Seniors living with memory loss can sometimes find themselves in a place they don’t recognize, even if they’ve been there before, and panic. Those overwhelming emotions can cause them to unintentionally put themselves at greater risks, like crossing the street before the walk sign is on or forgetting where the stairs are in their own home.

In the early stages, you may have needed to simply help with chores like paying bills and driving to doctor’s appointments. As the disease progresses, your loved one might require more care than you can provide on your own—things like daily help with dining or 24/7 observation.

If your family member is neglecting personal hygiene like bathing, changing clothes, brushing their teeth, taking their medication or combing their hair, it may be time to consider professional care. Sometimes people living with Alzheimer's or dementia struggle with these activities and could benefit from additional reminders or assistance.

Have you noticed any physical changes in your loved one that they can't explain? For example, maybe your mom or dad has been fairly healthy, but now they're losing weight and looking a little frail. Sometimes a change like this means they are struggling to take care of themselves.

It may be more difficult to socialize with friends or participate in activities with dementia or Alzheimers—in a memory care community, there are socialization and enrichment activities specifically designed to reach those with memory issues.