When you got married, you vowed to love and care for your spouse for as long as you lived. Over the past few years, you have done your best to honor those vows by helping your loved one stay as safe and comfortable as possible as you navigated through the uncharted waters of their dementia diagnosis. Now, however, you worry that your current arrangements might not be in their best interest. As your loved one enters the later stages of dementia, watch for these signs that it may be time to consider having them move to a memory care residence.

They Place Their Safety at Risk

In the early stages of dementia, your spouse used to trust your advice. For example, you knew that they would wait for your assistance before leaving the house. Now, you have caught them trying to wander away from home. Alternatively, they may have begun to experience trouble with eating, and you fear the possibility of them choking. While you might've been able to help your loved one manage many dementia symptoms on their own, it may not be possible for you to provide them with 24-hour supervision like they would get in assisted living dementia care.

Family Members Are Expressing Concern

You've done well putting up a brave front over the past months or years. However, you can tell that your family members are starting to worry. For example, your adult children might have asked if you are getting enough sleep, or they may have even tried to get you to check out a few memory care residences in the past. When other people are starting to notice that your job as a caregiver is increasingly demanding, it is time to listen to those who care about you.

You Have a New Health Diagnosis

As the caregiver of your spouse, you know that they depend upon you to help them manage many parts of their day. Unfortunately, you might have experienced a downturn in your health that makes this part of your life hard to manage. Whether you struggle with helping your loved one bathe due to a back injury or you simply cannot leave them alone while you go to your medical appointments, a change in your health may signify that it is time to reach out for help.

The decision to send your spouse to an assisted living residence is not an easy one to make. Yet, it is sometimes necessary to make sacrifices for the sake of your loved one's health. As you prepare to make changes to your loved one's care plan, just remember that you will always share the close bond that comes with caring for each other through every stage of life. Take a look at sites like http://graceseniorcommunity.com/ for more guidance.