Recent statistics tell us that the Lehigh Valley is aging at a faster rate than before. With an aging population comes an increase in health risks that affect seniors, including Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. As caregiver burdens increase, difficult decisions are made to move afflicted parents or other loved ones into a memory care community.
Although that is a realistic option in many cases, caregivers, usually family members, feel guilty if they can no longer care for their loved ones. There is a special bond formed in life, but that bond can be sorely tested in a caregiving situation, especially if the patient no longer recognizes the caregiver or the caregiver must sacrifice more time than is bearable or practical.
Guilt feelings are perfectly normal. You may feel like you’re sticking Mom into a “home,” “facility,” or “institution.” Modern memory care communities, like South Mountain Memory Care, treat residents like family, enriching their lives—mind, body, and spirit—offering you peace of mind.
A common misconception is that senior living communities are considered an institution, where the resident is left alone all day, bored, and fed less-than-average meals. Let us assure you—the approach to resident life at South Mountain Memory Care is simple: support our residents’ physical and emotional needs in a warm and uplifting environment.
No one wants to move their family member from their beloved home into a strange new building, let alone into a much smaller room. You may enjoy caring for your loved one, but a lot of the time, it starts to pull you away from life, your children, and even work. Caregiver burnout is real, although you may feel what you’re doing is the only right way.
You may feel guilty because you failed as a caregiver, you promised you’d always take care of your loved one(s), or they would be healthier if they were at home. None of this is likely true, and circumstances change.
Quality visits can replace the quantity of time you formerly spent managing the endless activities of daily living (bathing, toileting, dressing, organizing and tracking medications, shopping, cooking, cleaning, laundering, etc.). Also, loneliness and depression often diminish when living in a community setting, because the social interactions that occur through the life enrichment offerings and mealtimes contribute to emotional wellness.
Whatever the cause or level of your or your loved one’s memory issues, South Mountain Memory Care, with our unique culture, “small house” model, and abundance of certified caregivers, offers you the peace of mind of knowing your loved one will be cared for as if they were our family—which they are!
South Mountain Memory Care is committed to providing individualized, compassionate care to support our residents in achieving a well-balanced lifestyle. We strive to allow our residents to remain independent while emphasizing safety. Our focus is to enrich their life—mind, body, and spirit—by bringing new initiatives into their day-to-day regimen while maintaining the activities they find comfort in. South Mountain Memory Care offers the peace of mind you deserve. When it comes to those you care so deeply about, we understand because we care, too.