It’s estimated that seven million Americans have some form of dementia like Alzheimer’s. Part of what makes this disease so insidious is how slowly it can creep up on someone. In between the time when a person first begins developing dementia and when they become unable to take care of themselves is a long gray period.
During this time, the individual might still be able to be independent but occasionally experiences confusion and other symptoms that require care. During this stage of the condition, many people turn to a senior living option known as memory care.
But what exactly is memory care? And how do you find the best memory care community for your family member? In this guide, we’ll answer these questions so you can decide if this type of care is right for your loved one.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is a specific type of assisted living option designed for people with dementia-related conditions. The goal of this type of care is to provide individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia with a safe, structured environment that takes away some of the stress associated with the condition.
One of the biggest memory care services this option provides is helping residents with activities of daily living (or ADLs). For people with memory conditions, this generally includes medication management, cleaning, cooking, and eventually bathing, dressing, eating, and speaking.
Many memory care communities also provide residents with dementia-specific activities to do throughout the day. These activities both improve the quality of life for the individual while also slowing down the progress of the disease.
The Benefits of Memory Care
By far one of the biggest benefits of memory care is the fact that it can slow down the progression of the disease. One study found that memory care significantly reduced the number of nursing home admissions for people with memory care conditions in assisted living communities.
This is thanks to the daily activities that are designed to retain the cognitive function that the individual still has. Senior memory care also provides peace of mind for the family of the individual.
Often in-home care situations it’s easy for the person with dementia to get out and wander, which can put them in dangerous situations. Memory care offers a secure and safe environment that ensures the individual won’t wander.
Other benefits include:
- An improved diet thanks to meal plans
- More socializing with fellow residents
- More physical activity
- Personalized memory care
- Specially-trained staff
- Improved quality of life
In short, memory care makes things easier for both the family and the individual with dementia.
How to Find the Best Memory Care Community
When searching for a memory care community in South Carolina, the first thing you want to do is make sure that the assisted living community offers it.
Generally, most will make it clear in their senior living options whether or not they can accommodate people with memory conditions. However, just because a community offers memory care doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily good.
As such, you should make sure to tour it and pay attention to each of the factors listed in this section. That way, you know it’s a good fit for your loved one.
Environment
During your tour, the first thing you will likely notice is the environment where your loved one will be living. Pay close attention to how it makes you feel. Is it clean and well-decorated? Or does it feel like a hospital?
Ideally, the memory care community will offer outdoor environments like gardens that the residents can explore. Rooms and doors should be labeled clearly with either words or images.
This will help residents find their way around if they ever get lost. Lastly, pay attention to the residents already there.
Do many of them seem happy? If everyone looks miserable, it’s not a longshot to guess that your loved one will be too.
Activities and Food
Just because a person has a memory condition doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy everyday life. So make sure that there are plenty of things to provide stimulation for your loved one.
Check the activity calendar to see what kind of things they offer. Ideally, there will be music events, mind puzzles, and art therapy to keep them engaged and happy.
Don’t forget about the food, either. Avoid locations that have gross, cafeteria food with plastic utensils. Just because someone has a memory condition doesn’t mean they can’t appreciate good food each day.
Indeed, this is often something for them to look forward to each day. Instead, look for restaurant-quality food that’s also nutritious.
If you can, ask to have a meal during your tour. That way, you get a better sense of what your loved one will be eating.
Staff
Your loved one will be interacting with the staff on a daily basis. In many cases, they’ll come to feel like family over time. As such, you want to keep a close eye on how they interact with the residents.
Are they friendly while offering compassionate memory care? Or are they rude and short? If you notice that a lot of the residents seem like they’re being ignored, this should be a clear warning sign.
Additionally, pay attention to the number of staff present. If there are staff shortages, then your loved one might not get the care they need.
Future Care
During the initial stages of dementia, a person can still retain some independence. Unfortunately, that can quickly go away. Eventually, they’ll need round-the-clock care and, in some cases, medical attention.
Most assisted living facilities aren’t equipped to handle this. So make sure they’re able to establish a future care plan for this inevitability.
Need Quality Senior Living Options? Get in Touch With TerraBella Thornblade
We hope this guide helped you learn more about the role of memory care in senior living options. Here at TerraBella Thornblade, our memory care program isn’t just about taking care of people with dementia.
Instead, our program does everything to maintain the individual’s mental and physical health. We also incorporate a variety of activities and social events to maximize the quality of life of the individual.
So, if you want to learn more about how we can help your loved one, get in touch with us today.
