What Is Memory Care?

March 16, 2020

Memory care is a unique form of care given to those who suffer from various degrees of mental ailments like dementia or Alzheimer’s. At the core of memory care is a structured environment that helps set schedule and routines to create an enjoyable, stress-free lifestyle for the residents that also promotes the health and cognitive abilities of a senior. As we age, we naturally begin to lose some of our mental acuity and dexterity. Diseases like Alzheimer’s or dementia manifest themselves as severe short term or long term memory loss, but those effects can be combated through a program known as memory care. Memory care involves creating a structured environment for the resident that involves set schedules and routines in order to create a stress-free lifestyle, ensure health and safety of our seniors, and to cultivate cognitive skills.

Senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia often require more comprehensive, attentive care, along with a safe and secure environment in order to thrive. A caretaker may not be able to provide the level of care necessary at all hours of the day, and most homes lack the accommodations needed to suit those who suffer from memory loss. These reasons are why so many families are turning to memory care communities that can provide the expert care needed for their loved one to be supported and live their best life – at all times.

Encore at Avalon Park is a leading provider of memory care

Assisting a Loved One With Memory Loss

The moment you realize your loved one is experiencing memory loss, a flood of emotions can take over. While you now start to cherish your relationship more than ever, you may also realize that it will never be quite the same. This realization is often sobering, but your situation is manageable with the right guidance and a strong support system. Here are some tips to help your family make the most of this change.

Shifting Your Mindset

When you receive news that your loved one has a cognition impairment, allow yourself time to mentally prepare for the upcoming changes in your life.

Be realistic about expectations

Setting unrealistic expectations for yourself or your loved one isn’t going to help either of you ease into the necessary changes. Notwithstanding, some caregivers are still hopeful that symptoms will ease over time or go away altogether. Putting this pressure on your loved one will only make it harder to navigate the inevitable ebbs and flow. Likewise, these expectations and the necessary treatments might even lead you to burnout. Take this process one day at a time and simply enjoy quality moments with your loved one.

Be flexible and patient

Having a loved one with memory loss requires you to sometimes expand your level of patience. Because of their elevated confusion, your family member will be more prone to unexpected mood shifts and behavioral changes. When your loved one is expressing distress or having a hard time adjusting, you may find it difficult to intervene and immediately calm their confusion. Therefore, it’s important that you remain patient and trust in the advice given by your doctor to handle situational behaviors.

Be educated and alert

Caring for someone with memory loss isn’t as intuitive as you may think. Because education is critical to your role as a caretaker, you can easily feel overwhelmed with learning about memory loss and the best ways to assist your family member. It might seem demanding, but doing your research will only aid in making both you and your loved one more comfortable with the shift.

Be mindful of self-care and support

The common saying, “you can’t give what you don’t have,” rings especially true as a caregiver. It’s imperative that you don’t put all the pressure on yourself when caring for your loved one. If you begin to feel overwhelmed or alone, reach out to family and friends for trusted assistance. Having someone help you pick up prescriptions or keep watch while you grab groceries can make a huge difference in your ability to provide effective care to your loved one and yourself.

Assisting Day-to-Day

When a loved one has memory loss, it’s often the day-to-day tasks that will ease their symptoms. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can help them get through every step of the day.

Have a regular routine

A regular routine creates familiarity. Familiarity helps your loved one feel safe in any environment when making a big move or lifestyle change. Likewise, an established routine allows you to enjoy time with your loved one without having to prepare an agenda. Don’t be concerned about filling every moment with something to do. Instead, think of activities that can fit perfectly with your schedule and cater to your family member’s needs, such as:

Household chores — Vacuuming, folding laundry, and washing dishes
Leisurely activities — Reading, listening to music, and watching television
Physical activities — Taking a walk, swimming, and dancing
Mind-stimulating activities — Puzzles, crosswords, and board games
Explain instead of ask

Simply asking, “What do you want to eat?” can sometimes trigger angst in a family member with memory loss. They might worry about making the wrong choice or feel overwhelmed by the number of options they have, which often results in no choice at all. Guiding your loved one with pre-made decisions during the day is much more effective. For example, telling your senior “we’re eating pizza tonight” makes the process simple and gives your loved one some peace of mind.

