Memory care is a special type of residential care that focuses on providing care to individuals with dementia or other forms of memory loss. A memory care facility usually has specially trained staff who provide care and assistance with activities of daily living. They also offer enrichment activities to promote social, emotional, and physical well-being.
What Services Are Part of Memory Care?
A memory care facility offers comprehensive services and support for individuals with dementia and related conditions. These services are centered around several core areas that, when combined, keep residents safe and comfortable. Staff members trained to work with people with dementia and other cognitive impairments provide the following services.
Activities of Daily Living
Many people entering memory care struggle to perform ADLs. The staff assists with tasks such as:
- Bathing
- Dental care
- Dressing
- Hair care
- Housekeeping
- Medication management/reminders
Many places also provide transportation and mobility assistance to ensure residents can get around safely.
Personal Safety
Safety is a primary concern at memory care centers, and ensuring that residents are safe is a big part of what memory care is. Safety is promoted through comprehensive staff training to recognize dementia behaviors that might compromise safety and continuous supervision.
Another way memory care facilities help promote safety is through careful design. Public and private spaces typically have open layouts to minimize confusion and the risk of getting lost. Controlled access to areas and enclosed outdoor spaces further reduce the risk of wandering.
Therapies
A key benefit of memory care is that residents have in-house access to appropriate therapies. Examples of programs you might find at a memory care facility include:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Storytelling
Some memory care facilities also have visiting services, such as therapy dogs. These provide residents with new options that further stimulate cognitive functions.
Enrichment Activities
Social, physical, and emotional enrichment is a big part of most senior living options, including memory care. Each community has specific protocols, but most have the following activities or something similar on their calendar:
- Crafts
- Fitness classes
- Movies
- Outings
- Puzzles
- Religious services
Activities are geared toward people with dementia to maximize benefits while reducing frustration. For example, puzzles are an excellent way to stimulate cognition, but they must be of an appropriate difficulty level.
Personalized Care
Perhaps one of the most beneficial services residents experience in a memory care facility is personalized care plans. These ensure that staff provides therapy, assistance, and enrichment activities according to individual needs. It also reduces the chance that residents will face situations that upset or agitate them.
What Is Memory Care vs. Residential Care?
Memory care is a specialized form of residential care. Both provide long-term care and assistance with ADLs; however, they have several key differences.
Residential care communities tend to have caregivers, housekeepers, and activity or nursing assistants to help with ADLs, transport residents to and from activities, and perform basic cleaning tasks. Memory care centers rely on staff specifically trained to work with patients with dementia and related conditions.
Activities at memory care facilities may seem similar to those in a residential care community at first glance. Still, they are chosen and explicitly implemented for their suitability for those with dementia. Residential care center activities are more general in nature.
Living and public spaces in a memory care facility are also designed to reduce confusion and provide maximum security for residents. Apartments are often smaller and feature open concepts to allow a clear line of sight between living and sleeping areas.
What Is Memory Care vs. Skilled Nursing?
Memory care and skilled nursing facilities both offer comprehensive services for a specific client base. However, they have different focuses.
Skilled nursing homes generally offer complete medical care. State and federal agencies strictly regulate them. They often look and feel more like a hospital than a home.
Residents typically have needs that require medical attention, such as feeding tubes, catheters, or deep wounds. Some skilled nursing residents may also have cognitive decline. However, staff is not usually specially trained to address those unique needs.
Memory care facilities are more home-like. Staff is trained to handle the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral needs of residents with dementia and related conditions. They are regulated at the state level, usually as specialized residential care facilities.
Memory care residents may have minor medical needs but do not require around-the-clock medical care. Instead, they benefit from personalized care plans, structured routines, and planned living arrangements designed to reduce confusion.
Who Should Consider Memory Care?
Generally, someone who has cognitive dysfunction to the point where it interferes with activities of daily living or personal safety should consider moving to a memory care center. Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease may benefit from the specialized attention of a memory care facility.
Many other conditions can cause symptoms that may benefit from a memory care program. For example, someone who experiences cognitive decline after a stroke is a good candidate.
Signs That Memory Care Is a Good Option
While each individual journey with dementia is unique, and you may prefer to provide care for a loved one at home, some signs indicate that moving to a memory care facility is a good choice. They include:
- Behavioral changes, such as social withdrawal
- Difficulty communicating
- Frequent or serious falls
- Leaving appliances on
- Roaming or getting lost
- Trouble with activities of daily living (dressing, grooming, mobility, etc.)
Caregiver strain is another consideration. Caring for someone with dementia is physically and emotionally exhausting. Professional providers have special training to make it easier and reduce those effects. However, family members may feel overwhelmed with the task, resulting in burnout and health complications.
Dementia is a progressive condition, and you or your loved one may not need memory care services now. However, it is a good idea to understand the signs that generally precipitate a move to this type of senior living.
Where Can I Learn More About What Memory Care Is?
St. Charles Senior Living provides compassionate residential care and memory care to our residents in St. Charles, MN. Our staff can help you understand what memory care is and whether it fits your loved one’s needs. Contact us today to schedule a tour and learn more.