Nearly 50 million people around the world suffer from Alzheimer’s. 6 million of that amount is in America. A brain degeneration disease, Alzheimer’s slowly worsen over time taking away memory, thinking, and mental behavior. In the early stage of Alzheimer’s a person can continue to live as normal with only slight mental difficulty performing tasks. As the disease progresses through a Memory Care Facility may be an option for your loved one.
What is A Memory Care Home?
You may wonder what is memory care home? A memory care home can be found either as an individual faculty or be in a section or wing within an Assisted Living or Nursing Home. What makes memory care facilities different is that they are staffed with memory caregiver specialists that are trained and available 24/7 for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. Their job is to assist and make sure the patients’ needs and care are met no matter what stage they are in. They also specialize in keeping them active too. Most memory care facilities host beneficial therapeutic cognitive fun activities for their residents that are designed just for them.
Memory care homes also feature enhanced security due to dementia patients’ habits of wandering off. Some host fenced-in outdoor recreational areas, and alarms on all their doors. Some places go for the more hi-tech using tracking bracelets. This allows for roaming freedom while still be able to keep tabs on the residents should they venture too far.
Choosing a Memory Care Home
After the decision, it is now time to choose the right care facility. Searching memory care homes in your area is a nice start. Mark at least 5 places that might be up for consideration to tour. When visiting have a checklist.
1. Layout
How does the overall layout of the facility feel? Is it nice? Are the facility and its decor Alzheimer’s friendly? Does it feature circular hallways to lessen resident’s confusion? Are items labeled with pictures and words to help residents identify better. Do they have enclosed recreational outdoor areas? Do they use bracelet trackers?
2. Staff
Ask, how are the staff are trained. What parts of Alzheimer’s and dementia are they trained in? Is there ongoing training? Observe the staff and their interaction with each other and the residents? Be brave and ask concerns and how would their staff respond to such a situation.
3. Activities
As mentioned, most facilities host engaging physical and mental activities for the residents. Ask each place you visit what they do. Ask to sit in on one of these activities to see how everyone engages and interacts. Are they on a friendly basis? Are they distant?
4. Meals/Eating
Ask how they go about meal times. What does the staff do to promote eating? How do they handle it if someone does not want to eat?
5. Continued Care
If your loved one is in the middle stage of care ask about “continued care”, or extended care. How does the facility handle if the patients’ needs and care go beyond them?
Having a checklist can ease the stress and help you find the right Memory Care Facility for your loved one.
You may also like to read How to Keep Your Aging Loved Ones Happy and Healthy for Longer
Featured Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
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