Since Kimberly decided to move her mother, Georgia, from at-home care to a Memory Care community, she has been searching for the perfect place. Given her mother’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s with mixed dementia, she wants to know that her mother will be cared for with her specific needs in mind.

Let’s follow Kimberly as she tours communities to see what to look for and what to avoid.

Memory Care or Assisted Living?

Kimberly, like many adult children with parents who have dementia, didn’t know what Memory Care was until she started doing her research.

According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), Memory Care “provides specialized residential care for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia.”

These communities are residential Assisted Living communities but offer more safety features and programming to keep those with dementia safe and engaged.

Deciding on Communities & Setting Up Tours

Touring several communities before making a final decision is crucial. To organize her visits, Kimberly first narrowed down her options. She eliminated communities that were too far from her home or lacked dedicated Memory Care services.

Next, she thoroughly researched the remaining options. She spoke with friends and consulted online reviews for each community. While online reviews often reflect both the best and worst experiences, they can still offer valuable insights. These reviews and how a community responds to feedback can highlight recurring themes, transparency, and communication practices.

After completing her research, Kimberly identified four communities that seemed like strong candidates for her mother.

First Impressions of the Community

When you step into a Memory Care community, start by observing the overall aesthetics and cleanliness of the building. A quality community should feel clean, well-maintained, and updated. Shared living spaces should be bright, organized, and comfortable, with seating featuring wide cushions and armrests for easy use. Recliners should be available to enhance residents’ comfort. The decor should be in good condition or newly updated to reflect the management’s pride in their community. Visiting a community unannounced, rather than scheduling a formal tour, can give you a more authentic sense of its atmosphere.

Pay attention to how the care staff interact with the residents. While some caregivers may exhibit a more professional demeanor, others may have close, familial relationships with both residents and their families. Regardless of their approach, all staff should be respectful, gentle, and compassionate in their interactions.

Lastly, ensure that the community has appropriate security measures in place. Most Memory Care communities feature locked doors, pin-pad-restricted areas, and secure windows or other potential exits. These precautions are essential, as many residents in Memory Care are prone to wandering—a challenge that Kimberly struggled to manage while caring for Georgia.

In summary, a good Memory Care community will offer a clean and welcoming environment, updated decor, comfortable living spaces, and essential safety features that are difficult to maintain at home.

The Tour Itself

When you meet the person providing the tour, they typically will provide information on pricing, amenities, caregiver-to-resident ratios, and other essential details. It's a good idea to keep these materials and review them after you’ve visited all potential communities for your loved one.

Most tours are divided into two parts: a community walk-through and an open discussion for questions or comments.

The first part of the tour offers the best opportunity to form your initial impressions. As you explore the building, observe the public spaces and pay attention to how caregivers interact with residents. Planning a tour around mealtime allows you to check the quality of food and see how the staff serve and care for the residents.

During and after the tour, you’ll have a chance to ask questions. While some may be answered as you go or provided in the marketing materials, it’s helpful to discuss any key concerns or specific needs with the community representative as they are knowledgeable about the community and can provide current and accurate information.

For example, Kimberly knew that Georgia enjoys bingo, and crocheting, and prefers soup and salad for lunch and dinner. She typically skips breakfast and is a practicing Christian. With this in mind, Kimberly asked about activity programs, meal options, and whether religious services are offered. She also inquired about personalized care plans and whether her mother’s preferences would be considered.

After the tour, it’s a good idea to jot down your thoughts, feelings, and observations on your phone or in a notebook. This will help you recall details later when you review all your visited communities.

Collecting Your Thoughts & Making a Decision

Once you've completed your tours, it's time to sit down and carefully re-evaluate each option. To do this, gather all the marketing materials you received during your visits, along with online reviews and your own notes about each community.

Decision-making can be more complex than listing the pros and cons. You’ll need to consider several factors—such as cleanliness, activity schedules, caregiver-to-resident ratios, care levels, and available care plan options. It might be helpful to review each community's marketing materials and highlight key features or services that stand out.

Next, compare your notes with online reviews. Do other families have positive or negative experiences with the community? Are there any ongoing issues or improvements mentioned? Compare what other families are saying to your own first impressions.

Even after narrowing down your options to two or three communities, making a final decision can feel overwhelming. In these cases, trusting your instincts can be helpful, especially if you’re torn between the last two choices. Consider scheduling a second tour during the weekend, as it can provide insight into how the community operates during “off-hours” and give you a more complete picture.

Once you’ve chosen the community, follow their steps to secure a room, apartment, or suite for your loved one. From there, the community will guide you through the move-in process and help make the transition as smooth as possible.

In Conclusion

Deciding to move a loved one with dementia into Memory Care is a significant and often challenging decision. With so many factors to consider, comparing different communities can feel overwhelming. However, by conducting thorough research and visiting potential options, you can find the best fit for your loved one.

If you're exploring Memory Care options, reach out at 8333-GOT-JOY or fill out our contact form at Inspired-Joy.com. One of our experienced Memory Care experts will be happy to guide you through the next steps of your journey.

References:

• https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/local-care/memory-care/#:~:text=A%20memory%20care%20facility%20provides,around%2Dthe%2Dclock%20supervision.