By Bob Gregory
Choosing the right Senior Facility can be a daunting task
and it can be very complicated if your elderly parent suffers from memory
issues. Memory care units within an
Assisted Living Facility are designed to care for residents who suffer from
mild to moderate memory loss caused by degenerative diseases such as Dementia or
Alzheimer’s. These types of facilities offer
your parent the special care and assistance they need while still allowing the
resident to enjoy continued independence.
 |
| Keeping the memories alive (Photo credit: fernanda_maria) |
Services provided by
the Memory Care units of an Assisted Living Facility:
ü
Security: Memory Care units generally offer a secure
area for individuals with memory impairment diseases. Generally a wing, or building depending on
the size facility, is designated as the Memory Care unit and provides a higher
level of security for residents who may wander off and get lost. Some of these units are considered “lock down”
units and may secure or “lock” the doors so residents do not wander off
premises. Levels of lock down vary so
you will need to ask. Some units lock
the exits only at night and others have them secured all day. The staff is normally trained to assist
residents when they become “lost” and provide compassion and reassurance as
they help the resident return to their quarters.
ü
Memory
Therapy: Most Assisted Living Facilities with Memory Care units provide
activities designed to provide therapy for their residents. These activities are designed to be fun,
engaging and rehabilitating. Sensory and
Cognitive therapies are generally the focus of the activities but most will
include physical therapy as well. Some
have activities especially designed to address the symptoms of aggression and agitation
that are associated with degenerative memory diseases. Therapy may be provided on an individual
basis but most are performed in a group setting to promote socializing. Many facilities now use online memory games
and skill activities. Online programs
provide an expansive and ever changing data base of games and activities to
challenge and measure progress of the participant.
ü
Enhanced
Medication Assistance: Assisted
Living Facilities normally provide assistance with administering residents’
medication. In facilities with Memory
Care, the nurses assure the medication is taken on time. They are also trained to note changes in
behavior and carefully document and notify the primary physician of these
changes.
ü
Increased
Care Level: Assisted Living
Facilities are designed to help individuals who need assistance performing
normal daily functions such as bathing, eating, toileting, dressing, etc. Facilities with Memory Care units provide a
higher level of service for residents who need the same assistance, but may not
“remember” they need to perform the daily functions. In the Memory Care units, caregivers monitor
whether a resident is eating, bathing, etc.
 |
| English: Logo of Alzheimer's Society. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
As in any Senior Facility, not all Assisted Living
Facilities with Memory Care units are the same and they don’t all provide the
same level of care. You need to do your
research as to exactly what level and type of care they do provide. Make sure your parent’s physician agrees that
an Assisted Living Facility with a Memory Unit is sufficient for your parent’s
degree of memory degeneration. You
should also discuss your research with the physician to get concurrence that
the facility is providing the type of care your parent requires. I also encourage you to observe the residents
in the Memory Care unit and ask at what point the facility would recommend you
move your parent to a higher level of care facility such as a Nursing
Home. Finally, you want to be sure your
parent is living with residents with similar levels of memory degeneration to
promote healthy socialization.
If would like a list Independent Living Facilities, Assisted
Living Facilities, Nursing Homes or any other type of Senior Facility, I hope
you will consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com.
If you would like to contribute your thoughts and ideas,
please leave them in our comment section. We want to hear them. Helping people
care for themselves or their loved ones is what we care about.
We look forward to reading yours.
Bob Gregory is an advocate
for Seniors and is one of the founders of www.seniorfacilityfinder.com. At SeniorFacilityFinder.com, we are dedicated
to helping families get the Elder Care help they need without having to provide
their personal information! If find you need an assisted living facility or
other type of senior facility, please consider www.seniorfacilityfinder.com
All great questions. From my personal experience, I think it's extremely valuable to enable your loved ones to remain safe and happy in their own homes. When this is a possibility, a company like Home Instead Senior Care is a great option. Based in Manchester NH, Home Instead caregivers go to their senior clients directly each day provide care. If this kind of service is a possibility for you, I would defnitely recommend checking them out and inquiring about a consultation.
ReplyDelete