When Is It Time to Consider Memory Care?

When your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, you’re flooded with planning for the future to ensure their safety, comfort, and health. It can be overwhelming and confusing, trying to make confident decisions while also navigating your own emotions and grief about the diagnosis. However, it is never too early to begin researching memory care communities near your loved one so that you can understand not only what these specialized senior living residences offer, but also so that you know when it is time to begin weighing your options.

Key Takeaways

• Early planning and research can help you avoid making decisions in the midst of a health or safety crisis
• Difficulties performing activities of daily living, safety risks, and behavioral changes are strong indicators that a move to memory care could be beneficial
• Evaluate your options, including in-home support, respite care, and residential memory care communities
• Use our tour checklist to compare communities and make a confident choice.

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What Is Memory Care?

A memory care community, sometimes called a dementia care community, is a senior living residence designed specifically for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia. The community is designed to be an environment that combats the challenges that come with cognitive decline, and the community features specially trained staff members who are on-site around the clock, providing personalized support and assistance.

These specialized communities are typically licensed under an assisted living umbrella, though there are some memory care communities that provide more clinical care under a skilled care license. While not all memory care communities are the same, there are some highlights that many share:

• Structured daily rhythm that incorporates familiar routines, such as reading the newspaper after breakfast or taking a stroll before lunch
• Safe and secure environment, including a secured outdoor space for residents to safely explore, and alarmed doors to prevent wandering outside of the community
• Staff members are trained on the dementia process, best practices of dementia care, and how to develop personalized interventions to support dignity and independence
• Medication management services to reduce the risk of medication errors
• Individualized care plans, prepared by clinical staff, that include personalized interventions to support each resident with personal care, health goals, comfort, safety, and quality of life
• Supportive and pleasant dining environment with menu choices that meet prescribed and preferred dietary needs
• Family education and support

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Signs It May Be Time for Memory Care

While dementia is a progressive disease, not everyone living with dementia progresses in a uniform, predictable manner. This can make it difficult to determine when your loved one could benefit from the structure, support, and safety offered in a memory care community. However, there are some potential red flags that could be signs that it is time for memory care.

• Poor hygiene
  Wearing the same clothing over and over, not showering often, having messy hair, not wearing makeup (if they always did), having body odor, etc. can indicate it is challenging for them to complete their own personal care tasks
• Wandering and confusion
  Wandering, or walking or pacing without purpose, is a hallmark of dementia, as is confusion about place or time. Both wandering and confusion are safety concerns that can lead to significantly dangerous situations
• Poor judgment
  Inability to make good decisions is another trait of dementia, and this can lead to safety concerns, including wearing clothing that is inappropriate for the weather, leaving the stove burner on, etc.
• Medication mismanagement
  About 20% of older adults take more than 5 prescribed medications each day, and cognitive decline can make it impossible to keep track of the correct dose, medication, and time. Medication errors can lead to serious health consequences, including emergency room visits and even death
• Unintended weight loss or gain
  Noticing a major shift in your loved one’s weight can indicate they are having challenges planning, preparing, and eating three healthy meals each day
• Neglecting household chores
  If you notice the house is not tidy and clean, or that there are issues with pet care and responsibilities, it can indicate your loved one is having trouble keeping up with these tasks
• Behavior and mood changes
  Your loved one might feel stressed out and anxious, especially in the early and middle stages of dementia. This can be a sign that more support is in order to take that stress off them at home
• Caregiver burnout
  If you or other family members are helping out with caregiving tasks, they may become unhealthy or exhausted. A move to a more supportive environment would benefit your loved one and their family caregivers
• Physician recommendation
  Your loved one’s neurologist, primary care physician, and other medical team members will be able to forecast what the future could hold. Take their recommendations for additional support seriously

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Alternatives & Continuum of Support

Today, family members have multiple solutions and resources to utilize when they are seeking additional support for their loved one living with dementia. Understanding what each of these options can offer you can help you determine if each is a viable solution for your specific situation.

In-Home Memory Care

Home care agencies offer in-home support for older adults in the community. These services are considered non-medical and are typically billed hourly as private pay. Some home care agencies do take Medicaid or VA waivers, but it is important to know that before signing a contract for services. Home care agencies provide a caregiver in the home for an agreed-upon number of hours each day or week. This caregiver can assist with personal care tasks, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and companionship. Some caregivers also offer transportation services through their home care agency.

Adult Day & Respire Care

Some towns offer adult day care services, where seniors living with dementia are dropped off at a specific location, such as a church, agency, or community building, for 8 hours. While at the day care agency, seniors enjoy activities and events as well as meals. Caregivers are available to help with certain personal care tasks and support, but be sure the day care agency can meet your loved one’s specific needs prior to signing up.

Residential Memory Care

Senior living communities that provide memory care services are for seniors who will move into the residence. These communities typically offer studio and 1-bedroom apartment options with plenty of shared spaces that can include a library, living room, kitchen, courtyard, and more. 

