Our blog today takes a look at a very informative and helpful article written by Marie Marley, award-winning author of Come Back Early Today: A Memoir of Love, Alzheimer's and Joy.
In this article, Marley shares advice and different methods of helping to convince a loved one that full-time care at a nursing facility is the best thing for them. Many times, especially in mid to late stages of Alzheimer's when social withdrawal and the desire for physical isolation is prevalent, patients tend to want to remain on their own in their own homes for as long as possible, and are frequently unaware that they need full-time care.
Moving a loved one into a care facility full-time is particularly agonizing for the caregiver, and many family members in caregiving roles suffer extreme guilt for making the decision to place their loved one in a nursing home. It is necessary, however, for caregivers to remember how important their own mental and emotional is, and also, that sometimes the most loving and best choice for a loved one is easing them into full-time permanent care away from home.
For spouses who act as the caregiver to their partner, the decision is a very challenging one. "I often work to convince reluctant spouses to change from being a 'caregiver' to being a 'care advocate,'" says William G. Hammond, founder of the Elder and Disability law firm in Overland Park, Kansas. "They can then be vigilant to ensure their loved one is receiving appropriate treatment in the facility while preserving their own health."
Read more: Convincing a Loved One With Alzheimer's to Move to a Nursing Home
At Memorable Pets, we are highly dedicated to raising funds for Alzheimer's awareness and research, which is why a portion of the proceeds from each Memorable Pet goes toward Alzheimer's care. You can learn more about our selection of pets and how you can help at our website: memorablepets.com