If you or a senior loved one is living with dementia, you might be considering memory care. Being the fastest growing sector of the senior housing market, memory care communities are designed to provide a safe and structured environment with specially trained staff members who give round the clock care. In this blog, we will answer the question “what is memory care?” and help you decide if this type of community would be appropriate for you or a loved one.
Services Provided in Memory Care
Most memory care communities operate similarly to assisted living from a care standpoint. The primary focus is making sure all Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) are taken care of – this can range from assistance with medication management to help ambulating and everything in between.
Just as important as care for our physical bodies, memory care communities also provide a space for residents to emotionally thrive within a safe and encouraging environment. With specially trained staff, a calendar filled with activities, and others to connect with we often see our residents flourish in their new surroundings.
What are the benefits of Memory Care?
There are many benefits to memory care communities for both the resident and their loved ones. Here we’ve listed just a few!
Resident Benefits
- A safe & secure setting that is specifically designed for those living with dementia
- Social engagement
- Team members who are trained to care for those with memory affecting diseases
- Improved diet, especially for those previously living alone and preparing their own meals
Loved One Benefits
- Peace of mind knowing that their loved one is safe
- People who can relate to what you’re going through. At Waterford Place, we have a dementia support group for loved ones.
- No longer the caregiver and can simply focus on making memories with their loved one.
How to choose a Memory Care community?
Once you decide that memory care is your next step, you’ll want to begin touring local memory care communities. You’ll want to consider these factors when choosing a memory care community:
- Finances: The average cost of memory care in Michigan is estimated to be about $6,084 per month. When discussing cost, you will also want to factor in what is included in that price and if that price changes based on how much care your loved one needs.
- Resident to staff ratio: While you’re touring communities, you will want to ask what their resident to staff ratio is. A higher ratio means there are more staff members attending to individual needs, providing personalized care, and responding quicker to emergencies. Not only does a higher ratio contribute to better resident wellbeing, but it also helps to prevent staff burnout. In our memory care communities, the resident to staff ratio is 6:1.
- Specialized programs: Some memory care communities enroll their residents in programs that have been shown to lessen the affects of dementia. Our memory care residents are part of a program called SAIDO Learning. This nonpharmacological learning intervention offers mental exercises and an opportunity for enhancing individual engagement with others. The exercises are simple, yet designed to maximize engagement, which allows SAIDO Learning to reach those at any stage of dementia. We have witnessed the benefits of SAIDO firsthand – residents often show increased energy, renewed social engagement, and a newfound sense of confidence.
Recognizing when it’s time for Memory Care
While each journey with dementia is unique and should be viewed as such, here are some signs that indicate a move to memory care might be appropriate.
- Safety concerns: If the person cannot be left alone without the concern of falling, wandering, or accidentally harming themselves, memory care may be needed.
- Care needs: As dementia progresses, the need for assistance with everyday activities increases. This can be extremely overwhelming for both the person and their caregiver. This is why memory care communities have specially trained staff that are available 24/7 to provide care.
- Caregiver needs: As mentioned above, it can be extremely overwhelming to care for someone with a dementia diagnosis. By leaning on those specialized caregivers a memory care community provides, it allows the caregiver to focus on their own mental health and wellbeing.
It’s important to start these conversations early, so you can have a plan in place when the time for memory care approaches. At Sunset Senior Communities, we offer memory care at Manor & Villages and Waterford Place. For more information or to schedule a tour, please fill out our website contact form.