How to Choose a Reliable Nursing Home for Dementia Patients

In 2014, over five million adults were diagnosed with dementia. Also, the figure is projected to triple by 2060.

Dementia is a broad term that refers to a distorted ability to think, make decisions, or remember stuff. And this affects the regular activities of the individual. For instance, those suffering from it might not be able to remember who their family members are or their names.

Taking care of a dementia patient can be tasking and requires skilled nursing experience. And this is why a nursing home is the best idea. However, finding a reliable one for your parents or loved one might be tasking. So, this article will discuss how to find a good nursing home.

Understanding Dementia

Learning a thing or two about the condition is a good idea. This can help you understand what your loved one might be passing through and how you can help.

We have established that dementia is a term that refers to a hazy ability to carry out basic mental tasks like thinking and remembering. In fact, worse conditions can lead to total memory loss.

Though it is common amongst older people, the condition is not part of the usual aging process. Therefore, several adults can live their whole lives without experiencing it. However, normal aging comes with its issues like stiffening of vessels and arteries, weak bones, and a few memory issues that may include:

• Forgetting recent events
• Occasionally misplacing things
• Struggling to remember a word
• Difficulty in remembering names of people

But, how can we identify dementia since it appears to have similar signs with normal aging? There are several signs of dementia that make it pronounced. And learning about them can help you identify if your loved one needs professional help.

Signs of Dementia

Though normal aging shows signs of slight memory loss, it does not usually affect old memories, language, and experiences. But, dementia patients have difficulties with visual perception, memorizing, reasoning, problem-solving, paying attention, making a judgment, and communicating.

Furthermore, there are some signs you can look out for in older persons. They include:

• Frequently missing their way back home
• Forgetting old friends and memories
• Referring to regular objects with unusual words
• Inability to complete familiar tasks independently

While every patient might show different symptoms, these are the general ones you can look out for in them. You can click on https://www.nia.nih.gov/ to read more about the signs of dementia.

Factors That Can Increase the Chances of Having Dementia

Several persons suffer from this condition as they get older. However, several factors can increase the chances of having it. Some of them include.

Age factor

This is the primary risk cause for the condition. It is estimated that adults from 65 years are liable to have dementia.

Family history

Several health conditions are passed through a family line, and dementia is one of them. People whose family members have this condition are likely to get it.

Ethnicity

A study has shown that some ethnic groups are more viable to suffer from the condition than others. For instance, Hispanics have more exposure to this condition than whites.

Severe Brain Injury

People sustain head injuries from falling off the stairs or from an accident. However, damage to the brain can result in dementia.

How to Choose a Reliable Nursing Home

People suffering from this condition require better treatment and care. And this can help prevent this condition from becoming worse. However, it also means that you might need to hire experienced and skilled nurses or move them into a nursing home.

Hiring a private nurse for your loved one might be expensive. So, a care facility might be your best option. However, choosing one might be tricky. Nevertheless, some steps can help you choose better.

Taking a Decision

Dementia patients are mostly incapable of making their own decisions. However, if you have a power of attorney, it gives you the legal power to decide for them. Also, you can try talking with the patients about the decision, though they might not understand. You can click here to read more about power of attorney.

Get an Assessment

Before picking a care facility, several assessments need to be done first. For instance, you will require some assessments from the social service. This assessment will suggest whether or not the person needs admission to a facility.

After that, you will need to take a financial test. This will determine if you will receive support from the council or fund the treatment yourself. However, people are often required to pay for the service by themselves. Also, the social service uses these assessments to suggest a reliable facility for you.

Location

After assessments, the social service will provide you with some recommendations. However, you could consider some factors.

Choosing a facility close by can help reduce the stress of visiting your loved ones. Also, you should check if there are good transport links in the area and if there are cafes, leisure facilities, or shops nearby.

Facilities

As your loved ones leave the house to a nursing home, choosing a place as comfortable as a home is best. You can ask about the kind of food given, the rooms and privacy, the toilet and bathroom spaces, religious support, and more.

The Staff

Care homes have nurses and other staff that help take care of patients. And choosing one with a staff force that is not only professional but has experience in providing adequate care is best. So, you can ask the manager about how they do staff assessments.

Conclusion

Several disorders are associated with age, and dementia is one of them. However, the condition does not affect all aged persons. Taking care of people with such a condition might be tasking and requires some special and skilled care. Therefore a nursing home will be the best option.