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Many Americans view retirement living communities as an inevitability, but in reality many senior citizens are capable of taking care of themselves. It's important to know how to determine if your loved ones need a community like this, or if they should continue living independently. One of the most common ways to spot early dementia in your elderly loved one is what's referred to as wandering. Many times, when a person is experiencing the early signs of Alzheimer's or a similar disease they will wander off, sometimes even getting lost in their own neighborhood. This can be very dangerous, not only for their overall safety, but these instances increase the likelihood of falls and other personal injuries. If an elderly person you know is exhibiting these signs it may be time to call a professional. Another sign of possible dementia is what's become known as "sundowning" or "sundowner syndrome". This occurs in elderly people and is typified by increased aggression that happens towards the end of the day. In general, an increase in aggression in older people can be a sign of early dementia. In general if the elderly person is showing increased difficulty completing activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) it is a good sign that they may need to live in a supervised environment. These are basics activities that a person needs to do to continue living. However, if they have no problem dressing themselves, doing laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, and managing their medications, they are probably just fine living independently in their own home. It is important to make these distinctions. Many times elderly people feel forced to leave the place they call home. Although it's true that those who would benefit from a retirement living community aren't always aware of it, there are times when the emotionally-charged opinions and family politics that often accompany these healthcare decisions. This can result in someone being placed in a retirement living community or assisted living facility that doesn't need to be there. These decisions are crucial to the health of your loved ones, but they can also be extremely stressful for the caregiver. If you are feeling prolonged anxiety thinking about the future of your elderly family members, it is important that you speak to a retirement living professional. This is called Caregiver Stress, a condition that the New York Times has compared to post-traumatic stress disorder, and it can be brought on by the psychological effects of making caregiving decisions for a loved one. When looking for retirement living, Daphne, AL residents go to The Baldwin House. To learn more, visit http://www.allianceseniorservices.com/services.php.
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