What Is Memory Care?
Memory Care communities offer 24-hour care and housing to seniors with memory loss. These communities provide residents with a safe environment while focusing on improving quality of life, maintaining dignity, and reducing the negative behavioral effects related to memory loss.
Seniors with cognitive impairment who are unable to comfortably live at home or in a family member‘s care are candidates for this level of care.
How To Know if Your Loved One Needs Memory Care
It can be challenging to determine whether an older parent should move out of the house, particularly if they live alone. We recommend trying to observe changes in physical and cognitive behavior, and asking yourself the following questions:
- Has my loved one fallen recently? Are they at risk for frequent falls?
- Is Mom or Dad becoming increasingly more isolated?
- What is the condition of the home? Is it messy and/or unclean?
- Is personal hygiene being neglected?
- Is there an abundance of clutter? What about stacks of unopened mail?
- Are bills being missed?
- Is your loved one losing weight without explanation?
- Are they having trouble remembering how to do simple, familiar tasks?
- Are you finding unexplained purchases in their home?
- Is your loved one experiencing heightened anxiety about driving?
- Are they getting lost when going to familiar places?
- Are you noticing increased defensiveness or paranoia?
- Are you finding yourself increasingly confused after speaking with your loved one on the phone?
- How is medication being managed? Are doses being missed or mismanaged?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s time to think about your options. Accepting that an aging loved one may no longer be safe at home is never an easy thing to do. Use this checklist to sensitively begin a discussion about Memory Care.
What To Look For in a Dedicated Memory Care Community
As a loved one begins to lose their memory, it’s likely that you may experience uncertainty or despair, and you will undoubtedly have many questions. Do you need assistance right away? What care does your loved one need, where can you find it, and how is the transition to a Memory Care community going?
What’s typically provided in Memory Care?
A Memory Care community like Charter Senior Living offers staff trained in dementia care available 24/7, in addition to providing:
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing, grooming, dressing, and medication management
- Specialized dementia programming
- Three meals per day with snacks available
- Housekeeping, laundry, and maintenance services
- 24/7 support and security
- Specially designed, easy-to-navigate neighborhoods
- Private, accessible, and customizable living
- Exceptional, always available menu dining
- Amenities and services that include a beauty salon, activity room, and library
It’s essential to always be informed of your possibilities. As you research potential communities, find out about payment methods, admission costs, monthly costs, and any financial aid. Many families are concerned about the costs of living in Memory Care communities; however, Charter Senior Living can connect you with or make recommendations for a variety of services and alternatives, including:
- “Try before you buy” Short-Term Stays
- Medicare coverage
- Long-term care insurance plans
- Life insurance plans
- Pensions, annuities, and investments
- Veterans benefits
- Real estate experts
- Loans (including bridge loans)
Senior living communities charge based on the specialty of Memory Care they provide. The cost varies from state to state. At Charter Senior Living, our monthly Memory Care rates are priced fairly for an all-inclusive lifestyle.
Take a look at the following resources to learn how you can help your loved one navigate this new phase of their lives.
Helpful Memory Care Resources
Those living with memory loss – or their loved ones – often find sites like the Alzheimer’s Association, the National Institute on Aging, Alzheimers.gov, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America to be useful when researching senior living.
You can also download a copy of Seeking Support: A Guide to Navigating Memory Loss, the perfect resource to help you navigate Memory Care decisions with confidence.
Charter Senior Living: Come See How We Can Serve You Best.
Providing Memory Care, Charter Senior Living’s aim is To Enhance the Human Spirit through our various offerings, services and amenities. We’re a family-owned senior living organization that’s committed to providing high-quality lifestyles to our residents and their families.