As America’s population gets older, more seniors are dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive challenges. Many of these individuals need memory care services, as their families cannot provide the supervision and monitoring they need to remain safe and healthy. When searching for a memory care community, families must consider several factors to ensure their loved one will receive the care and attention they need.
How Do Memory Care Communities Differ From Other Senior Living Options?
Families often want to know why they should look for a community with memory care services and how it differs from others available today. In a memory care community, staff members are specially trained to work with men and women struggling with dementia and memory issues. These individuals have specific needs and must be provided with care, stimulation, and activities that will allow them to thrive.
Common Services
Memory care communities typically offer specific services. Residents will be provided daily meals, light housekeeping services, and a personalized care plan. Rooms may be private, or residents may share with another person. Individuals living in this community will benefit from things such as exercise classes and physical therapy. They will receive help with activities of daily living, medication management, and other tasks. The staff will also plan social activities to unite residents, with many of these activities designed to strengthen their memories.
Around-the-Clock Care
Residents in a memory care community need attention around the clock. Additional staff members are required to ensure that every resident is monitored continuously. These individuals need specialized training to help the residents deal with their memory issues. Families want to ensure their loved ones remain safe, so they are willing to pay for a higher level of care to ensure they receive the attention they deserve.
Questions Families Should Ask When Visiting Memory Care Communities
Families should prepare a list of questions to ask at each memory care community they visit. Referring to these answers will help when they compare communities and choose one for their loved ones.
The family must ask questions about the admissions process, ensure their loved one receives a complete assessment before being admitted to the community, and learn what care is offered. Families should be updated regularly on their loved ones’ well-being in the community and have a procedure for sharing these updates. Families should also ask about fees and whether the community has a waiting list.
Memory care community residents must remain safe. With their memory challenges, they may not be able to protect themselves. Families need to ask if there are security guards on staff and what measures have been put into place to keep residents safe. They need to know what will happen if their loved one wanders out of their room and what steps are taken to protect them in an emergency.
In addition, families need to know each community’s visitor policy. They should be able to visit their loved ones whenever they desire. The family should look elsewhere if a community does not allow this open access.
Families must be willing to communicate with the community regarding any concerns they have about their loved ones. The more information a community has, the easier it will be to develop a treatment plan that meets the specific needs of the individual. With this plan, seniors will have the highest quality of life.
