What you will experience is a lively, colorful, eye-pleasing, sensory stimulating community that feels nothing like what memory care has been. CERTUS is the future of memory care living. We not only do the research, we implement it because our residents deserve nothing less. This is the CERTUS difference.
Are you concerned someone you love may have dementia or Alzheimer’s disease?
Here are some signs that should point you toward consulting your physician or an assisted living professional for a further assessment:
Memory Loss
While it’s normal to forget appointments, names, or telephone numbers, those with dementia will forget facts or information more often and not remember them later.
Misplacing Things
From time to time, many of us misplace something of importance such as a key or cell phone and eventually we find it in a very logical place. But, the important difference with dementia to look out for is where the item is found! A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: a key in the freezer or a wallet in the dishwasher.
Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
Normal and familiar tasks such as cooking, using household appliances or enjoying a life-long loved hobby become challenging — because they forget steps involved. It’s not uncommon for somebody who was an avid sewer to ‘lose interest’ in sewing and become nonchalant to hide the fact that they don’t remember how to thread the bobbin and needle.
Poor Judgment
Do you notice your loved one dressing without regard to or concern over the weather? Perhaps wearing too little of clothing or at other times too much? Or have they lost or given away money? Paid for or signed up for services that make little or no sense given their needs? If you see these signs, it is critical to learn what safety measures you can put into place to protect your loved one from physical and financial harm.
Changes in Personality, Mood, or Behavior
It’s normal to be moody from time to time. However, Alzheimer’s disease can cause drastic mood swings that often don’t match up with the situation at hand. Your loved one may go from being sweet and calm — to tears — to intense anger, or have intense confusion and fear for no apparent reason.
Disorientation & Hallucinations
These can be the most dangerous symptoms because they can instill fear and may result in unsafe behavior or actions. People with Alzheimer’s disease, who become disoriented or experience hallucinations, can easily forget where they are and how they got there. Sometimes, this could result in them becoming lost and unable to return home safely on their own.
Loss of Desire or Initiative
Are they sleeping more often, declining invitations for gatherings or withdrawing more in general? Do they lack a good reason for their passiveness? These symptoms often present over a period of time and your loved one may perceive their new routine as the longstanding norm for them. Isolation and lack of socialization can lead to depression and failure to thrive.
Why we call CERTUS a Community and not a Facility
Until now when families sought out memory care options the only options were facilities that provided a secure setting with the care that was needed to treat the diagnosis. At CERTUS we are not that kind of facility. We believe in providing so much more than just the basics. When you walk into our community, you won’t experience what you normally would in a typical memory care setting. There are no long hallways, no closed off common spaces, no lack of staff present or staff that appear too busy, and no excessive quietness throughout the common areas.
Your family doesn’t have to navigate the fears and uncertainty associated with a diagnosis alone. CERTUS Senior Living specializes in the development and management of premier memory care communities. Contact us to learn more about the complimentary assessment we offer. Simply call (407) 757-7597 or Schedule a Visit. We are here to help.