Across Colorado, 178,000 family caregivers provide care for loved ones with Alzheimer's and dementia—contributing an estimated 309 million hours of unpaid care each year. If you're caring for a parent or spouse in Littleton, Highlands Ranch, or the South Denver area, you understand the exhaustion, worry, and difficult decisions that come with this role.
Recognizing when home care isn't enough—and when professional memory care becomes necessary—is one of the hardest parts. Here are ten warning signs that Littleton families should watch for.
Has your parent gotten lost driving to Southwest Plaza, King Soopers, or a neighbor's house they've visited for decades? Getting lost in familiar Littleton neighborhoods is a serious safety concern—and one that secured memory care directly addresses.
Colorado's weather makes wandering especially dangerous. If your loved one has left the house confused, been found wandering the neighborhood, or tried to "go home" when they're already home, memory care's secured environment becomes essential.
Despite pill organizers, phone reminders, and family check-ins, your parent takes medications incorrectly—double-dosing, skipping doses, or mixing up prescriptions. In memory care, trained staff manage medications with every dose.
Left the stove on. Forgot to lock doors. Fell while trying to navigate the house at night. If your parent's Littleton home has become unsafe—despite modifications and monitoring—memory care provides 24-hour supervision.
You notice unwashed hair, repeated clothing, or body odor. Your once-fastidious parent forgets to bathe or brush teeth. Memory care staff gently assist with personal care while preserving dignity.
Your calm father becomes agitated. Your social mother withdraws. Dementia can cause dramatic personality shifts that are heartbreaking for families but familiar to trained memory care staff.
Be honest with yourself: How are you doing? Colorado's 178,000 dementia caregivers provide $7.2 billion worth of unpaid care annually—often at the expense of their own health, careers, and families. If you're exhausted, depressed, or neglecting your own needs, it's time to consider other options.
Increased confusion, agitation, or anxiety in late afternoon and evening—known as sundowning—is common with dementia and exhausting for caregivers. Memory care communities structure evenings to reduce sundowning triggers.
When your parent needs help throughout the night, constant supervision, or specialized dementia techniques you haven't been trained in, home care reaches its limits. This isn't failure—it's recognition that professional care is the right next step.
You know your parent. If your instincts are telling you that current care arrangements aren't working—trust that. Families often wait too long, feeling guilty about considering memory care. But providing your loved one with specialized support isn't giving up—it's ensuring they get what they need.
If you've recognized several of these signs, here's a practical path forward:
While you're making this decision, you don't have to navigate alone:
For over 25 years, Gardens at Columbine has supported Littleton families through this transition. We understand it's difficult—we've walked this path with hundreds of families from Ken Caryl, Columbine Valley, Highlands Ranch, and throughout the South Denver area.
Our memory care community offers:
We're here to help, whether you're ready to tour or just need to talk through your situation. Call us at 720-391-1606 or stop by 5130 W. Ken Caryl Ave., Littleton.