Rearrange the environment

Those with memory loss experience altered perceptions. Your loved one’s depth perception and regular recognition can worsen and make it hard to navigate their everyday environment. Fortunately, you can make their home and yard safer by marking the edges of steps, repairing uneven flooring, and clearing any walkways. Furthermore, your loved one may start struggling with lost items like keys or purses. Labeling important objects or finding a dedicated area to place them can ease the distraught that comes with these changes.

Use assistive technology

With a busy schedule, catering your home to memory loss can seem nearly impossible. Luckily, technology can automate parts of your senior’s daily routine and keep them safe when you aren’t able to be with them. If your family member tends to forget medication, set reminders with a hands-free device. Or, if they are prone to falling, install a fall sensor to trigger emergency assistance. While there are a vast list of options to choose from, you only need to worry about technology that will benefit your family the most.

Assisting Long Term

It’s easy to forget that helping your loved one with daily tasks is only half the battle. Therefore, you must also plan for their well-being in the future by preparing with professional advisors.

Legal planning

The sooner you can make arrangements to take care of legal obligations, the better. Oftentimes, you can personally assist your loved one during the early stages of this process as well. Early on, decide who will make legal decisions on your loved one’s behalf after they no longer have the legal capacity. Then, find out if there are any legal documents that need updating or any advance directives, such as a living will or trust fund. To ensure that no documents are left outdated, you may want to have an attorney guide you through this process.

Financial planning

Cost is one of the first things to consider after a diagnosis. Common care necessities like medical treatment, equipment, and prescriptions are ongoing expenses. Luckily, resources like Medicare/Medicaid, Social Security, or retirement benefits can cover eligible costs. Keep in mind a fiduciary must be named, and this individual will be in charge of managing the money and property of your family member. Their responsibilities could be as simple as paying bills or as involved as finalizing investment decisions. Fortunately, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can better uncover what this looks like.

End-of-life planning

This part of the process can often be strenuous and emotional. But knowing your loved one’s needs will help you respect them and their preferences moving forward. Is your loved one comfortable living in a memory-care community? How do they feel about life-sustaining treatments? Do they have any wishes for their memorial services? These are seemingly loaded questions. However, empowering your loved one with these decisions will allow you to fully carry out their wishes.

Alzheimer’s or dementia

Senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer’s or dementia often require more comprehensive, attentive care, along with a safe and secure environment in order to thrive. A caretaker may not be able to provide the level of care necessary at all hours of the day, and most homes lack the accommodations needed to suit those who suffer from memory loss. These reasons are why so many families are turning to memory care communities that can provide the expert care needed for their loved one to be supported and live their best life – at all times.

Memory care facilities

Seniors facing Alzheimer’s and dementia need to have an environment in which they feel comfortable and relaxed in, and one that keeps them safe as well. Because there is often some level of cognitive uncertainty, having a consistent and familiar set of surroundings is very important, which is why our facilities are designed with this in mind. Our memory care units have with easily navigable floor plans, comfortable accommodations, and visual themes that are comforting to our residents.

In addition to maximizing comfort, our memory care facilities are designed with safety in mind. We have an emergency response system in place, as well as doors that will alert our staff in case a resident tries to wander out of their area. Our memory care communities feature specifically designed areas that allow residents to do the hobbies they love while remaining safe. For example, enclosed courtyards allow residents to get outdoors without wandering off or getting lost.

A memory care community is a type of skilled nursing community sometimes located within a larger assisted living center. It can even be a stand-alone neighborhood—like Encore at Avalon’s 1860-acre community near Econlockhatchee River. These communities include long-term, intensive, and specialized care for residents needing more medical attention. The goal is to create a comforting but familiar environment, so residents feel safe and secure wherever they go.

To form a comforting and stress-free atmosphere, a memory care center creates an organized environment structured with schedules and routines. This differs from assisted living communities, in that those communities tend to encourage a higher level of independence for their residents. You’ll find memory care centers offer specific activities such as listening to music, arts and crafts, jigsaw puzzles, and other engaging tasks that will improve cognition.

