Things to Know About Memory Care Facilities
Caring for someone suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be difficult, stressful, and a drain on patience and resources. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 million people may be living with Alzheimer’s Disease by 2060. Most people want their loved ones to be safe and well-cared for. It may come to a point where a person is no longer safe to live at home and may need to be placed into a long-term care facility. If this is the case, considering memory care may be the best option to ensure they are safe and receive care tailored to their needs.
Memory care can be a wing in a nursing home facility or a separate entity, where patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s can go to receive care based on their needs around those diseases. Specifically, memory care provides intensive services to patients with memory issues. While memory care is more comprehensive for those suffering from memory issues, it’s also more expensive. The cost of memory care was between $5,000 and $5,250 per month in 2019. That is more than $1,000 more per month than other long-term care options.
What Should I Know About Memory Care Facilities Before Sending My Loved One?
There are several things to know about memory care facilities before a loved one enters one. First and foremost, they’re designed specifically for patients with issues like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. For instance, they operate with set routines, so the residents know what to expect. This also works to lower the stress level of residents with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Residents are also provided with extra assistance throughout the day to help them manage daily living tasks, like hygiene and eating. They may also have alarmed doors and elevators to ensure residents are not able to wander off. Residents may wear tracking bracelets, which allow them to explore the grounds without the danger of wandering off. Activities at a memory care facility are geared specifically to improving the patients’ cognitive function and tailored to where an individual is at in terms of stages of the disease.
Do Memory Care Facility Staff Have Special Training?
The staff at a memory care facility are specially trained to deal with Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia. There are usually state regulations around this training, to ensure staff have these specialized skills. Along with specific training, memory care facilities typically have a lower staff to resident ratio than other facilities, emergency systems in place, and treatments and therapies specifically geared toward cognitive issues.
It is common for memory care facilities to use art therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy, and story-telling sessions. These therapies are designed to increase memory skills and cognitive abilities in patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Staff at a memory care center are also better prepared to deal with behavioral issues in patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia. This means that they are equipped to deal with things like wandering and agitation.
Contact an Elder Law Lawyer
Placing a loved one in memory care can bring peace of mind to the family, knowing the person is being cared for by trained professionals. In a difficult situation, knowing a family member is being well-cared for can be priceless. If you or a loved one facet this situation, an experienced elder care attorney could help work through all the details and help come with a plan to choose the right facility and pay for it. After all, what could be more important? Call The Mattar Firm today at 844-444-4444.