Whether it’s for mom, dad, a grandparent or another family member or friend, when it comes to deciding on a memory care community you want to feel that you’ve found both the right facility and the right time to make this change.
When that time comes, we also want you to feel ready to make an informed decision on which community best fits your loved one’s needs. That’s why we put together a short list to help you ask the right questions as you research memory care communities.
1. What is advanced memory care?
Advanced memory care is a specialty service designed specifically for those with cognitive impairment, or dementia. Advanced memory care centers balance a variety of important factors, such as ensuring the safety and well-being of residents, maintaining state-of-the-art technologies to provide high-quality care and providing enriching activities to help residents feel fulfilled.
While many options vary by facility, higher quality memory care communities offer individualized care—often in the form of Habilitation Therapy and Sensory Therapy—which is an important factor for you in determining the right place for your mom, dad or loved one.
In many cases, memory care communities, including Wentworth Senior Living, are designed by leading dementia experts to help reduce confusion and ensure a more comforting experience. This can include layout, paint colors, the way food is served and much more.
2. Why is individualized care so important?
Individualized care is so important because there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Some residents benefit from a structured and secure setting, while others thrive with a more flexible approach.
In addition to asking questions about individualized care, the staff-to-resident ratio can help you determine the level of customized care offered. A lower ratio will demonstrate the community’s ability to truly deliver the high-quality, individualized care that your loved one deserves or maybe requires.
And, as you may have experienced, some individuals require services that need to be adjusted regularly. Oftentimes, this flexibility allows for residents – when possible – to participate in a variety of programs and activities to continue to gain a sense of fulfillment.
3. Are programs and activities important factors?
Yes. It’s important to have dedicated, memory care-specific programs and activities. These can range from sensory therapy programs and other professionally-led services to simple guided activities such as folding laundry, sorting mail or reading a favorite poem.
These activities are important because in many cases they create moments of success and help to keep your loved one in touch with tasks they remember, certain memories and a sense of independence. Evoking the satisfaction of completing daily tasks, while simple to you and me, are of significant importance to your loved one living with dementia.
You’ll want to look for a schedule of activities and programs that you can review prior to making a decision, and – similar to the individualized care section above – these should be customizable to your loved one’s specific needs.
These are just a few of the signs to help you know if a facility simply offers memory care services or if they are an expert.
Identifying the right memory care community is an important decision, but knowing what questions to ask helps to turn what seems to be a Herculean task into a decision that will provide you and your love one with the confidence and comfort you both need during this transitional time.