Alzheimer's Moving and Housing Questions

1. What is the process for getting a loved one placed in a care home?

   The process of moving a person with dementia to a care home is one that's often left to the family or the person who has durable power of attorney (DPOA). If an older adult with cognitive impairment has neither family nor a DPOA, the state would step in and appoint a guardian to make decisions about care...
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2. How does moving affect dementia?

   It is admirable of you and your family to share the caregiving of your mother as well as her love. However, I do not recommend moving her from place to place. For persons with dementia, stability and routine are very important, especially as the disease progresses. So, moving does effect dementia...
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3. How can we get mom to agree to move to an assisted living facility?

   There can be no doubt that you are dealing with one of the more difficult decision that families of demented patients face sooner or later. There are many things you and your father should consider before moving your mother to a memory care unit and we have included a few of them here...
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4. How can I encourage someone with dementia to move to an assisted-living community?

   You can't force someone to make this big change unless you have guardianship or other legal authority to do so. But here are some ways you can encourage someone with dementia to move to assisted living:
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5. Can we travel with parents with dementia?

   The answer is...maybe. Traveling with someone who has dementia requires being aware of many different factors. You've already thought about wandering, for example, which is wise. The biggest factor is your parents' condition. They may do all right with care and supervision, especially if they function relatively independently now...
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6. How can I help my parents with dementia accept the care they need?

   The operative word in this question is "dementia." A person who suffers from dementia does not have the same reasoning capabilities that he or she once had. If your parents are suffering from dementia, they are not able to process information, or understand cause and effect...
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7. How do I deal with my mom, who has Alzheimer's, refusing care and assistance?

   I think you are going to have to assert yourself more than you have been. Your mother is not capable of making good decisions at this point because her judgment is impaired. Your father can’t make decisions for her at the moment because of his own health issues. Their doctor is no he...
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8. What can cause the parent to see things and people that are not there?

   What you are describing could be a visual hallucination or a delusion (a mistaken belief). In either case there are many possible causes. Sometimes sensory loss, in the form of vision and hearing loss, causes people to hear and see things that are not there...
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9. Should my mother with dementia be put in a care facility?

   I'm not sure what you mean by a "bout of dementia." The first question is whether your mother has been diagnosed with some form of dementia. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia, don't usually fluctuate that much from day to day...
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10. What are my parent's housing options if my mother does not pass a cognitive screening test?

    Since other factors such as stress or depression may cause symptoms of memory loss it is important that your mother makes time for the assessment. Your family needs to understand both her current and future health care requirements in order to make the best and most cost-effective choice for long term housing and care...
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11. How can we help my mother who is struggling with loneliness in the assisted living facility?

    You didn't say whether or not you've approached facility administrators to discuss your concerns about your mother, but if you haven't, I think you should do so immediately. They should be doing more to keep your mother engaged than simply shuttling her to the bingo hall -- particularly if she has no interest in bingo...
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12. How do we get Mom to see the need for longterm care?

    Depending upon whether your mother-in-law has early or middle stage dementia, moving her at this time could prove challenging. Not because it is her choice or something that she needs to necessarily agree to, but because in her mind she is quite capable of caring for herself and perhaps even capable enough to care for her dying husband...
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13. Dad forgot how to stand - is this a normal progression of dementia?

    Unfortunately, losing the ability to walk even with help is a common consequence of progression of dementia. Your father is not "giving up", he just lost the ability to coordinate function of his muscles to allow standing. You might need to try to maintain his dignity and freedom by using a wheelchair...
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14. My mom is 89 and has in mid stage dementia. Her symptoms...

    I would go to an assisted living community that has a dementia floor and talk to the marketing director. If your mother is still able to live in an assisted living community for a while then you could transition her to a higher level at a later time. She may not be ready for a nursing home...
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15. How should I handle my mother with dementia's move to a personal care home?

    I would not go into detail. I would tell your mother that you are moving her so she can be closer to you and that she is moving into a nice home. Take her bedspread, pictures, personal items. Make her new room as close to her old as possible. She sounds as though she would not understand anything more detailed and it would also confuse her...
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16. What are the issues around sexual activity in nursing homes for individuals with dementia?

    Hi. I answered a similar question a while ago. You can reference that.
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17. How do we help my mother with dementia adjust to life in the nursing home?

    The transition into long term care is difficult for both the patient and her family, perhaps more so with a dementia patient because they can't understand what is happening. I'm so sorry you've had this sad experience - but it is easy to fix.
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18. Should I consider moving Mom out of the room she shares with Dad due to her dementia?

    Enjoy the moment! The fact that your parents are both happy living together and are much in love is a gift to them and to you. What is important is that your mom is pleased to be with your dad and knows who he is. It is not really important that she articulate that he is her husband...
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19. What is the best way to bring concerns to nursing home staff about their treatment of my dad who has dementia?

    There three critical steps to dealing with issues with nursing home care for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer's.
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20. How can we cope with my dad's severe sundown syndrome?

    Your poor father has a lot on his plate. Most of us would feel angry and frustrated dealing with the pain and discomfort he must be feeling at night. It sounds as though his physical care needs are quite high. Is it realistic at this point to think about caring for him at home...
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