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How Memory Care Helps

Memory care communities are designed to provide a comforting and calm environment, where residents feel supported and cared for. When seniors living with dementia are surrounded by trained caregivers, they not only receive better health care, but they also can experience reduced anxiety and restlessness.

Additional benefits of the right memory care community can include:

• Reduced agitation thanks to a predictable routine and caregiver support
• Meaningful engagement and having a purpose throughout the day
• Reduced risk of medication errors
• Better communication with medical team members
• Caregivers can observe small changes in health or behaviors, which can lead to reduced risk of emergency room visits or health crises
• Improved sleep and nutrition
• Reduced risk of falls
• Better family support and education during a difficult time

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How to Choose the Right Memory Care Community

Just like picking any senior living community, finding the right memory care residence can feel daunting at first. However, you can already narrow down your options based on those offering memory care services. After that, continue to refine your search by looking at these factors.

Staffing Ratios and Clinical Support

While staffing ratios will fluctuate based on how many residents are living at the community, their needs, and the time of day, it is still good to ask about ratios and the planning of staff schedules. Look for a community that has plenty of caregivers available to support the residents, and an active team of nurses and other clinical staff that will oversee and complement caregiver services.

Safety and Environmental Factors

Remember, safety and security are important parts of any memory care community. Find a community that offers not only secured entrances and exits, but also has been designed to enhance independence. Look for safe places for residents to rummage through community drawers (this is a common behavior for those living with dementia) as well as to safely wander throughout the community.

Care, Services, and Other Amenities

Dementia is a progressive condition, which means your loved one’s needs now will not necessarily be their needs in a year. Find a memory care community that can support their needs now and in the future. Ask if additional support will cost more money each month, and how staff members notify family members of the changes they are seeing.

Events, Programs, and Lifestyle

The best memory care residences have a calendar full of events and activities, including weekends and evenings, that enhance the quality of life for the seniors who live there. Look for a community that features a robust and vibrant activity calendar as well as familiar routines woven throughout the day. Ask potential communities if they take trips with residents into the community, and how they support residents who are too restless to sit down for group activities.

Dining and Nutrition

A good memory care residence will offer delicious and nutritious meals three times per day, as well as snacks. Ensure the community you are researching can accommodate the prescribed or preferred diet of your loved one, and ask how they change their approach as your loved one’s needs change.

Family Communication and Involvement

Family members should feel like they are a part of the extended memory care family, providing information about their loved one’s history to staff members. Ask about family involvement, including visiting policies, as well as special family events, lectures, and support groups.

Apartments

Finally, determine what apartments are available and their monthly cost. Ask if you can bring in your own furniture or if there are certain pieces that are provided by the community. Remember, memory care communities are designed to feel like home, where residents can spend little time in their individual apartment and the majority of their time with neighbors and caregivers in the shared spaces of the residence.

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FAQs

When should someone with dementia stop living alone?

Thanks to early awareness and diagnosis, today’s older adults are being diagnosed with dementia much earlier in the disease process than even a decade ago. This has benefits, including giving the senior time to get their affairs in order and advocate for their wishes while they are still able to. Someone living in this early stage of dementia can likely live safely on their own, but they may feel anxious and stressed out because they know they are forgetting.

Someone living with dementia should not live alone when their safety and health become a concern.

Is it neglect to leave a person with dementia alone?

It can be considered neglect to leave someone living with dementia alone at home if they are unable to safely do so. A caregiver should be there to support them and ensure they are not making poor judgment calls that can lead to dangerous situations.

How do we handle family disagreements about timing?

Ideally, the family can meet with their loved one’s physician to ask questions and hear the recommendation from the medical team. Your loved one’s physician can best forecast their needs in the immediate future, which can help your family decide the best time to make a move. Remember, it is never too early to begin researching your options so that you aren’t making a rushed decision due to a safety or health crisis.

How long does the transition take, and how can we ease it?

Any transition to a new home, including a memory care residence, can last weeks or months. This is common, and your loved one’s caregivers at the community will be there to ease the transition using personalized interventions based on your loved one’s history and needs. 

You can help the transition by bringing a few items that make their new apartment feel like home, like framed photos, a photo book, and a cozy, familiar quilt. You can also share tidbits about your loved one’s preferences and history with caregivers so they can get to know your loved one better, and you can visit often. Attend activities with your loved one and encourage them to get involved with the life of the community while you are there.

What is the difference between assisted living vs. memory care vs. nursing home?

Assisted living communities feature caregivers who can help with personal care tasks around the clock. Memory care communities offer these services, but with specially trained caregivers in an environment suited for those living with dementia. A nursing home, or a skilled nursing facility, offers a more clinical approach with Certified Nursing Assistants and Registered Nurses. Seniors with the greatest clinical needs, such as wound care management or IV support, will live in skilled care facilities.

Legend Senior Living memory care residences are cozy, comfortable havens for residents and their family members. Our approach to memory care is unmatched, and we’d love to show you what that looks like in person. Find a residence near you and schedule your tour so that we can answer your questions and share more about our person-centered philosophy.