Supporting a loved one with dementia can seem like a daunting task when they’re first diagnosed. You might feel completely out of your depth as a family member or spouse. This is where memory care services can truly improve their quality of life.
Memory care support offers your loved one the chance to live a fulfilled life for as long as possible. They’ll receive personalized care for dementia, according to their specific needs.
Not only does this offer you the ultimate peace of mind, but it means your loved one will feel supported, no matter what. Learn more about the benefits of memory care in this blog.
What is Memory Care?
So, what exactly does memory care cover? Here’s a brief overview of what you can expect:
- Your loved one lives in a memory care community that offers full residential care according to their needs, whether they’re living with dementia or Alzheimer’s
- The community offers dementia-specific care by trained and experienced memory care professionals
- Daily activities and cognitive therapies to improve quality of life
- Individualized care plans according to your loved one’s needs
- Round-the-clock support in a safe and secure environment
- Close and meaningful relationships with caregivers, helping to build trust and comfort
These are just a few of the basic services covered by a memory care community. At Summer House, we are fully aware that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach to dementia or Alzheimer’s care. Everything is based on a person-centered approach.
Here are some of the benefits of memory care and why it may be the best option for your loved one living with dementia or Alzheimer’s:
Assistance with ADLs
ADLs means activities of daily living. In memory care, your loved one will receive full support for all basic activities throughout their day-to-day life on a 24/7 basis.
Depending on the scope of their needs, these basic activities include:
- Bathing
- Toileting
- General grooming
- Transferring from bed to chair/walker/wheelchair etc.
- Assistance with eating and drinking
- Administering medications
While some seniors might still live a very independent life and not need this type of assistance, take comfort from the fact that these services are on offer, should your loved one ever need them.
Occupational and Cognitive Therapy
Both of these forms of therapy are incredibly beneficial to those living with cognitive decline. These senior care services go hand-in-hand with memory care support.
The purpose of both occupational and cognitive therapy is to ensure your loved one remains independent for as long as possible. They also assist in the transition to living with dementia/Alzheimer’s, helping seniors adapt to living with memory loss and other cognitive changes.
Both occupational and cognitive therapies help to make daily living improvements by:
- Building daily routines that support your loved one’s needs and provide a sense of support and comfort
- Improving skills related to ADLs, making life easier and simpler
- Improving their education around dementia/Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline and how to improve quality of life
- Building their resistance to life changes, offering coping skills and adaption techniques
Occupational and cognitive therapy approaches will differ on a person-to-person basis, depending on what your loved one needs.
Injury Prevention
It’s no secret that the cognitive changes that come with dementia/Alzheimer’s can result in some new behaviors that both you and your loved one might not know how to handle.
One of the behaviors that is quite common in those with cognitive decline is dementia wandering, which, in turn, can lead to injury.
In a memory care community, living with dementia support, your loved one is in the safest hands possible. You don’t have to worry about wandering behaviors, their safety, and the possibility of them injuring themselves as a result.
A memory care community offers full, onsite security measures. As well as fully-trained staff who make it their mission to familiarize residents with their surroundings to help them feel truly at home.
Social and Emotional Support
If you’re worried about whether your loved one will feel lonely and neglected in a memory care community, you can put your mind at ease.
While feelings of isolation and loneliness are common when living with cognitive decline, this is not something your loved one will ever have to face.
In a memory care community, seniors receive personalized, attentive, and compassionate care at all hours of the day. They receive regular interactions from friendly and empathetic staff members. As well as regular interactions with other seniors living in the community.
As a result, your loved one will receive constant social and emotional support to feel as supported, loved, and cared for as possible.
Not only this, but seniors have the option of enjoying gourmet meals in a restaurant-like setting, encouraging further social interaction. They can also enjoy communal spaces with other residents and take part in a range of daily social activities.
Specialized, Memory-Centered Activities
One of the best aspects of a memory care community is the range of activities your loved one will have access to daily.
Medical and physical support aside, seniors also benefit from memory-centered activities to support their mental and emotional well-being. This, in turn, can help to reduce the rate of cognitive decline.
Some of these daily activities might include:
- Exercise classes
- Art and music therapy
- Purpose-driven activities to assist with cognitive improvement
- Group or one-on-one games designed to improve memory span
- Celebrating milestones and successes
- A range of recreational activities to encourage friendship and fun
These daily activities are integral to the support and care your loved one receives in a memory care community. You can expect them to be a key part of their day when living with dementia support services.
Interested in Memory Care Services?
If it’s time for your loved one to receive the memory care they need, SummerHouse Beau Ridge offers all the comprehensive support you’re looking for.
With a specialized memory care living option, your loved one will receive person-centered care, tailored to their needs. Interested in learning more about what to expect from our memory care services? Explore here for more.
