If your loved one has received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, it can be overwhelming to know what to do next: Determining the kind of help and support they need can be challenging if they’re still in the early stage of the disease and seemingly able to live safely at home alone for now, but there may be signs that they would benefit from more help. Assisted living can provide your loved one with the support they need to remain safe and healthy while also forecasting if and when a move to memory care might be beneficial. Here are a few signs that an adult living in the early stage of dementia might struggle with living alone and could benefit from assisted living services.

They are becoming socially isolated

Living at home alone or with a partner can get lonely. Older adults are at an increased risk for social isolation and feelings of loneliness, which can translate to serious health implications. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that socially isolated seniors can experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, heart disease, stroke, and even diabetes. In addition, isolation increases the progression rate of dementia.

If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, they might struggle with their regular social calendar. They may no longer be able to drive to meet up with friends or feel self-conscious because keeping up with conversations can become more difficult, keeping them away from their usual meet-ups with friends or family. They may become isolated and lonely quickly and begin experiencing unpleasant health consequences.

A move to assisted living can instantly enhance socialization. Activities and events happen daily to encourage connections between neighbors, and shared spaces make starting a conversation with another resident less intimidating. Team members also work to connect residents and encourage creating meaningful relationships.

They feel stressed about their daily routine

The early stage of dementia is often marked by heightened levels of stress and anxiety. The individual likely knows they are forgetting things, which can leave them second-guessing everything or obsessing over their daily routine. This anxiety is exhausting and unhealthy for the senior.

Assisted living provides a rhythm to the day. Touchstone moments throughout the day include meals and activities like morning exercise groups, afternoon gardening clubs, and evening happy hours. This predictable routine can help to reduce the stress of someone living with dementia. They also know that a caregiver or other team member will come to check on them if they don’t make it to a meal or preferred activity.

Family members have anxiety about emergency response

Seniors living with dementia aren’t the only ones who experience anxiety and worry. Family members do as well, especially when it comes to knowing when their aging loved one needs support and ensuring they receive help in an emergency. Whether it’s a fall, a household accident, or getting lost, emergencies tend to increase with the addition of a dementia diagnosis.

Assisted living communities are staffed by trained caregivers who are available around the clock. They respond to residents who have activated their personal emergency alarms and visually check on them throughout the day and night to ensure they are safe and happy. Knowing your loved one has this type of oversight and support can provide peace of mind for you and your loved one.

Meal preparation has become overwhelming

Instrumental activities of daily living, or IADLs, are tasks that allow someone to live independently with a high quality of life. These tasks are often the first to go when someone lives with cognitive decline because they tend to be more complex and require more organization than activities of daily living (grooming, dressing, showering, etc.). IADLs are often multistep tasks like meal preparation, which includes steps like writing a grocery list, shopping for groceries, bringing them home, and preparing the ingredients. This task can feel overwhelming for someone living in the early stage of dementia, making mealtimes stressful.

A move to assisted living can eliminate these stressors and help ensure that seniors receive healthy and nourishing meals three times per day. Assisted living residents gather for meals in a social, restaurant-like setting, which also encourages socialization.

They spend excess mental and physical energy on household tasks

Other IADLs include tasks associated with keeping a home running, such as paying the bills, cleaning, and laundry. These chores can become stressful, and a loved one could begin to fall behind without family members realizing it or being able to step in and help.

Assisted living provides amenities and services that take care of household chores, including light housekeeping and laundry. In addition, family members can receive information about how to take on financial duties on behalf of their loved one from the community’s social worker team.

A move to assisted living can help people with dementia

A move to assisted living can be an excellent solution for someone living in the early stage of dementia who may benefit from the support and socialization but who isn’t quite ready for a specialized memory care community. As you look for assisted living options, inquire to see if the communities have special programming for those living with early-stage dementia. This programming, which may come at an additional cost, is becoming more and more common in assisted living communities that are finding ways to bridge the gap between their community and memory care for those living with early-stage cognitive decline.