, even for a short time, could have serious consequences, including injuring themselves or others. When your loved one reaches the point where you can no longer safely care for them, then it's time to consider other options. One option that many people don't think of is a memory care facility.

More About Saskatoon

Saskatoon is a fun place to live, no matter what your age. There are festivals year round, and no matter what your interests are, there is something for everyone. You can find movie theaters, museums, opera houses, sports venues, and more. With a vibrant film and music scene, there is plenty to do and see within the city. Despite the fact that the city appeals to a younger crowd, the elderly still have plenty to do and see for themselves.

What You Should Know

Memory care facilities are either assisted living communities or retirement homes with specific wings dedicated to those patients with memory impairment. Assisted living communities are for those seniors who do not need a lot of additional medical attention, but are mostly stable on their own. These communities will offer memory impairment services for the beginning stages of dementia and Alzheimer's, but you want to make sure they can handle things such as disruptive or aggressive behavior. Not everyone with memory impairment will develop these behaviors; however, in the event that your loved one does, you want to make sure the assisted living community can accommodate those behaviors without threat of discharging your loved one. Retirement homes are slightly different because they are for more advanced seniors, and tend to handle the more advanced stages of memory impairment. Before deciding where to place your loved one, you need to fully understand your loved one's health conditions, and the level of care they need to keep living a fulfilled lifestyle.

Find the Right Facility

Once you decide between assisted living and retirement home, the next step is narrowing down the facilities until you find the one you want. First and foremost, it's important to remember that you're not the one living in the community, so you want to make sure that you choose one that suits your loved one and not you. Second, you should include your loved one in the decision making process. They already have plenty to deal with, and allowing them to be part of the process gives them time to adjust to the changes in their lives, and it also helps them understand and remember what's going on around them. To find the right facility, start by asking your loved one what they want in a community, and make a list. Research the available facilities online and narrow down your options based on your list. Once you've narrowed it down to two or three, you can call to schedule a tour. Be sure to take your loved one, and make sure you ask plenty of questions to properly compare the facilities. Choose the one that makes the most sense for your loved one, and fits what they want in a community.

Making the Move

After finding the perfect facility, the next step is to move your loved one from their current home. This may involve downsizing your loved one's belongings, securing storage, getting rid of some things and selling others, and hiring movers to actually move the belongings. The step can be one of the most difficult for seniors because most of them have spent their adult lives building a home with their belongings, and letting go can be difficult. Although it may be a trying time for you, as well, try to be patient and understand what your loved one is feeling. Let them process the changes at their own speed, and also understand that with memory loss, they may become confused or aggressive if they forget why you're downsizing their belongings. Once everything is packed, hire movers to move everything to the facility you chose, and you may even want to pay for them to unpack the items, as well. This will help your loved one focus solely on their care, and not place the burden of unpacking on them or yourself.

When your loved one has to deal with memory impairment on top of aging, it can be challenging for them. Things they were once so sure of become uncertain, and it's a bit like someone pulled the rug out from underneath them. They're dealing with a lot of changes at once, and so a little patience and understanding is the best way to make the situation more bearable for you and your loved one. Start by deciding what level of care your loved one needs, and then find the right facility to meet those needs. Once you find a facility, the next step is to make the move. It's best to hire movers to make things easier, but you can always save money by doing it yourself.