Beyond the Diagnosis: How Medications Can Help with Dementia Care
Learn how medications can support dementia care when non-drug therapies aren’t enough. Explore options, benefits, risks, and coordinated care approaches.
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Your real age can be betrayed by your skin. Wrinkles, dry skin, age spots, and bruising can all be signs of the years written on the face, arms, hands, and legs of seniors. It is a natural part of the aging process for your skin to change as you age. But skins issues that cause discomfort should be addressed with your doctor.
Aging causes thinning of the dermis and epidermis, which can cause the skin to be more transparent. You can lose the underlying fat, and your skin will appear less plump. Over time, the sun’s ultraviolet rays can damage the elasticity of your skin and cause the skin to sag, stretch, and wrinkle. The skin can also bruise much easier. Cuts, scratches, and bumps can take longer to heal.
It is particularly important to care for your skin during hot summer months. One of the main complaints in older adults is the discomfort of dry skin. The skin becomes drier due to decreased production of essential oils, such as sebum. Your skin can feel rough, itchy, and scaly. It can interrupt your sleep and leave you feeling uncomfortable and irritable.
Shingles. Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus as chickenpox. After you have had an outbreak of chickenpox, the virus will lie dormant in the nerve tissue until it reappears years later as shingles. Shingles is most common in those over 50 years old with a weakened immune system. It can be intensely painful with burning, shooting pain, tingling, itching, blisters, and rashes. If you suspect that you have shingles, see a doctor immediately. There are treatments to help with the severity and duration.
Skin cancer. Nearly a million people each year will develop skin cancer by the age of 65. Sun exposure is the most common cause of skin cancer, either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma. Regular checkups with a dermatologist can help to prevent or detect cancer. (Find out more information about skin cancer at the Skin Cancer Foundation.)
Bruising and tears. As we age, we bruise, and the skin can tear much easier because of the thinning of the skin and blood vessel walls. Loss of fat and connective tissues weakens the support around the blood vessels and skin, making it more vulnerable to injury. It can also take much longer to heal. Medication and illness can also cause bruising. We suggest you consult with a doctor if you are experiencing excess bruising and wounds that won’t heal.
Bedsores. Bedsores are pressure ulcers caused when the elderly, who have difficulty moving on their own, lie in bed or sit in a chair for long periods of time. Those with diabetes are more likely to experience bedsores because of poor circulation. A person needs to be frequently moved, repositioned, or rotated to prevent bedsores.
Sun spots. Sun spots are also called liver spots. These are flat, brown spots that appear due to the years of exposure to the sun. They often show up on the hands, face, back, and feet. These are harmless, but a dermatologist can remove them. It is so important always to wear sunscreen.
Skin tags. Skin tags are small, harmless, raised bumps. They are common in females and often appear on the eyelids, neck, and chest. They can become irritated, so a dermatologist can remove them if needed.
Respite Stays & Day Stays give family caregivers a real break—hours, days, or a few weeks—while your loved one enjoys a safe, enriching short‑term home at Aegis Living. Guests settle into a beautifully furnished private apartment and have 24/7 care staff and onsite nurses, medication management, and discreet safety technology (motion sensors, medical‑alert pendants, visitor check‑in) for peace of mind. Each day feels purposeful with chef‑prepared, all‑day dining and 200+ monthly activities—from book clubs and fitness classes to movie nights—plus full use of the community. We coordinate with your loved one’s physicians to mirror their routines and care, so the stay feels familiar. It’s also a smart trial run for senior living: meet neighbors, test services, and see what supported independence looks like—without a long‑term commitment. Choose a Respite Stay when you’re traveling or need time to recharge, when your loved one would benefit from structure, social connection, and great meals, or when you both want peace of mind while keeping options open.
Hospice & End‑of‑Life Care at Aegis Living is comfort‑first support for the final stage of life, delivered in your loved one’s private apartment by our 24/7 care team in coordination with a trusted local hospice provider you choose (or we can recommend). Together, we create a coordinated care plan that manages pain and other symptoms, oversees medications, and provides calm, dignified help with daily needs, while offering compassionate emotional support for both resident and family. Discreet safety measures and a reliable medical‑alert system bring help quickly; chef‑prepared, in‑apartment meals adapt to changing appetites. Families are guided through decisions and moments of closure so they can focus on being present in a peaceful, home‑like setting. If your loved one already lives at Aegis, they can remain in the comfort of their home, avoiding disruptive moves. Choose this level of care when curative treatment is no longer the goal and you want expert symptom control, hands‑on daily support, and a setting that protects dignity and prioritizes comfort, meaning, and time together.
Memory Care is specialized, secure support for people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias who benefit from a calm, structured environment and round‑the‑clock expertise. At Aegis Living, that care happens in Life’s Neighborhood—an intimate, thoughtfully designed setting where 24/7 dementia‑trained caregivers and a nursing team on site seven days a week deliver personalized help with daily living, medication management, and mobility (including Hoyer lifts and two‑person transfers), while gently redirecting agitation and confusion. Days are purpose‑filled with science‑based cognitive programming, certified music therapy, and social activities; chef‑prepared meals are easy to enjoy and dining spaces and cues are designed for memory support. Discreet safety features like secured entrances, emergency pendants with fall detection, and optional motion sensors, prevent wandering and bring peace of mind, and visiting physicians and wellness professionals reduce trips off‑site. Families receive education and ongoing support. If your loved one is unsafe alone, missing medications, wandering, needs frequent cueing or hands‑on help with bathing or dressing, or thrives with a predictable routine, Memory Care offers the right level of care. For milder needs, our transitional Assisted Living can be a first step; for advancing symptoms, secured Memory Care provides the specialized, heartfelt support to help them feel calm, connected, and at home.