Kimberly has been caring for her mother, Georgia, for nearly a year since her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Recently, Georgia has developed several new issues that Kimberly can't seem to resolve. As a result, Kimberly has started exploring Assisted Living and Memory Care options. 

Here are some of the reasons and options for Senior Living.

When Care Becomes Extensive Care

Let’s take a look at Kimberly’s life leading up to her decision to explore Senior Living options.

First, Georgia began having trouble walking up and down the steps. Although she lives on the first floor, the tub and shower are upstairs. This made it difficult for Kimberly to bathe her, as she needed to renovate the downstairs bathroom to accommodate Georgia’s needs.  

Second, Georgia has been falling frequently and her doctor recommended a walker. However, in Kimberly’s cramped home, a walker became more of an obstacle than an assistive device. Kimberly has children as well and the space needed for her to move around the house fluently was conflicting with the kids’ needs for space.

Third, and the most frightening to Kimberly, is that Georgia has been trying to escape, or elope, from Kimberly’s home. On more than one occasion, Kimberly found her mother roaming the fenced backyard or wandering towards the street trying to return to her apartment in New York City. Despite Kimberly’s efforts to explain that Georgia lives with her now, Georgia still wishes to leave and “return home”—even at the risk of falling or getting lost.

Kimberly’s challenges come down to three main issues: a lack of resources, an increased risk of falls, and the threat of elopement. All of these are common problems with at-home caregiving since there aren’t other caregivers to share the workload and the home floor plan is not adequate for her needs.

As Georgia’s dementia progresses and her brain changes, Kimberly realized that Georgia’s needs had surpassed what she could provide. Consequently, Kimberly has begun researching Senior Living options.

Senior Living: Assisted Living or Memory Care

Senior Living is a term that encompasses all communities with seniors as the main or sole residents. There are a few different types, such as Independent Living, but Kimberly knows she’ll need an option involving specialized care.

Initially, with Georgia’s growing risk of falls and need for a walker, Kimberly was looking into Assisted Living. This option for Senior Living is for families who have a loved one with growing assistive needs called ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). These include bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating. Assisted Living can also help with additional medical care that needs timely and frequent attention including management of medication.

However, as Kimberly was researching, she found a far better option for Georgia and her diagnosis: Memory Care.

Memory Care is Assisted Living designed intentionally with dementia in mind. Unlike traditional Assisted Living, Memory Care is focused on keeping a loved one with brain changes safe, content, and dignified. Most Memory Care Communities accomplish this through their physical design, staff, and community engagement.

Built with Purpose  

Memory Care communities are often intentionally designed or renovated for dementia and other memory disorders.

To start, the layout of a Memory Care community is set up to be easier for those with brain changes to navigate. Usually, this involves an open concept, with little space for places where a loved one could get lost or stuck.

Secondly, wallpaper and paint colors, furniture, decorations, and pathways are purposefully picked for the community. Colors are chosen to be relaxing and comforting. The furniture has wide armrests, a firm cushion, and proper back support. Pathways are marked with signs, colors, and other verbiage to guide residents to specific areas or their suites. Items that could cause harm or confusion are moved into secure locations.

Lastly, Memory Care communities put great effort into making rooms comfortable and cultivated. Bedrooms are open and some communities also include private bathrooms. Shared spaces are often quiet unless special events or activities are going on, to which sensitive residents have other programs and spaces during this time.

Trained and Experienced Staff and Directors

Staff in Memory Care communities are trained to assist with specific dementia-related diagnoses. Not only does this include understanding the illnesses, but also how to handle challenges. Some communities also train their care staff as Certified Dementia Practitioners (CDP), a program from the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) that includes additional training and testing on dementia-related diagnoses.

This certification is an 8- to 12-hour course educating new caregivers about dementia and how to create positive and productive relationships with those who have brain changes. It also discusses common behaviors that those with brain changes may exhibit when stressed, anxious, or agitated. From this, caregivers can better help and find solutions to ease residents.

Birds of a Feather

One of the lasting benefits of Memory Care is that loved ones will meet with and become friends with those who are experiencing the same journey—people who will understand the illness, its effects, and how it can make someone feel.

Together, residents in the Memory Care community can find support and offer it to others, giving them a sense of purpose. They can recognize and empathize with fellow residents, even informing visiting families and care staff about someone’s wants or needs when that person is unable to communicate.

Another great benefit is the numerous enriching opportunities available for your loved one to enjoy. Memory Care communities offer exercise groups, craft clubs, gardening clubs, field trips to restaurants, parks, and events, as well as rehabilitation programs. The chance for engagement and activity is significantly higher in a community with ample resources compared to living at home. 

Dementia is a life-long journey, and with friends and supporters in their corner, loved ones with brain changes can have happy, enriching, and relaxing lives.

In Conclusion

As Georgia’s journey progressed, Kimberly found herself at a point where the care she could give wasn’t enough for her mother. Between renovations, the need for a walker, and elopement risks, Kimberly cares more about her mother being safe than at home. She begins to look into Memory Care, which is the best option for her mother’s diagnosis.

If you are curious about Memory Care, contact 8333-GOT-JOY or fill out our contact form at Inspired-Joy.com. One of our experienced Memory Care experts would be happy to help you navigate the next steps in your own journey.

References:

·      https://www.ncoa.org/adviser/local-care/memory-care/

·      https://aging.maryland.gov/documents/alguide.pdf