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The National Department of Health and Human Services indicates that 70 percent of adults past the age of 65 at some point in their life will require long-term care services. These elders will normally be accommodated in a long-term care facility. Typically, these seniors will be housed in a long-term care facility. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that up to half of all elderly living in long-term care facilities have a type of memory condition or cognitive impairment. With such a high number of the population requiring specialized care for the elderly, memory care communities are havens of safety. If you or your loved one has begun displaying symptoms of a memory condition, it is never too soon to begin exploring your possibilities. We have created a comprehensive guide to assist you in learning about the significance of memory care and how to select a quality facility.
A memory care community is a residential center that has been designed with the requirements of memory conditions in mind. They provide the residents with a better standard of life than they would otherwise receive on their own, as well as 24-hour care and increased levels of security. Beyond increased security and assistance from compassionate caregivers, many memory care homes also provide specialized care.
Some programs assist aging residents to cope with their healthcare needs, such as taking their meds or attending physician visits. Social programs form a large component of each memory care home's approach and care profile. They provide hobbies to keep the residents' minds and bodies active, as well as social activities to keep them engaged with their environment. Alternative therapies, pet visitations, gardening, or music classes are some that might be available in memory care homes.
Services rendered are comparable to those found in an assisted living residence, but they are tailored with memory conditions in consideration. Building design will facilitate initiative navigation as a means of simplifying the process while also preventing residents from wandering. Security is also part of memory care, particularly elopement prevention. Medical alert systems like personal security bracelets are used in many memory care homes as a routine aspect of care, but not all.
The decision to move out of the home into a memory care unit is one made after much deliberation. When caring for or living with an elderly person who has a memory disorder, there will eventually be a time when it is no longer safe for them to stay at home. Going into a memory care facility will provide them with the assistance they require to live well while also receiving much-needed therapy for their disorder. There are a few things to take into account before the move, though:
Type of care. The level of care required must be compatible with the services provided within the memory care home. If wandering is an issue, consider a facility that provides safe exteriors and interventions to assist in maintaining seniors' safety during an episode of wandering. The accessibility of the home is also crucial. A memory care center must be accessible regularly for family and friends who could visit frequently. If the elder also has other health issues, selecting a memory care facility close to a nearby medical facility is also a good option. Cost is not the lone consideration when selecting a facility, but affordability should be taken into consideration.
Services rendered are comparable to those found in an assisted living residence, but they are tailored with memory conditions in consideration. Building design will facilitate initiative navigation as a means of simplifying the process while also preventing residents from wandering. Security is also part of memory care, particularly elopement prevention. Medical alert systems like personal security bracelets are used in many memory care homes as a routine aspect of care, but not all.
The decision to move out of the home into a memory care unit is one made after much deliberation. When caring for or living with an elderly person who has a memory disorder, there will eventually be a time when it is no longer safe for them to stay at home. Going into a memory care facility will provide them with the assistance they require to live well while also receiving much-needed therapy for their disorder. There are a few things to take into account before the move, though:
Type of care. The level of care required must be compatible with the services provided within the memory care home. If wandering is an issue, consider a facility that provides safe exteriors and interventions to assist in maintaining seniors' safety during an episode of wandering. The accessibility of the home is also crucial. A memory care center must be accessible regularly for family and friends who could visit frequently. If the elder also has other health issues, selecting a memory care facility close to a nearby medical facility is also a good option. Cost is not the lone consideration when selecting a facility, but affordability should be taken into consideration.
Once a patient begins exhibiting characteristic behaviors unique to dementia, Alzheimer's, or cognitively impaired elderly, the time is right to plan alternatives. When such behavior poses a danger to the elderly or the people around them, relocation to a facility with memory care should be the focus. Some of the other indications that it is time for memory care include escalating combativeness, inattention to personal hygiene, repeated elopement or wandering, regression from daily activities, and difficulty socializing, among others.
Trained personnel in assisted living facilities tend to see these signs long before the family. Moving into a memory care facility from an assisted living facility tends to be a lot simpler than moving in from home. Some supportive interventions available tend to make the relocation from one facility to another less traumatic. It is necessary to make sure the senior truly requires a safe atmosphere prior to making the move, since it is a significant adjustment. In the majority of states, a health assessment and a cognitive assessment are necessary before a senior is transferred from assisted living to a memory care environment.
There are a large number of elderly people coming into memory care with other health issues to account for. While most can be dealt with through further care, the elderly who have diabetes might require further support. There is a connection between diabetes and memory disorders. The elderly with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing a cognitive disorder compared to those without diabetes. Diabetes has also been found to contribute to a faster decline in the mental capacities of individuals with memory disorders.
