What is Memory Care?

Senior citizens require varying levels of care. Some may be completely fine in an assisted living community, but others may require the kind of attention that can only be provided by a memory care facility.

It’s easy to confuse those two if you haven’t spent time researching facilities that care for senior citizens, but it is important to know the difference. Picking the right facility is the best way to ensure that your older loved one can enjoy a great quality of life, even if they can no longer stay at home.

Find out more about how a memory care facility works and who are the best candidates for it by reading on.

What Is Memory Care?

In many ways, a memory care facility is similar to an assisted living facility.

Both facilities offer residents a room to stay in that they may occupy alone or share with a fellow patient.  During meals, residents gather to enjoy the dining experience. 

Memory care and assisted living facilities also feature the presence of healthcare providers who they specially train to watch over elderly individuals.

So, are there any differences at all between the two? There are significant enough dissimilarities that you should consider when picking a facility for your loved one. 

First off, you can find more safety and security features when you pay a visit to a memory care center. Examples of safety features you may find include monitoring sensors, alarmed doors, as well as outdoor spaces that enclose to some extent.

Those safety features are essential because they allow the staff to keep tabs on where the residents are at all times.

People who suffer from dementia often have trouble remembering where they need to go, and they also tend to wander off and get lost. A secure memory care facility ensures that residents will always be safe and accounted for.

Apart from the heightened security, memory care facilities also focus more on checking their residents.

A registered nurse and memory care consultant Megan Carnarius told the AARP that the healthcare workers check on the residents more often. The workers will check if the residents have eaten their meals on time, have taken part in activities, and even check to see if the residents are where they should be. 

Residents don’t need to request assistance from the workers at memory care facilities because they will be closely supervised and cared for throughout the day.

What Other Benefits Can Residents Receive from a Memory Care Facility?

The priority of all memory care facilities is to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their residents, but that’s not all they can do. Many of these establishments also have programs designed to engage residents mentally.

Memory care facilities take the time to put together activity lists that maximize memory engagement in their patients. They may provide games, arts and crafts, or music. As long as it’s an activity that helps stimulate memory, you can expect to see it provided by a memory care facility.

Don’t overlook the value of the peace of mind you’re getting if you choose a memory care center for your loved one.

We always worry about the health and safety of our elderly relatives because we know that even one incident can have a big impact on them. Thanks to the round-the-clock supervision provided by memory care centers, you do not have to worry about your loved one being in a dangerous situation.

When Should You Consider Memory Care Services for Your Loved One?

Deciding to enroll your older relative in a memory care facility is not always easy.

If they’ve been living with you for a long time, deciding to move them into a facility can feel like a bitter parting. Some older individuals may also not be too keen on the idea of moving away from the home that they’ve known their entire adult lives.

However, there are cases when there is no other choice to make.

Senior citizens who have become more forgetful and who have trouble even remembering the way to their own home cannot beleft alone any longer. The day could come where they are unable to return home, and no one wants that. 

Moving your older loved one to a memory care facility may also become necessary if they start to require attention throughout most of the day. You may still care for them if you work from home, but even in that scenario, there may be instances wherein you become overwhelmed by all the things you need to do.

The solution to that problem is to seek the help of a memory care facility.

Dementia can also cause behavioral changes in a person. Some of these changes may be difficult to manage for someone who is not specially trained.

Memory care centers have workers who know how to handle those behavioral changes best. You can rest assured that they will care for your loved one properly.

How Can You Tell if a Memory Care Facility Can Deliver Excellent Care?

The best way to evaluate the quality of a memory care facility is to see it in person. Pay a visit to the facility and see if they have the standard safety features and properly staffed. 

You can also inquire about the kinds of services that the memory care facility in question provides. Ask what kind of activities they offer to residents and see if they will be beneficial to your loved one.

Aging.com also recommends seeking out memory care facilities that go the extra mile when it comes to the wellbeing of their residents. This may manifest itself in the form of the facilities supplying personalized therapy and other services that specifically meet a patient’s exact needs.

It’s understandable if you feel hesitant to entrust your loved one to a memory care facility, but if you partner up with a reputable establishment, you have nothing to worry about.