Wisdom Wednesday: Aging Wisdom's Podcast

What is Memory Care? When is It appropriate?

February 05, 2024 Aging Wisdom Season 3 Episode 6
What is Memory Care? When is It appropriate?
Wisdom Wednesday: Aging Wisdom's Podcast
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Wisdom Wednesday: Aging Wisdom's Podcast
What is Memory Care? When is It appropriate?
Feb 05, 2024 Season 3 Episode 6
Aging Wisdom

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:

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.

Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Show Notes

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:

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.

Thanks for listening! Follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.