Memory care facilities provide total care for the elderly with cognitive illness, but can also assist with the treatment of other ailments present. Long-term memory care aims to enable the resident to be as independent as possible, for as long as possible. One way memory care facilities will assist in this endeavor is by keeping the resident actively involved in taking care of their diabetes. This will include everything from reminding the resident to take their medication through to making sure their injections, if necessary, are given on time.
Medications will be stored in well-marked containers or kept with the resident's other medications. Exercise and well-planned meals will be another area of emphasis for memory care residents who have diabetes. Routine glucose monitoring by available nurses or through instructions by the staff will also be a routine aspect of resident care. As a resident's condition advances, CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) devices could become a useful option. If your loved one is diagnosed with diabetes, you should make sure the memory care facility you select is capable of caring for seniors with the disease.
Memory care facilities are similar to and dissimilar to assisted living communities. Both communities provide seniors with a residence in which to spend their golden years, but there are some significant differences. Memory care facilities have caregivers who are specially trained to meet the unique needs of residents with cognitive impairments. The setting is also much safer than an assisted living facility, and there are additional safety features put in place to safeguard the residents. Because of this, the price of living in a memory care facility is sometimes greater than that of other kinds of senior living establishments.
Dementia care facilities, Alzheimer's care, and memory care homes tend to have a price tag that is 25% higher than that of traditional assisted living care communities. On average, that means seniors will need to pay at least $5,000 a month for their care. This fee is dependent on the location, additional amenities, and additional healthcare costs, and can be more or less. Paying in full from one's pocket is something that can be done, but not one that most families can afford. Fortunately, there are numerous alternatives available to enable families to pay for necessary memory care for their loved ones.
A reverse mortgage or an HECM is one of the alternatives to pay for memory care expenses among seniors aged 62 and above who are homeowners. The home value is used to finance the expense of memory care without selling the property. For seniors with life insurance policies, there are some companies that permit cashing out instead of using the policy to pay benefits at the time of death. This is an alternative for seniors with fewer options to cover memory care.
Medicare and Medicaid do not pay for the expense of residential memory care, but some of the services that are offered by memory care facilities can be reimbursed. Medicare will pay for a maximum of 35 hours a week of home care for individuals with cognitive disorders. So the help that staff offer in a residential care home can be reimbursed, though the room charges are not. Look into getting a Medigap plan that will further cover memory care expenses. Most states also have waiver programs under Medicaid that will assist with the payment of long-term memory care. These are typically for those who do not wish to move into a skilled nursing home, which costs the Medicaid system more money. Care is subsidized under these plans, just not room and board.
For veterans, the Aid & Attendance benefit is a monthly dividend that can be used to defray the cost of long-term memory care. The good thing about this option is that the payments are tax-free and offered in addition to VA pension benefits. This can be combined with basic insurance and Medicaid/Medicare in most cases.
The choice to relocate a loved one to a memory care community isn't an easy one, but it is usually the ideal option. With the knowledge that they will have an improved quality of life and focused care, many times this is the encouragement many families need in order to finalize their care arrangements. Memory care communities and long-term care centers are designed with empowerment. They provide residents with a means to be independent for as long as possible while also enabling them through productivity. Memory care facilities also provide a wide array of programs in response to the needs of individuals with cognitive illnesses.
Memory care facilities offer life-enriching activities to older adults that cause them to stay productive and mentally engaged. There is usually an emphasis on what they can do rather than what they are unable to do. For older adults with memory disorders, memory loss, or difficulty communicating, staying productive can significantly enhance their quality of life.
Mealtimes are also tailored specially to meet their nutritional requirements. It is difficult for most elderly people with memory care conditions to eat on time or even remember to eat. Meals consist of healthy calories and are highly nutritious to promote brain health. There is also staff available to assist elderly residents in eating if necessary, or to assist them to avoid choking. When an individual is well-nourished and can eat in a social setting, their quality of life will automatically improve as a whole.
To also promote a higher level of quality of life, memory care homes have surroundings that are specifically designed. Memory care surroundings are calming to the eye and include abundant soft surfaces and uplifting hues to assist in keeping one calm. The design of the majority of memory care homes promotes safety and security as well as wards off wandering. Visual reminders on doors and hallways, and open floor plans exist in abundance. Most of the centers even have memory boxes to assist residents when their memory fails.
