Sharing your life with someone is a big commitment. Marriage comes with a unique set of challenges, sharing life decisions, and emotional support. While wedding vows promise to love and support through sickness and in health, it can be challenging to prepare for what comes with your partner developing a long-term illness such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Your first instinct is to take care of them no matter what, but caregiver burnout, or failing to take care of yourself first, can lead to more significant issues down the line. To be a supportive spouse, it’s important to recognize when you need more help for your loved one. Here are nine signs that it’s time to call in reinforcements.
Your once voracious husband leaves full meals untouched and has significantly shed some pounds. There are various reasons older adults stop eating—a weakened sense of taste, chewing/swallowing problems, appetite loss due to medications, or simply forgetting to eat (a symptom of dementia).
Have you noticed your spouse looks a little more rumpled than usual? Do you find that their grooming habits are falling by the wayside? It could be a good indication that Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are becoming too difficult for them to manage without your help.
Though a common condition in the elderly, hearing loss can lead to broader issues, such as depression, social isolation, frustration, and impacted personal safety. Older adults may be misdiagnosed with early signs of cognitive impairment when they’re just having trouble hearing. If not addressed, seniors could be at risk of getting hurt by not being able to hear warning signs of danger. Talking to a doctor about aid options can help reduce risks.
If your wife is having a difficult time getting out of a chair or has experienced a fall or two, you may want to focus on exercise and balance. They could be losing strength in their extremities, or experiencing pain due to arthritis, or numbness due to other issues. The leading cause of emergency room visits in the U.S. for those 65 and older are falls, and they can lead to bigger problems down the line. Make sure strength and balance is something you’re BOTH working on. Your doctor can share the most beneficial exercise program for you.
Forgetfulness is a normal part of aging, but repeated events of forgetting could be a sign of cognitive decline. If your loved one forgets to get milk at the store, don’t panic! If they lose their way home, it is a cause for concern.
Along with forgetfulness, memory decline can lead to confusion. If you’ve noticed your partner is overwhelmed when they pivot from their routine or confused about where they are or who they’re with, it could be a sign of dementia. Later in dementia, some people may wander. Mixed with confusion, this can be a scary experience for all parties.
With a mix of forgetfulness and confusion, it’s possible someone facing cognitive decline may become aggressive. While it might be a behavioral change from quiet to angry and yelling due to frustration, some aggression may lead to violence.
If your spouse is ill, it may be difficult for them to perform tasks they never had to think about before, such as cooking or driving. If you are concerned about your loved one’s safety, it might be time to have a discussion and look into extra help.
Caregivers tend to forget about their own needs when they’re taking care of someone they love. If you don’t take time to care for yourself, you could experience your own health issues. You may not be ready for your spouse to move away from home, but respite care or day stay program can provide a window of time for you to take care of yourself, and ensure that your loved one is receiving proper care.
When you feel your loved one could benefit from full-time care, it may be time to look into assisted living. Aegis Living offers transitional care for those not quite ready to move into memory care. If that time has come we also offer Life’s Neighborhood’s memory care program designed to help ease the symptoms of dementia and celebrate the life of the individual, providing personalized care to meet them wherever they are in the progression of their memory loss. The secured memory care wing is modified to keep residents safe, healthy, active and comfortable to give you peace of mind. Contact the community near you to set up a tour and learn more.
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.