The decision to place an elderly loved one with Alzheimer's disease or dementia in Memory Care can be a difficult one for your family. If you've served as the person's caregiver until this point, you might be hesitant to let them go as you've grown used to the daily routine you've created for them and are unsure what their day will be like in a care community.
However, it's important to remember that Memory Care communities exist to give people with cognitive impairment conditions the most compassionate, upbeat, and safest care possible.
Let's look at what a typical day in Memory Care looks like.
Memory Care: A safe environment for your loved ones
There are many misconceptions about what takes place in a Memory Care community. Families often worry whether their loved one will be lonely, bored, or not engaged with activities. The good news is that this is far from the truth.
Memory Care is a facility where residents' overall health and well-being are monitored and looked after 24-hours per day. They're provided with a wide range of support and activities that engage cognitive abilities and help them continue doing things they enjoy.
The goal is to help residents manage their condition and feel a sense of purpose. The communities are designed for easy navigation and color-coordinated to stimulate brain activity – right down to the dining room place settings. Meal selections include nutritious, brain-healthy ingredients to promote mental function and help slow down the progression of the disease.
The staff at these facilities are specially trained and qualified to support people suffering from memory loss and other effects of dementia.
What is a typical day in Memory Care?
Here's an example of a typical day that your elderly loved one can look forward to:
Morning
Residents wake up at their own pace and convene for a nutritious breakfast when they feel ready. After breakfast, residents participate in morning exercise and other activities, including short walks, word games, and puzzles.
Afternoon
A lunch consisting of delicious food tailored for a balanced and healthy diet is served around midday. After lunch, residents enjoy a relaxing afternoon of activities such as a book club, an art class, or other engaging activity that helps stimulate the mind.
Evening
Dinner is usually served in a large dining room where residents can socialize and enjoy the company of others. Afterward, they can participate in a film club, play board games, partake in another activity, or return to their room to relax.
Many activities will differ between communities, so be sure to check what's available before settling on a community for your loved one. It's important to note that Memory care staff never force anyone to participate in activities but instead encourage them to be independent and pursue their interests. Allowing residents to take life at their own pace and stay as mentally active as possible can positively affect your loved one's cognitive abilities.
Also, most Memory Care communities understand the importance of pets to their residents, so they often bring small, gentle animals into the community for interaction.
How Memory Care increases independence
Although it might appear that someone with Alzheimer's disease and dementia grows more dependent on others over time, placement in Memory Care can actually increase one's level of independence vs. living at home.
That's because your elderly relative will have few visitors at home and may not participate in activities beyond watching television. In Memory Care, your loved one will enjoy the company of staff and other residents daily and have access to many fun, engaging activities just steps from their door. Most families discover that placement in Memory Care improves life, slows down the progression of dementia, and makes the senior less dependent on family.
What services does Memory Care offer?
Memory Care providers offer a wide range of other services that will benefit your loved one, including:
Specialized care
In Memory Care, your elderly loved ones will receive care from seasoned professionals who know how to identify issues early and can determine the best course of action.
Progressive therapy
Many service providers offer unique therapy treatments such as pet, art, and music therapies to help teach your loved one coping strategies, handle the loss of cognitive abilities, and improve their quality of life.
Coordinated treatments
Many providers often arrange transport to and from external medical appointments and liaise with health professionals to book appointments, manage medications, and build a customized meal plan.
When is the right time to seek Memory Care?
The time to place a loved one in Memory care will be different for everyone. However, a general guideline is to seek placement when home care is no longer safe or suitable.
For example, you might consider Memory Care when the person needs sanitary or hygiene needs that you're not comfortable helping them with, or if you're having difficulty handling their frustration and aggression. Memory Care staff is fully trained to help residents in all aspects of care, no matter how far along they are in their dementia journey.
In any case, it's important to remember that trusted guidance and advice on Memory Care placement is available to help you make the right decisions for your family and elderly loved one.
No-Cost Help with finding Memory Care Communities in the Greater Cincinnati Area
Searching for the best-fit Memory Care community in Greater Cincinnati can be overwhelming, especially when doing it alone or for the first time. When you need expert guidance based on years of experience, talk to David Flautt of Assisted Living Locators of Greater Cincinnati.
David takes the time to get to know your loved one's needs and wants, answer all of your questions, and present a list of options best suited for your family's needs. David or one of his team will even accompany you on your community tours to ensure that all the right questions are answered so you can make the most informed choice possible.
Contact David at 513-914-1980 or davidf@assistedlivinglocators.com to start finding the best senior living services for your elderly loved one today.
