Memory Care

Caring for Someone With Dementia

Caring for a loved one with dementia may seem daunting for many families. When you have no clue what dementia care is, you will feel nervous, anxious, stressed out, and afraid, but don't fret because it is normal to feel this way. Even professional caregivers can find it taxing to attend to their dementia patients. After all, people diagnosed with dementia, whether it's Alzheimer's or other related issues, have a progressive biological brain condition. That's a tough reality for anyone to accept. Hence, you must prepare yourself for the challenges that lie ahead. Whether you're a family member or a professional caregiver, you must keep in mind that an elderly with dementia needs patience. It is difficult for someone with dementia to think, remember, and communicate with others. They may even forget to care for themselves.…

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When to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care

The type of care your elderly loved one requires can change over time. You may soon need to choose between memory care assisted living facilities. Finalizing that decision is not so simple, however. For starters, there is no guarantee that your older relative will agree to the move. They are more likely to decline if they have grown attached to their current living arrangements. Sometimes though, you still need to make those difficult decisions. Please feel free to continue with this article to learn more about making the transition from assisted living to memory care facilities. How Do Assisted Living and Memory Care Facilities Differ from One Another? To determine what kind of care your loved one needs, you must first learn about the capabilities of the available options. They are not all the same, and…

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Finding a home for your loved one

Feel free to print this out and use it.  Dan TO DO’S Identify homes that are geographically located close where you want the resident to live. Call each home and ask if there is availability. The ones that have openings, take a copy of this list and ‘show up’ for a visit. When you arrive, ask to walk around immediately. Look in each room, bedroom, bathroom and around the facility. Look at the residents. Talk to the residents. Ask if they like it there. Then sit down with this list, (one page of questions for each facility). Ask the questions and write down the answers as you get them.   QUESTIONS TO ASK How long has this facility been open? Are you licensed? May I see a copy of the license? How many beds are there?…

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San Diego Memory Care and the Seven Stages of Dementia

Understanding the symptoms associated with the various stages of dementia will help you make the decision about the right time to seek San Diego memory care for your loved one. Early on, it is easy to miss the signs of dementia, especially when the person lives alone. People often refer to the “early stages of dementia” or, later on, to more “advanced stages,” during which symptoms become more apparent. In fact, there are seven distinct stages, which are based on the symptoms experienced at any point in the progression of the disease. Doctors often use the Reisberg Scale, often called the GDS, to separate the seven stages of the disease. Although this scale includes multiple stages within the categories of “No Dementia” and “Mid-Stage Dementia”, it further separates the symptoms for a more accurate diagnosis. This…

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Memory Care or Assisted Living? Making the Best Choice for Mom or Dad

Senior care facilities come in many types, such as memory care and assisted living, and choosing the best community for your mother or father can be confusing. Rule of thumb is that the right place will help keep your parent safe, while also maximizing his or her independence. To make this decision, you need to know details about your parent’s condition and needs, as well as understand the definitions of the types of care facilities available. Let’s break down these issues with a basic Q & A.  What is Assisted Living? The primary definition of assisted living is a long-term senior care option that offers supportive aid, health services, and housing. Essential services often include transportation, medical management, and 24-hour emergency care. Mom or Dad will be able to ask the staff for assistance with daily…

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Assisted Living for Memory Care. Why is it the best option?

For many Alzheimer’s dementia patients, an Assisted Living for Memory Care facility is the best option. These facilities are specifically structured to cater to their daily needs and support them in ways that can be difficult at home. Ongoing social engagement, a range of cognitive and physical therapies and an environment designed to encourage independent movement while still being safe, are a combination of things that most of us, as much as we want to, simply can’t provide for our loved ones on our own. It can be a challenge to find the right facility, but once you do, it can result in noticeable improvements in the physical and mental wellness of a dementia patient. They are likely to thrive and keep as healthy, functional, interactive and relaxed as possible, while also easing some of the…

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10 Facts You Need To Know About Memory Care

Do you think your loved one may need memory care? San Diego memory care facilities vary widely in the scope of services they offer their residents. Here are ten facts you need to look at when you consider a southern California memory care facility.  1. A Collaborative, Advanced Approach to Memory Care First of all, a memory care center needs to provide services that are up-to-date with all of the latest advances in dementia care. A collaborative approach is a must, since coordinating care for your loved one involves a wide range of people: your loved one, the care team, and the family members involved.   2. A Well-Trained, Adequate Number of Staff Members  Not counting housekeeping or dietary personnel, a memory care facility should ensure that the ratio of caregivers—aides and nurses—to patients is at least…

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Is it Alzeihmer’s or Dementia?

Actually it's called Dementia of the Alzheimer's type. 'Dementia' is an umbrella term,  Alzheimer's being the most prevalent type of dementia.  The two most common types of dementia are Alzheimer's Disease (apprx. 65%) and vascular dementia or those incidents caused by loss of blood to or in the brain - more commonly called strokes.  There are also TIA's - trans ischemic attacks or mini-strokes. Dementias are characterized by loss of memory especially short-term, loss of thinking skills including reasoning and judgement, confusion regarding time and place orientation, inability to conduct task sequencing such as cooking and a demise of feeling good about one's self or well-being.  There may also be aphasia;  a loss of the comprehension and expression of language caused by dysfunction in the brain. Next we'll get in to some more of the terminology…

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Memory Care – What’s it all about?

Memory Care refers to addressing the loss of memory and confusion of residents (at Lakeside Manor they are residents - not patients)  by the caregivers who are trained specifically in this type of care.  The loss of memory is frustrating and can contribute to anxiety, mistrust, fear and anger. The trained caregiver is fully aware of what is happening: - repetitive questions of the same wording; - confusion about time and place orientation - "where am I?" - requests for something has just happened - to do it again - and again; - wanting to talk to folks from their past who are no longer around; and, - with little comprehension that they have a loss of memory. The best ways to address this are: - stop what you're doing and listen to the resident; -…

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Alzehimer’s Myth

Myth 1: Memory loss is a natural part of aging. Reality: As people age, it's normal to have occasional memory problems, such as forgetting the name of a person you've recently met. However, Alzheimer's is more than occasional memory loss. It's a disease that causes brain cells to malfunction and ultimately die. When this happens, an individual may forget the name of a longtime friend or what roads to take to return to a home they've lived in for decades.

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