Have you and your family noticed that your loved one keeps asking the same question repeatedly, forgetting appointments, or not remembering how to get to a home they have lived in for years? Did you make an appointment with your loved one’s physician to talk about this forgetfulness? Was your loved one diagnosed by his or her physician as having memory loss caused by dementia? This diagnosis can be exceedingly stressful for both your loved one, you and family members. Are you the primary caregiver for your loved one? Let us discuss some ways you can care for your loved one.
We know it is difficult to watch the decline in the memory of your loved one caused by dementia. We know as you care for your loved one you may be concerned that you will become frustrated with your loved one because you care so much. It is important for you to know that your loved one may be very aware that they are experiencing memory loss. In fact, it may be both a frightening and embarrassing time for him or her.
The best thing you and your family can do is to implement strategies to preserve his or her dignity. When your loved one repeatedly asks you the same question, relax and be patient.
Remind yourself that you cannot cure your loved one’s memory problems, but you can make sure he or she feels secure and that will help you remain cool, calm and collected.
Here are some other steps to keep your loved one safe that you, as your loved one’s caregiver, and your family can take. Keep the taking of medicines safe by getting a plastic pill dispenser or an electronic pill dispenser. Although you will be with your loved one, family and friends should call frequently and visit to stay up-to-date and even offer to take your loved one out to lunch or to the park or just sit at home and watch a movie. Sit with your loved one to discuss upcoming appointments and even write down the schedule for the week for your loved one.
Loss of control is one of the biggest reported fears surrounding memory loss in older people. Your loved one deserves to have a voice in determining both a plan of care for when memory problems worsen, as well as, end of life estate planning. Right now we would highly recommend contacting and making an appointment with an experienced Florida estate planning and elder law attorney. Your loved one must have legal mental capacity to create estate planning documents, including documents that will provide for long-term care. Therefore, by meeting with your Florida attorney as soon as possible before the memory of your loved one declines any further, your loved one will have the gift of knowing his or her future is secure.
The experienced team of attorneys here at Hemness Faller, The Law Office formerly known as Emma Hemness, P.A., are here for you and your family and we want to be YOUR estate planning and elder law attorneys. After all, we are ordinary people, providing extraordinary guidance backed by years of experience and advocacy for the vulnerable citizens in our community. We encourage you to contact us and schedule a meeting with us.
