Many assisted living communities today also offer a memory care program that is designed to cater to older adults with memory-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Memory care is not synonymous with assisted living as it is a more comprehensive type of senior care. It accommodates older adults who require 24-hour supervised care that is often facilitated within a separate wing of an assisted living community. Find out more about memory care and how it can help to care for your cognition.
General Assisted Care
Maintaining the well-being and safety of residents is the top priority of any assisted living community. This is true whether or not they provide a memory care program. A quality assisted living community offers the following primary care services:
- Assistance with daily living activities that include feeding, dressing, bathing, toileting, grooming, and mobility
- Housekeeping service
- Daily meals
- Transportation
Memory Care Services
Apart from making sure that residents remain safe throughout their stay, memory care communities also strive to slow down the progression of the residents’ illness. This goal is achieved through the delivery of specialized care along with the following services:
- 24-hour supervision
- Emergency call systems
- Secured/alarmed premises
- Nursing assistance
- Medication management
- Cognitive therapies that range from art to music and reminiscence to improve brain function, social interaction, and communication
- Socialization activities
- Gardens with lush greenery and landscaped walkways to relieve emotions of feeling trapped
- Health and wellness programs
Memory Care Advantages and Goals
Memory care is the fastest-growing component of senior care and it is for a good reason. It offers so much more than assisted living by creating an environment that improves the quality of life of residents even with their current circumstances. On top of making residents feel safe, memory care supports their mental and physical well-being. The program also provides residents with an extensive selection of services that work against their memory loss. Memory care service providers have also reported several other significant improvements in their residents’ well-being. Some of the outstanding enhancements are as follows:
- Reduced need for medications and simultaneously lowering side effects related to medication
- Decreased falls and injuries
- Fewer emergency room visits
- Lesser violent episodes
- Enhanced nutritional intake and reduction in vitamin deficiencies
- Increased independence and social interaction
Signs It Is Time to Move to Memory Care
Deciding to relocate an older loved one to a senior living community is not an easy feat to take on. However, bear in mind that your older loved ones will be receiving the care that they need to improve their quality of life. Here are some signs you can look out for to know when is the right time for your older loved one to move to memory care:
- Do they need help toileting or experience incontinence?
- Do they have any medical needs like dialysis or colostomy care?
- Do they need help with feeding?
- Do they wander aimlessly and are at risk of getting lost?
- Do they exhibit behavioral issues or aggression?
- Do their experience Sundowner’s syndrome?
- Do they become paranoid or delusional?
There are many other signs to look out for to determine if memory care is indeed ideal for your loved one. To learn more about our memory care program, schedule a tour to TerraBella Cramer Mountain today.
