It’s not unusual to become overwhelmed when caregiving for your loved one with dementia. It is normal at some point for caregivers to consider a community that offers specialized dementia training for staff, programming that meets the unique needs of dementia residents, and support that allows families to focus on relationships and not caregiving.  If you’re on the hunt for dementia care in Temecula, you’ve at least narrowed down your geographical options, but there is much more to consider.

When to Move

The first question on your mind may be when? When is the right time to move your loved one to a dementia care facility? There is no right answer or specific point in their journey. When you begin to feel their needs exceed your ability to care for them, it’s time to look at your alternatives. There’s no shame in that. As dementia progresses, your parent will need 24/7 care. Caring for your loved one with dementia is not only physically and emotionally draining, it takes a huge chunk out of the time you have for tending to your own needs.

Remember, if you are their caretaker, the more you let your own wellbeing deteriorate, the less effective you are as a caregiver.

Assisted Living or Nursing Home

Now that you’ve decided the time is nearing for your loved one to receive dementia care in Temecula, you’ll still need to decide on what level of care they need. Is dementia the only concern, and how advanced is it? If they only need help with the tasks of daily living, like bathing, dressing and eating, as well as supervision, then assisted living is likely the way to go. Wandering, or significant changes in mood that cause behaviors like verbal outburst or physical aggression may warrant a more secured environment specific to dementia care. 

Where to Look

You’ve now narrowed down the options and know where and what type of care your mom or dad needs. A quick Google search will help you find a list of different facilities and communities. Begin by checking online reviews for each facility, whether you’re looking on Yelp, Google, Facebook or another website. Look at the websites for communities that have received good overall reviews, while keeping in mind that some comments may be more valid than others. Also ask friends, relatives and physicians whose opinions you trust if they can recommend a dementia care facility.

Visit Facilities for Dementia Care in Temecula

Hopefully after your online and network searching, you’ll be able to narrow your options to just a few. Schedule tours at each of them. If your parent is well enough, bring them along and let them participate in the process. It will, after all, be their new home.

What should you look for on your tours? Consider some of the following questions:

• Would your loved one enjoy the atmosphere?
• Does it seem warm and inviting?
• Would your parent fit in?
• Does the staff seem attentive? Do they know residents by name?
• What is the staff to resident ratio?
• How clean is the facility? You can also check state reports for their recent inspections.
• Do they have programming specific to your parent’s needs?
• Will their medical needs be met?

Affording Dementia Care

Of course, once you’ve narrowed down your options, cost will be a significant concern. Many communities do not share pricing information online. If you’re interested in the community, make it a point to sit down with a sales representative who will lay out all the options available to your parent and may be able to offer some financing information as well.