Memory care facilities have a full staff available to provide proper care to the residents. Specifically trained caregivers who have completed specialized training to care for seniors with memory ailments are only the beginning. Staffing ratios will depend on the type of facility and location. The smaller the number of residents per staff member, the better. A ratio of 1:6, up to 1:10, is a good ratio for residents with more elevated levels of care needs. A ratio of 1:12-1:20 may be sufficient for moderate to low levels of care. The majority of residents will also have their first-line physician, but a memory center must also be staffed by a full-time physician. Many hands go into making sure memory care homes run efficiently, including other staff members:
A geriatric doctor is also an integral member of the memory care team who could work full-time or have agreements with the facility. For a memory care community, it is also crucial that a neurologist be part of the staff. As this is such a specialty area, most neurologists will assign a certain number of days or hours to a memory care house each week. Memory care centers with a psychiatrist on hand are also highly effective. This will assist with detecting depression, isolation, and other emotional problems that are prevalent among seniors with memory disorders.
If you are not sure where to start your search for memory care, browse our full listing of all available memory care facilities in the U.S. Below, you can click on 1 of the 50 states where you are looking for memory care, and then further browse by city or state:
Seniors who have memory care conditions tend to wander at times. Wandering, becoming confused, or even forgetting where they are is also prevalent. Whether because of the advancement of dementia, Alzheimer's, or another memory condition, resident safety is the top priority. Older residents in general tend to experience sundowners when the time is changed from sunup to sundown.
Staff in a memory care facility will learn to recognize the cues of distress as well as the early signs of sundowning. Staff will also be trained to watch closely over the seniors in their care so that they don't wander away from the property or into areas that are off limits. Doors and hazardous areas will be secured to avoid possible harm, and the design of memory care homes minimizes confusion. Residents may have tracking bracelets or pendants that will assist staff members in monitoring their movement inside the facility, depending on the facility.
Wandering can be caused by many different things, based on the individual's memory state. Many times, it can be as basic as a side effect of a resident's medications or simply an excess of physical desire. Other times, wandering is initiated by stress, forgetfulness, or no apparent reason at all. In a memory care facility, certain safeguards are in place to assist the residents in having healthy amounts of physical and social activity while also assisting them in managing the side effects of their illnesses.
Memory care facilities will each have their own safety and security guidelines, but state laws need to be taken into account as well. In memory care facilities, all spaces that hold toxic, sharp, or otherwise dangerous substances must be stored in a secure room. Seniors who have memory care conditions tend to wander at times. Wandering, becoming confused, or even forgetting where they are is also prevalent. Whether because of the advancement of dementia, Alzheimer's, or another memory condition, resident safety is the top priority. Older residents in general tend to experience sundowners when the time is changed from sunup to sundown.
Staff in a memory care facility will learn to recognize the cues of distress as well as the early signs of sundowning. Staff will also be trained to watch closely over the seniors in their care so that they don't wander away from the property or into areas that are off limits. Doors and hazardous areas will be secured to avoid possible harm, and the design of memory care homes minimizes confusion. Residents may have tracking bracelets or pendants that will assist staff members in monitoring their movement inside the facility, depending on the facility.
Wandering can be caused by many different things, based on the individual's memory state. Many times, it can be as basic as a side effect of a resident's medications or simply an excess of physical desire. Other times, wandering is initiated by stress, forgetfulness, or no apparent reason at all. In a memory care facility, certain safeguards are in place to assist the residents in having healthy amounts of physical and social activity while also assisting them in managing the side effects of their illnesses.
Memory care facilities will all have their own rules of safety and security, but state regulations must be considered as well. In memory care facilities, all areas containing toxic, sharp, or otherwise harmful substances have to be kept in a locked room.
There are even state codes that specify locked doors and gates are used on the perimeter of facilities that have memory care seniors. Memory care-compliant lighting and contrast for stair steps are also mandated in most states for extra protection. These rules further ensure the safety of the most vulnerable among us when they need it most.
Many older adults have pets that have been their constant companions over the years. Relocating to a memory care community frequently puts them face-to-face with the dilemma of leaving them behind. For most individuals, a pet is a member of the family, and for older adults, leaving a pet behind is just not something that can be done. The silver lining is that although the majority of assisted living homes and memory care facilities do not permit animals, some facilities welcome them. For the most part, senior citizens with pets who are transitioning to a memory care facility will have an assessment. Each site varies, so be sure to inquire about their policy before committing.
A standard pet-friendly memory care facility senior pet evaluation will seek to establish the following:
Assuming that everything runs smoothly during the evaluation, there are also some general guidelines around pet ownership to take into account. Most memory care centers will have pet breed and size restrictions. Whichever animal type it is, vaccinations must be current. There is also an additional pet fee that guests pay, which is in addition to the residency fee for memory care. All memory care homes will request that the resident and their family have some sort of plan in place to care for the pet if the senior is no longer capable. Undomesticated pets and exotic animals are generally not permitted. Aside from the fact that the senior can take care of the pet by themselves, there is usually a 1 pet per person limit.