Even the building itself is created to cater to and ease dementia symptoms. Architecturally, memory care buildings will often have larger windows and soothing paint colors to relax the residents. Rather than having the view of a parking lot, memory care centers might have an open view of a scenic landscape. All of these details are intentional to create the best physical environment for residents.

When a life-changing event happens, it is natural to spring into the mindset of making plans and preparations for the future. But when more gradual conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia begin to take hold, there isn’t always the same immediate impact. Symptoms begin to manifest over time, and it can be difficult to discern exactly when extra care is needed.

Studies have proven that transitioning those with Alzheimer’s and dementia into memory care sooner rather than later has numerous long-term benefits for patients not only mentally, but physically and emotionally as well.

Here are some signs it might be time to begin considering memory care:

Who do they care for?

Offering special services for those with varying degrees of dementia or Alzheimer’s, memory care communities are a bit more individualized. Because they are specifically serving residents with impaired memory, the staff of doctors and nurses are highly trained in dementia care. Through intense training and certifications, they are more likely to understand the needs of residents and create particular activities to improve impaired cognition.

This makes for the biggest difference between assisted living and memory care. Memory care nurses specialize and obtain certifications in dementia care, while assisted living nurses specialize in general senior care. Depending on the needs of their symptoms, your loved one may receive more guided support in a memory care center.

What kind of services do they provide?

Similar to assisted living, memory care centers will also provide services like 24-hour emergency care, assistance with ADLs, and meals. However, these services have an emphasis on supervision with attention to alterations or modifications to best serve residents with dementia. For example, dining might be offered in a more intimate setting—rather than in a large cafeteria—to ease confusion. Ultimately, the services always have the residents’ symptoms and needs in mind.

Assisted living cares for seniors who are somewhat independent. Most times, they won’t need nursing on an everyday basis, but they may need assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). These are necessary daily tasks such as bathing, using the toilet, dressing, and, sometimes, eating.

Most seniors in assisted living communities don’t need help with instrumental activities of daily living (IADLSs). In other words, they can handle activities that aren’t necessary for basic self-care. Some examples include hobbies, house chores, and the use of appliances. However, assistance with ADLs are still most important for seniors in assisted living.

What kind of services do they provide?

An assisted living community provides long-term services combining housing, personal care, and healthcare. Most assisted living communities will have additional health care providers on staff for those needing specialized care. Some of the other services they provide include:

24-hour emergency care
Housekeeping and laundry
Medication management
Assistance with ADLs
Health services as needed
Group dining

In essence, an assisted living community provides services that take care of both basic and essential needs. From there, residents can decide how to best use their time in recreation or leisure.

What is assisted living like?

Normally, residents will live in a private studio or an apartment. As mentioned before, assisted living communities encourage residents to live independently. Therefore, they allow residents to create their own schedules—rather than impose a daily routine.

To help residents personalize their schedules, assisted living communities offer different recreational activities for them to enjoy. Assisted living communities believe that social interaction and active lifestyles are important for senior health, which is why amenities and activities will vary to satisfy unique interests. Some unique amenities that Encore at Avalon offers include salons, social areas, seasonal events, daily recreational games, and a worship space.

Alzheimer’s or Dementia Diagnosis

We all forget things. That’s just part of being human. But when someone begins to forget important names, dates, or events, something isn’t right. These are often the first signs of a memory-related illness and should prompt a doctor’s appointment.

It’s natural for someone to want to remain living in their home as long as possible. As long as there are no safety issues, this should be encouraged during the early stages of their diagnosis.

This is the perfect time to begin exploring options when it comes to quality memory care communities and gathering information to help you with your decision.

Declining Health

As memory and mental capacity begins to deteriorate, so does the ability to do everyday tasks – even remembering to eat in some cases.

Keep an eye out for the following physical signs of declining health:

Visible weight loss
Evidence of a lack of grocery shopping or housekeeping
Medication being taken too frequently or infrequently
A lack of personal hygiene
Injuries with no recollection of how they happened

If your loved one’s health is on your mind constantly, making the switch to memory care can bring immeasurable peace of mind while also ensuring your loved one is properly supported and cared for each day.

