Seniors living with dementia often require specialized care and ongoing supervision that family caregivers may find challenging to provide. As your loved one’s condition progresses, dementia symptoms and behaviors may worsen, and there may be a fork in the road where you must decide to arrange for care at home or consider a move to a senior living community that offers memory support.
This complex decision requires an understanding of what home care organizations and memory support providers offer for dementia care. And the decision often depends on the individual’s condition, needs, budget, and support system.
What is a memory support community?
At some point, caregivers may find that moving a senior to a memory support community will be beneficial as their dementia progresses. Memory support facilities provide long-term care for seniors living with Alzheimer’s or related dementia. This type of residential community typically offers specialized memory support services that meet the unique needs of its residents. The services in these communities are designed to improve the quality of life for seniors with memory loss by reducing confusion and stimulating cognitive function within a secure setting. That secure setting, and the collective support of a team approach to care, is often a very important factor for families.
Memory support communities can be a part of another senior living community that provides multiple levels of care, or they can be a stand-alone facility. For example, here at Jackson Creek Senior Living, we offer memory support as well as assisted living and independent living apartments, respite care and day retreat services.
Memory support care often includes many of the same services as assisted living, such as assistance with activities of daily living, meal preparation, and medication management. They also offer unique services, activities, and amenities tailored to seniors with cognitive impairment. Communities that care for seniors with middle- to end-stage dementia may also be better equipped to handle the challenges associated with wandering, aggression, and other dementia-related behaviors.
Memory support communities meet the care needs of those experiencing cognitive decline and memory loss by offering various services:
- Personal care that assists seniors who have Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or medication management
- Safety features, which typically include security cameras, emergency call buttons, and locked doors to prevent wandering
- Full-time supervision by team members trained to attend to the needs of seniors living with dementia
- Behavioral interventions to help with symptoms such as aggression
- Activities, programs, and social events designed to stimulate cognitive function for seniors living with dementia
- Intentionally designed spaces that ease anxiety and agitation, and simplified building layouts for easy navigation
Many memory support communities utilize a “person-centered” approach to providing care. This process focuses on building close relationships between residents and team members while promoting individuality. Person-centered memory support communities emphasize respecting and valuing seniors as individuals, regardless of their cognitive abilities.
What is home care for dementia?
Home care provides services to assist seniors in their homes. Home care may be offered by independent caregivers hired as contractors, or by home care agencies that employ professional caregivers. These caregivers offer companionship, assistance with daily activities, and dementia care, usually for an hourly fee. Levels of care provided can vary from a few hours of weekly housekeeping to 24-hour daily supervision, based on each person’s needs and individual care plan.
Home care may be more appropriate for individuals with early to moderate stages of dementia who can still function with support, which can often be family members to supplement home care staff. This option allows the individual to be in a familiar environment, get one-on-one care, and benefit from flexibility in scheduling. Home modifications may be necessary for safety and security.
Assessing the right dementia care option for your family
Budget can be a major factor for families in timing and selecting which option should be taken. While the price of memory support care is typically higher than assisted living, the all-inclusive pricing can be attractive to families who balance this cost against the cost of running a home (food, utilities, insurance, maintenance) and the cost of the home care providers.
Deciding which type of care your loved one living with dementia needs can feel like a daunting task at first. Learning about the differences between memory support communities and home care providers is a good place to start.
If you would like to speak with our memory support team as you explore your options, our experts are a resource here to assist you. Please give them a call at 719-259-1331. Jackson Creek Senior Living offers a continuum of care options for seniors 62+, including dementia care.
