What is Memory Care and Who Benefits from It?
You notice your senior loved one exhibiting signs of memory loss. It’s perhaps one of the most heartbreaking things you see, especially when such signs are present regularly. As the child or spouse of a senior with this issue, the emotional toll it takes soon begins. Plus, you’re trying to figure out the best options for care moving forward.
Many families have found that their senior loved ones can benefit from memory care. It’s an option that you can discuss with other members of your family. This guide will discuss memory care and its purpose. In addition, you’ll learn about how it will benefit your senior loved one and give you and other family members peace of mind knowing they are cared for properly. Let’s go over the details of what to know.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is designed as a long-term residential care option for seniors who deal with memory-related issues such as Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other forms of dementia. It’s created specifically to help meet the individual needs of their residents, be it physical, emotional, and psychological. Memory care communities are vastly different from other forms of senior living settings. They offered structured routines, enhanced security features, and a staff that is specially trained to work with residents regarding daily tasks, communication, and more. Memory care residents will often benefit from the following:
- 24/7 supervision and care
- Safety features such as entries and exits that are secure to prevent wandering off the community grounds
- A calm, predictable environment that minimizes confusion and anxiety
- Activities carefully designed to promote memory and sensory engagement, even based on a resident’s cognitive stage
At these memory care communities, the staff places priority on dignity, safety, and a sense of belonging. As a result, the residents experience an enhanced quality of life, a sense of joy in regularly engaging with activities with others, and a compassionate staff that looks out for their safety and security every day.
How Does Your Senior Loved One Benefit From Memory Care?
Those who are experiencing progressive cognitive decline that affects daily functioning can benefit from memory care. Especially if it is your senior loved one. It will be ideal for individuals who:
- Are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia
- Forget to manage basic hygiene and other simple tasks
- Fail to take their medication regularly
- Experience disorientation, wandering, or increased agitation
Families with loved ones who deal with these struggles linked to memory care are left wondering what to do next. They realize that the senior in their life may no longer live at home safely. This may also apply when in-home caregiving is attempted but ends up being more overwhelming physically and emotionally. As such, it may be time to make the call and decide that memory care is the right option.
Aside from how it benefits your senior loved one, it can also benefit you and the rest of your family as well. There is the peace of mind knowing there’s a caring and compassionate staff specially trained to take care of your loved one’s individual needs. You also feel a sense of importance knowing that the staff will coordinate with you regularly regarding the ongoing care that they receive and will notify you of any situations where a senior’s memory-related conditions progress.
A Day in the Life At A Memory Care Community For Your Loved One
In memory care settings, their priorities are not just safety and security, but also routine and predictability. The care staff knows that your senior loved one will have an individual care plan in place for their day-to-day life. In a memory care setting, this is what their daily schedule will look like:
- They’ll wake up as usual to receive morning care from their caregiver. This includes assistance with personal care and grooming, medication management, and other tasks based on your senior loved one’s needs. At this time, breakfast is served in a soothing and calming dining environment where background noise is less present to ensure there is no confusion.
- Later on in the day, your senior loved one may participate in activities that will help them with their cognitive abilities including sensory stimulation exercises. During these activities, they can also participate in social interactions with other residents, giving them a sense of joy and belonging. This includes taking a walk down our secure “Main Street” section where they can engage in many activities including paying a visit to a “diner” for coffee or watching a movie at the “theater”.
- At midday, lunch is served in the same, calm, environment. Like any other meal time, your senior loved one may need assistance in the event of any confusion or memory loss. Afterwards, your senior loved one can participate in other activities or spend a peaceful afternoon in their living space.
- During the evening hours, things are a lot quieter. A quiet dinner and downtime will usually be the normal activity. It will be around this time when your senior loved one will be getting ready for bed. Their caregiver will assist them in nighttime routines such as dressing them into their pajamas, taking medication (if necessary), and other tasks that may apply to their care plan.
Let Our Compassionate Staff At Lyndale Abilene Memory Care Support Your Senior Loved One
Lyndale Abilene Memory Care knows that when it comes to dementia care, it’s all about prioritizing safety, security, and the individual needs of your senior loved one. Both your family and the important senior in your life will benefit greatly from it. Our compassionate and caring staff is specially trained to assist residents in their individual care needs daily. For more information on how we can help, please contact us today or schedule a tour.
