Dementia can be complicated. This group of neurodegenerative disorders can have a significant impact on your loved one, and there may be a point when home care is no longer an option. If your loved one’s dementia is starting to impact their everyday life, it’s time to consider a move to memory care. But before you make this decision, it’s important to know what to expect from a memory care community.
When your loved one moves to memory care, they’ll be in an environment tailored to address the unique challenges caused by dementia. They’ll be surrounded by a team of trained caregivers who can help your loved one each and every day in a place that can help them every step of the journey.
What Is Memory Care?
Dementia, a group of complex disorders that lead to cognitive decline, can be a complicated condition. It’s well-recognized for how it affects a person’s memory and cognitive abilities, but the symptoms aren’t limited to just those. It also causes:
- Personality changes
- Behavioral shifts
- Communication difficulties
- Problems with spatial awareness
- Wandering and getting lost
Dementia is also a progressive condition, meaning that these symptoms worsen over the years. Eventually, dementia makes it difficult for a person to safely live alone—or even with others. It requires specialized training to properly support a person living with dementia, and this can be difficult to acquire on one’s own.
This is why memory care exists. It’s a specialized type of long-term care designed to support seniors living with dementia. These communities are equipped with experienced caregivers, secure environments, and supportive programs tailored to address dementia’s unique challenges.
Memory care offers a way to maintain your loved one’s sense of independence and dignity to improve their quality of life, all in a place that feels just like home.
How Memory Care Works
One of the biggest benefits of memory care is the ability to offer a safe, supportive, and secure setting. These communities are designed to help keep your loved one safe, so they have features such as:
- Secure entrances and exits
- Maps
- Easy-to-navigate layouts
- Emergency response systems
- 24/7 on-site staff
These communities also offer structured activities and programs designed to give your loved one a proper routine. There are plenty of classes, activities, and therapy programs aiming to stimulate cognitive function and maintain a person’s mental health. From arts and crafts to memory games, physical exercise to game nights, memory care offers a supportive, safe, and engaging environment tailored to meet your loved one’s needs.
Meanwhile, there’s a team of experienced and loving caregivers on-site around the clock. Every caregiver undergoes additional training so they can properly support seniors living with dementia. They possess the skills and knowledge needed to manage symptoms like wandering, confusion, and aggression. It’s about more than medical care—it’s about supporting your loved one in a way that they feel valued, respected, and truly understood.
How to Tell if Someone Needs Memory Care
So how can you tell if your loved one needs memory care? It’s important to learn how to recognize the early signs of dementia—this lets you step in to get your loved one the care they need.
Here are some signs that it may be the right time to consider memory care:
- Frequent forgetfulness about names, places, and dates. Chronic confusion can lead to dangerous situations or the inability to recognize harm, making it risky to leave your loved one alone.
- Wandering, especially outdoors. This can quickly lead to your loved one getting lost when out and about.
- Struggling with dressing, bathing, or eating. These daily activities are essential for independence, and the inability to safely perform them can have a negative effect on your loved one’s quality of life.
- Drastic personality changes and mood swings. These can be detrimental to your loved one’s relationship with the people around them.
- Difficulty managing finances or household responsibilities. Problems with handling money, paying bills, or maintaining the household can signify cognitive decline.
- Neglect of personal hygiene or health. Forgetting to take medications, skipping meals, or lack of hygiene can be hazardous and may indicate that they need more structured and supervised care.
Recognizing these signs early on is essential. It means that you can intervene to get your loved one the support needed for a higher quality of life. A move to memory care means that your loved one can live in an environment that can truly understand the challenges they face every day—and a home that can meet their needs.
Is It Time for Memory Care?
Memory care is about more than just safety—it’s about offering peace of mind to you and a higher quality of life for your loved one. And here at Inspired Living at Ivy Ridge, we know how to help. Book a tour with us today, and take the first step toward finding your loved one’s future home. We’re here for you.
