Does your loved one have a memory-related illness such as Alzheimer's or dementia? It will help if you consider placing them in a memory care facility. As a form of senior living program, memory care facilities provide specialized and intensive care for people struggling with memory issues. Essentially, memory care services are available in stand-alone facilities or special care units in assisted living facilities. This post offers insights into how and why memory care works.
What Is Memory Care?
A memory care facility is a residential space that caters to seniors who have memory loss issues. People suffering from memory loss conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's often experience disorientation, confusion, and aggression. These symptoms tend to worsen as the diseases progress. So, it becomes difficult for the patients to continue living independently, which triggers stress in their family caregivers. Thus, people who have advanced dementia and Alzheimer's require supervised care in a secured space. The key services provided under memory care include 24-hour care by specialists, a secure environment, and memory improvement therapies.
Who Needs Memory Care?
It is possible to continue living independently during the first stages of dementia and Alzheimer's. However, the advancement of the medical conditions make the patients more dependent, usually requiring a family member or a professional in-home caregiver. However, the patient will eventually need a secure and structured living environment.
Here are the signs that you need to move the patient to a memory care facility:
Benefits of Memory Care
Support for Patients
Primarily, memory care facilities provide a safe living environment for people with dementia and Alzheimer's. For instance, the facilities have an enclosed environment to prevent the patients from wandering out. Then, the facility design helps to reduce confusion with features such as marked spaces, customized apartments, and proper lighting. Also, most memory care facilities offer 24-hour care by trained specialists. In addition, the facilities can coordinate care with other health specialists and organize rehabilitative services such as physical and speech therapy. The patient can also access occupational, music, pet, art, and reminiscence therapies that boost mood and memory.
Support for Family Caregivers
The task of providing care to a person suffering from memory loss is physically and emotionally demanding. Usually, caregiving for people with dementia ends up being a full-time responsibility. Thus, it can become challenging for a family caregiver to care for the patient while juggling family and work responsibilities. As a result, family caregivers tend to experience stress and health issues. When you place your loved one in a memory care facility, professional caregivers take over your role. In this way, the patient receives exceptional care, and you improve your quality of life.
Memory loss decreases the quality of life for patients and family caregivers. Thus, put your loved ones in a memory care facility where they can receive customized services to accommodate their physical, social, and health needs.
Share6 August 2021
My mother had been living with my family for about four years before her health got so bad that I couldn't keep her in my home any longer. At that point, I really had no choice but to find a comfortable nursing home for her to move into. This wasn't an easy decision for me to make, but it was the only thing I could do to ensure she was getting the best care possible during her final days. I was pleased to find a wonderful nursing home that provided her with amenities that she could enjoy and a caring staff that would care for her. If you are second-thinking taking your loved one to a nursing home, stop and read my blog where you will find out how much good it can do for your loved one and yourself.