Lack of Socializing

Someone with dementia or other memory-related ailment tends to lose much of their social life in the process, which can actually accelerate and worsen their condition.

In addition to the structure and support that a quality memory care community like Encore provides, your loved one will also be a part of a vibrant group of people that can help rekindle social interactions.

Best Activities for Seniors Needing Memory Care

A loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia is likely to withdraw from family and friends. There’s nothing worse than trying to connect with your loved one to have them push you away. But there’s a way to overcome this. You can start by motivating your senior with activities to stimulate their mind.

When deciding activities, you can start with simple tasks your senior once took pleasure in. This could be working with familiar tools, going to the park, or anything that lit them up in the past. The most important thing is to enjoy the process of these activities, not the results it will bring. Fostering genuine connection will make your senior more comfortable and excited to take on these tasks with you. This is also a great opportunity to encourage them to explore new things as well.

Stimulating activities can help your senior:

Encourage self-expression
Decrease anxiety and irritability
Create emotions to connect with others
Stir memories
Give them a sense of purpose

The best thing to keep in mind is encouraging them to accomplish easy tasks. That way, it boosts your senior’s confidence while keeping their mind engaged.

Stimulating Activities for Your Senior

Refer to the following list of activities to engage your senior loved one and modify as needed.

Jigsaw puzzles
Crossword puzzles
Matching card games
Listening to music
Counting coins
Reading books
Helping fold laundry
Watching family videos
Organizing household or office items
Baking or cooking
Arts and crafts
Cleaning the house
Walking outside

This isn’t an exhaustive list and not every item on it might work for your senior. It’s up to you to know which activities can benefit your specific situation. You may find that you try an activity and your loved one becomes frustrated. That’s when you know it’s time to take a break and try another activity at a later time. Focusing on quality time rather than the activity itself will make the biggest difference.

3 Signs It Is Time For Memory Care

Here are some signs it might be time to begin considering memory care:

Alzheimer’s or Dementia Diagnosis

It’s natural for someone to want to remain living in their home as long as possible. As long as there are no safety issues, this should be encouraged during the early stages of their diagnosis.

This is the perfect time to begin exploring options when it comes to quality memory care communities and gathering information to help you with your decision.

Declining Health

As memory and mental capacity begins to deteriorate, so does the ability to do everyday tasks – even remembering to eat in some cases.

Keep an eye out for the following physical signs of declining health:

Visible weight loss
Evidence of a lack of grocery shopping or housekeeping
Medication being taken too frequently or infrequently
A lack of personal hygiene
Injuries with no recollection of how they happened

Lack of Socializing

Someone with dementia or other memory-related ailment tends to lose much of their social life in the process, which can actually accelerate and worsen their condition.

One of the primary goals with our memory care program is to help slow the progression of Alzheimer’s or dementia as much as possible, while enabling our residents to feel a sense of purpose, satisfaction, and enjoyment on a daily basis. Our trained staff, top-of-the-line resources, and thoughtfully crafted activities help us accomplish these goals. In addition to creating structure and reducing stress, exercises and memory games combined with specialty food programs can help fight off Alzheimer’s and dementia for as long as possible.Choosing the right memory care program for your loved one can seem exhausting, but it pays dividends when it comes to their happiness and your peace of mind.

A Trusted Memory Care Community

For memory care, we have certified dementia practitioners that can care for our residents with a personalized approach. Or, if your senior needs an assisted living community, we’ll encourage them in their independence while offering the support they need. Whether you think an assisted living or memory care community is the best choice for your loved one, Encore at Avalon Park can provide a senior living solution for your loved one. Every member of our staff is hand-picked and trained to properly care for those suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia, and they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you never have to worry about your loved one being left unattended. For more information about the memory care services offered at Encore at Avalon Park, fill out our contact form, take a virtual tour of our community, or call us today at 407-270-7500.

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What Is Memory Care?

Memory care facilities

3 Signs It Is Time For Memory Care