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Can someone who has dementia live in an assisted living in Oregon?

I recently had a family call to tell me that they were concerned that their sweet mother, who has dementia, may need to move from her assisted living to a higher level of care.  They started to tell me about how their mother was experiencing some medication changes which led to some increased confusion.  Their mother was also becoming frustrated with everything and everyone and she was having trouble sleeping too.  Along with all of this she was also becoming anxious during the daytime and was experiencing loss of appetite.  As you can see they had reasons to be concerned. The good news was that the assisted living community she was a resident in, knew the senior quite well and was working with her doctor closely.  After about 3 weeks with new medications, things started to settle down for their mother and she became calmer and the result of receiving good care was ability to successfully stay in her apartment.  She regained her appetite and started sleeping better too. The family was so happy to see their mother doing better and once again, enjoying her assisted living community.

Every week aleast a one family who calls asks me this one question;  “can my mom live in assisted living even though she a diagnosis with dementia”?  The answer is yes.  Just because she has a  diagnosis doesn’t  necessarily mean someone would be disqualified for admittance.  It also depends on the severity of her dementia and whether this would be a safe option for her or not.  According to a study completed in 2019 by Oregon State University, Oregon assisted livings report that 27% of residents have dementia or alzhimers. When I was researching to find the percentages  I was pleasantly surprised at how low these numbers are.  Let’s answer some questions that will help you determine if your loved one would be safe and when a higher level of care is warranted.

care solutions nw senior care

Here are some questions to ask yourself about mom and her abilities to be safe in assisted living?

  • Is mom safe behind closed doors for atleast 4 hours?
  • Is she safe and predictable in her apartment and throughout the community?
  • Does she know how to use the call light pendant to request help with care needs?
  • Is she eating most of her meals?
  • Is she engaged in activities and others and able to maintain general conversations?
  • Is she forgetful about things once in while but NOT lost with in or around the community
  • Is she over all calm and feel safe and not overly anxious
  • Does she trust her care staff verse feeling like someone is stealing from her or wanting to harm her.
  • Is she safe and stable walking even if it’s with a walker or case, in her wheelchair, and or transfering?
  • Is anyone voicing concerns such as her neighbors, care partners, the nursing staff or administration?

Can you answer yes to all or most of these questions?  Or does your answers show you where there are areas of concern?  Let’s say mom is forgetting to go down for meals or showers becoming harder for her to manage on her own.  When I am doing an intake for senior placement I always talk with the senior’s caregivers.  They are the BEST source and insight on what is truly going on with the senior.  Oftentimes they have brilliant solutions, however they are often overlooked by families and even other care professionals for having insight.  I want to encourage you to talk with her caregivers and ask them what they are noticing about mom and if they see areas she needs more care.  When I do “in takes” for placements I am working with I always ask them their thoughts on solving these or any other issues.  Then call and make an appointment with the nurse.  Ask her to schedule a “care conference” to go over these concerns and any other concerns and solutions.  If changes are made to mom’s care make sure to ask for an updated “service plan” and look for the update care services you have requested.

Signs she is no longer safe in her assisted living

I have other families call me about their loved one who has had a recent medical event while living in assisted living.  I had one family call me concerned about recent events with their mother and although their mom was younger than most she was wandering the halls at her assisted living.  The RN also reported she was going in and out of other residents’ rooms.  When I went to visit with their mom to do an “IN TAKE” at the community she wasn’t in her room but rather lost in one of the halls.  I introduced myself and asked her if we could go to her room to visit..  She gladly led me down the hall and passed her room although it had a beautiful wreath on her door and a name plate with her name on the door.  Both these tools are there to help her identify that it was her particular room.  Sadly even with these tools she couldn’t find her room.  While visiting with her she could not hold a conversation or a single thought.  When I did help her find her room we entered and she started showing me around her apartment.  There were picture frames on her table and she was pointing at them and telling me who she believed they were.  She pointed at each one of the photos and named her own children however they were obvious to me, her grandchildren and not actually her own children.  After spending time with her and reviewing her care with the assisted living it was clear their mother needed more care in a memory care community.  Does this story sound familiar to yours in part or all?  Here are some other signs that a move may be best to meet your loved ones care needs in a safer environment like a memory care community.

Signs mom is no longer safe to be in assisted living
1. Looking for ways to exit the building with no real agenda, purpose, or reason
2. Wandering in and out of other apartments or hallways
3. Overly anxious and hard to comfort.  Mom might feel someone wants to harm her
4. Doesn’t know time of day, day of the week or season
5. New problems with words in speaking or writing
6. Becoming increasingly paranoid about people stealing from them
7. Forgetting if they have eaten and returning to the dining room or not going at all
8. Doesn’t know how to use the call light system and get help

What do I do next?

First, take a deep breath and know I am here to help.  I have answers, solutions and HOPE for you and your family.  I know a move for your mom is going to be the last thing you want to do, however leaving mom in an environment that can no longer provide for her safety is more harmful than the move.  Our first step together, is to have a conversation.  We will go over what is happening now and our next steps.  I would like to meet your loved one where they reside and visit with them where they feel most comfortable.  It’s extremely rare that a client is upset after I leave but more than not they invite me back for another visit.  I am here to offer comfort to you and your senior.  After our visit together I will gather your loved one’s service plan and speak with their care team to make a plan of action.  I will then make recommendations for memory care and we will tour together the communities.  As a partnership we will walk through the details of the move so you feel supported every step of the way.  Please remember you don’t have to carry this burden alone looking for the next step to care for mom, I am here to walk with you.

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