Assuming responsibility for the care of a family member with dementia can be a real challenge. This is especially true if you still have children of your own at home, or are working outside of the home managing a career. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the needs of an Alzheimer’s or dementia patient, and it can start to negatively impact your own personal and business life. When you make the decision to place your loved one in a local professional adult facility, there are three areas which will help you make the best choice for quality memory care.
- Daily Activities for Enrichment and Engagement: One of the important aspects of life for individuals experiencing cognitive decline is a busy social calendar. Experts in memory care agree that enrichment activities for dementia patients is essential for quality of life and to keep the rate of decline at bay. The Journal of Aging Research reported studies which proved that combining physical activity, intellectual stimulation, and socialization can significantly help individuals with age-related cognitive issues. Because of that fact, providers of quality memory care will offer a wide array of scheduled daily activities that are stimulating, fun and promote emgagement and participation. Favorite activities may include brain games, dance parties, art or music programs and pet therapy. These types of activities not only benefit mental health, but help with motor function and flexibility, depending on the ability of the resident.
- A Welcoming Environment That Feels Like Home: The best memory care facilities will go out of their way to ensure that the residences feel as much like home as possible. Attention to detail and design fosters a cozy, home-like atmosphere to comfort residents and make them feel more comfortable. In addition to rooms that are full of personal mementos and family photos, facilities often provide open family rooms, family-style kitchens or dining rooms, and outside areas which encourage socialization and conversation. The facility is typically decorated for holidays and special occasions, making residents feel more a part of a family community. Floor plans are carefully designed to make it easy for individuals to find their rooms, including color-coded walls and textures. Of course, safety is paramount in memory care facilities. Therefore, monitored entrances and exits and ample employees to greet and guide the resident are signs of a quality memory care facility.
- Individual Care and Attention: Every person is unique and has unique needs. Two 75 year old residents can approach life in completely different ways, especially as they navigate dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. They communicate differently, feel differently about the same event, communicate in their own ways, and have different phyical capabilities. A “one-size-fits-all” approach is not effective in the discipline of memory care, which must be personalized to be most advantageous. Examples of the personalized care provided by memory care facilities includes medication administration services, health and wellness assessments and individual enrichment plans. Person-centered care is at the core of any quality memory care residence, so be certain to compare care methodologies for each memory care facility you are considering for your loved one.
At A Banyan Residence in the Villages, we are dedicated to providing quality, individualized care for each resident. If it is time for you to consider quality memory care for your loved one, we invite you to come tour our facility and ask any questions you may have.
