Suffolk, with its lovely countryside and peaceful, picture-postcard villages, and wonderful and varied coastline, has become a popular destination for those retiring from busy lives and looking for a more relaxing lifestyle – and one of the top ten places nationally for retirement, with the main city of Ipswich and its surrounding villages being a great choice.
But not all of Ipswich’s senior citizens are retirees. Many of them are dealing with the most difficult life challenges that come with aging: memory related illnesses. Alzheimer’s disease is a common illness affecting millions of seniors, and even more are affected by other forms of dementia, which affects not only the memory, but the entire mental process.
So, what can Ipswich area seniors or their families do when they need help dealing with these disorders? Certainly, seniors with increasing dementia should not be left alone. There is too much risk involved. Instead, they have several options.
1) Home care. Families of seniors with memory issues can become caretakers in their own homes. For families who have a little extra space, or who can make extra space, this is the best option in most cases. It helps when a dementia patient can be surrounded by familiarity. If their surroundings are familiar, and the faces around them are too, it will make their condition all the more bearable. However, there might become a time when even those distant memories will begin to fade. Still, there is often a level of comfort that can only come by being with family, even in more extreme cases.
Families who wish to take care of their loved ones at home might feel overwhelmed by the task. It is a full-time job. Not only do you need to take care of their physical needs during the day, you have to make sure they are safe at home (not wandering!) as well. Sometimes, the stress can be overwhelming. Those families should be aware, then, that there are respite care homes in Ipswich that can watch over their loved ones for set times. This type of care, sometimes called “respite care,” functions as a sort of day care for seniors. They are often hosted at an assisted living facility. The family caretaker drops them off during the morning, and picks them up later in the day, leaving the family free to run the errands necessary. Whether or not people take advantage of this type of care, it is vitally important for caretakers to get a break now and again.
2) The stress of care taking, and the toll it can take on a family, are two reasons why many families are opting for professional caretakers to care for their loved ones. Many assisted living centres and nursing homes have their own “memory care” wings. These special care homes are designed to help residents live safely and comfortably, surrounded by people who are looking out for their best interest.
They often incorporate safe, natural settings like courtyards and gardens outside in a safe, walled complex. Caretakers focus on providing activities that will help the patient build routines and make mental connections that they might not otherwise be able to make.
There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, of course. You cannot expect a senior who moves to an Ipswich Alzheimer’s care facility to be cured. You can, however, expect them to be well taken care of, and you can expect to be as much a part of the process as you want to be.
