Lifestyle

Things to consider when looking for memory care facilities

Things to consider when looking for memory care facilities

Seniors with memory loss and cognitive problems like Alzheimer’s or dementia need special care. Merely providing a comfortable home living environment does not help. In such cases, memory care facilities are better equipped to handle the progressive nature of these disorders. While it is not possible to cure the condition, the living conditions, rehabilitation therapies, and general environment of round the clock care helps improve their quality of life.

Research
A little research by making a few casual rounds of the best memory care facilities can be helpful. This way, one can follow up on the services available and talk with people in charge of the operations to understand what all entails as a part of assisted living. Note that assisted living is a much more involved process, and there are several questions that one must ask. Factors like family involvement, staffing facilities, planned activities, residents’ schedules, the general environment, meals, and other procedures for providing quality care must be considered.

Check the services provided
Memory care facilities offer more than just a comfortable place to stay. Housing, daily activities, and meal services apart, one can be assured of 24-hours supervision, trained nursing staff, and emergency call systems to take care of the patient. Daily activities also feature a combination of cognitive treatments and memory enhancement therapies. However, one must be aware that these facilities are expensive and should expect an average monthly cost of $5000 to avail of all the services. The best advantage is that staffing, nursing, monitoring, and care activities are customized to suit individual patient requirements.

Consider adaptive layouts and residences
People suffering from Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory impairments may not necessarily be comfortable at home. As they require constant supervision and round-the-clock monitoring, it is better to shift them to memory care facilities. Research suggests that care units with special design elements, including natural lighting, memory boxes, customized layouts, and 24-hour supervision, provide a much more comfortable and stress-free environment for patients. The chances of patients wandering off on their own are significantly reduced with security alarms, campus monitoring, safety locks and checks, and most importantly, active supervision by trained medical staff.

Opt for therapeutic healing
Memory care facilities feature staff and programs designed to handle behavioral problems and assist seniors with memory impairment. Therapy stalls and slows down the progression of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia. One must always remember that rehabilitation is a major part of the recovery process, which includes managing behavioral problems.

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