What is Memory Care? When is It appropriate?

Memory care is specifically designed to provide a safe, supportive, and structured living environment, be it a stand-alone community or a separate unit within assisted living or a CCRC. 

Staff provide support with activities of daily living, medication management, and meals, just like in assisted living, but are specially trained to support individuals living with Alzheimer’s or another dementia. Staff provide added structure and extra assistance as residents as experience cognitive change. Staff also offer social engagement and life enrichment activities. 

While units or communities are often secure to protect residents, many offer enclosed exterior spaces for walking, access to greenspaces, gardening activities, fresh air, and sunshine. Others have circular interior walkways with supportive handrails, and windows offering comforting views of nature. 

When touring communities, things to look for:

• Are staff genuinely engaging with residents? Do they know residents on a personal level?
• Is the setting welcoming and friendly? Is it clean and safe? 
• What life enrichment activities are offered? Would they appeal to the person in your care?
• Do the residents seem happy, comfortable?

Is the person in your care appropriate for memory care?

It’s not uncommon for individuals diagnosed with a dementia such as Alzheimer’s to live on their own when they are in the early stages of the disease. This is especially true if there is someone such as a spouse, other family member, friend, or paid caregiver providing ongoing oversight and support.

There may come a time when the person in your care will require more support than you are able to provide. Alzheimer’s and many related dementias are progressive, meaning that changes to the brain are progressive, ongoing. Judgement, reasoning, mobility, executive functioning, memory, balance, and circadian rhythms are all affected. This can make caring for someone increasingly challenging and especially challenging for family caregivers.

These questions will help you assess the situation and determine if a move is appropriate:

• Is the person in your care unsafe in their home? This article may be helpful in assessing home safety: Know Your Options: The Pros and Cons of Living at Home as You Age
• Is your health or that of the primary caregiver at risk? Caregiving is stressful. Oftentimes, family caregivers don’t invest in self-care and this puts their health in jeopardy. You are a priority too.  Read Self-Care is Not Selfish: It’s Essential for Family Caregiver Well-Being
• Are you burnt out, stressed, and growing impatient? Take the Caregiver Burnout Quiz
• Are the needs of the person in your care beyond your physical abilities?
• Would the person in your care benefit from an environment that would provide social and creative engagement, structure, and support?

Looking for guidance on how best to move forward? Our Care Managers are experts in helping navigate important decisions about long-term care. 

Click here to schedule a FREE get-acquainted call today.

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