Understanding the basics can help you decide the best option for your loved one.
Put simply, memory care is a type of long-term care for people with memory issues. Most who receive memory care have cognitive impairment or memory issues associated with dementia.
Although Alzheimer’s disease is by far the most common, other forms of dementia also affect memory and cognition. These include vascular dementia, Parkinson’s disease dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
Dementia is progressive, meaning its symptoms worsen with time. While there still is no cure for dementia, memory care can help to slow its progression.
Memory care also provides a safe, structured environment where residents can thrive.
What Is a Memory Care Facility?
A stand-alone memory care facility offers only memory care. Many senior living communities that offer different levels of care provide memory care, and so do many skilled nursing facilities.
At Park Senior Villas, we offer both assisted living and memory care.
Whether a memory care facility is part of a larger community or stands on its own, residents are carefully monitored to ensure their safety and well-being.
Designed With Safety in Mind
Wandering is a common behavior for people with dementia, so memory care communities often have color-coded hallways and doors to help residents navigate their surroundings. Easy-to-grasp signage is typical, and many have hallways with a circular layout so residents won’t be frustrated by dead ends.
To prevent residents who are prone to wandering from getting lost, memory care facilities often have special locks on doors and elevators that lead to the outside or other parts of the community.
At Park Senior Villas, our unique neighborhood setting helps residents feel like they’re in a private residence instead of a facility. Plus, our low staff-to-resident ratio means caregivers can spend plenty of quality time with each resident, both inside the villas and in our beautiful outdoor courtyards.
Our behavioral care program, developed in collaboration with dementia-certified specialists, offers families a solution that helps keep their loved one safe, in an environment that promotes a comfortable, purposeful life.
Elbi Supports Our Practice of Prioritizing Nondrug Therapy
A little over two years ago, our caregivers started using elbi™, an AI-powered mobile app developed by Taproot Interventions & Solutions that provides personalized recommendations for engaging with residents based on their personal history.
Elbi is particularly helpful if a resident starts to exhibit signs of agitation or aggression. The app has shown 87% effectiveness in de-escalating challenging reactions, without sedation.
We wrote about our use of elbi in this blog post on our nondrug approaches to dementia therapy.
Paul Provides an Extra Safety Measure at Park Senior Villas
The artificial intelligence (AI) and radar-based integrated system features a discreet device called Paul that monitors residents while they are in their rooms. Paul doesn’t intrude on their privacy because the system doesn’t use cameras or microphones.
This advanced technology is able to detect changes in movement patterns over time and can even alert caregivers of a potential increase in a resident’s risk of falling.
We did a trial run of Helpany’s fall prevention technology in one of our communities about a year ago. We were so impressed, we rolled it out to all four of our communities earlier this year.
You can learn more about our experience with Helpany and Paul in this earlier blog post.
Services Memory Care Facilities Offer
Staff members in a memory care facility provide services similar to those offered in assisted living, including help with dressing, bathing, eating, and mobility, if needed. But memory care takes it further, providing residents with a more structured routine, with extra support and more frequent check-ins to help them manage their day.
Memory care also offers a variety of programs developed specifically for those who are living with dementia. Memory games and therapy sessions that focus on music, art, and reminiscing are a few examples.
Who Can Benefit From Memory Care?
Deciding whether (and when) to move your parent or spouse to a memory care community is not an easy choice. Most families want to care for their loved one at home for as long as possible, even if that means hiring a professional caregiver to come into the home.
For most people living with dementia, though, the time will come when it’s no longer safe for them to remain at home. Their behaviors may place them and their caregivers in harm’s way.
Not only is memory care safer for someone who’s in a later stage of dementia. It also can give them a better quality of life. The combination of a structured environment, specialized activities, and a generous supply of personalized attention can help them feel secure and enhance their sense of purpose.
Families also benefit. Knowing their loved one is safe and receiving high-quality professional care can be a tremendous relief. Instead of focusing on caregiving responsibilities, they can enjoy being “just” their loved one’s daughter, son, spouse, or partner again.
Consider Respite Care at Park Senior Villas
Respite care is a short-term stay that can last for a few days to several weeks. For families with a loved one who has dementia, respite care can be helpful in several situations:
- When the family caregiver needs to take a break from caregiving responsibilities. Maybe there’s a job-related reason or an out-of-town event the caregiver needs or wants to attend. Or maybe the caregiver needs some personal time to keep from feeling burned out.
- When a regular caregiver who visits or stays in the home to provide care is unavailable for a period of time.
- When the family is considering a longer-term stay for their loved one and wants to see how well they do in the community before making a commitment.
How To Choose a Memory Care Community
You may want to begin your research online to see what’s available in your area (or wherever your loved one will live). You can learn a lot about memory care facilities and memory care neighborhoods within senior living communities by reading what’s presented on their websites.
When you’ve found several that meet the criteria on your list, it’s time to schedule visits. You might want to visit multiple times, provided you like what you see and learn on the first visit.
It may be a good idea to pare down your list to only those communities you plan to seriously consider before bringing your loved one along on the visits.
What to look for or ask when visiting:
- What is the facility like, in general?
Is it clean and inviting? Easy to navigate? What are the living arrangements (private or semi-private rooms)? Is there a secure space for residents to enjoy the outdoors?
Where do residents take their meals? If your loved one has dietary restrictions, can they accommodate them? Ask if you can eat a meal while you’re there. - How is the facility staffed, and how does the staff interact with residents?
What kind of dementia-specific training do the manager and caregivers have? Is there a nurse on staff? What is the caregiver-to-resident ratio, both during the day and at night?
Do caregivers treat residents with compassion and respect? Do they seem to know the residents personally? Do they respond promptly? Do the residents seem content? - What sort of activities and programs are available?
Does the staff provide personalized activities based on each resident’s capabilities and interests? Is one-on-one time provided for each resident, or are the activities done as a group?
Ask to see an activities calendar. Does it include exercise classes as well as social activities?
How Much Does Memory Care Cost?
The monthly cost of memory care can range from about $4,000 to more than $10,000, depending on the community you choose. Costs vary by state, as well as the amenities and services provided.
In general, memory care costs more than assisted living but less than skilled nursing.
In the absence of long-term care insurance, most families pay for memory care out of pocket. Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans do not pay for memory care residents’ room and board or personal care. They do, however, typically cover certain medical expenses for residents in memory care.
If your loved one is a veteran or a veteran’s surviving spouse who is at least 65 years old, then veterans’ benefits may help cover the cost of memory care.
Medicaid may provide some long-term care coverage for low-income individuals with no assets. Not all memory care communities and facilities accept Medicaid. For information about Arizona’s main Medicaid program, ALTCS, check out this blog post.
The Demand for Memory Care Will Continue To Grow
An estimated 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men are likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease during their lifetime, according to the latest “Alzheimer’s Fact and Figures” report released by the Alzheimer’s Association.
Older age is the biggest known risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease, the National Institute on Aging notes. This suggests the longer we live, the greater our risk of developing the disease becomes.
Estimates provided by the National Council on Aging indicate the number of people in the U.S. who are 65 years of age or older will increase from 57.8 million in 2022 to approximately 78.3 million in 2040.
In light of the prevalence of dementia and the growing senior population, it’s easy to see why memory care is one of the fastest growing sectors in senior living.
Contact us to learn more about Park Senior Villas’ care continuum, including our advanced technology-supported, person-centered approach to memory care.
Featured Image: pikselstock / Shutterstock
