As dementia progresses, care needs increase and the person with dementia will need supervision and care both during the day and at night. It can become difficult for the caregiver to meet the increasing care needs in advanced stages of dementia. Some individuals with dementia tend to leave home if they are unsupervised, leading to concerns about the safety of the individual and wandering. Other factors to consider are the caregiver’s physical and mental health and their stress load in addition to the behavioural changes and sleep disturbances experienced by the person with dementia. These things can make it very challenging to care for the person at home. The time to move the person to a care facility varies based on the individuals involved and the situation. The decision is best made by the family. 

Refer to the Alberta Health website on Alberta’s continuing care system for detailed information about options and costs:

http://www.health.alberta.ca/services/continuing-care-system.html

http://www.health.alberta.ca/services/continuing-care-accommodation-charges.html