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. Elderly folks suffering from dementia can be moody and cranky. In the worst-cases, it can even change the personality of your once sweet senior. How can you handle this situation when you’re not a trained medical professional?

Remember, the right attitude is critical for successful care. Learning more about the diagnosis can help you understand your elderly loved one. It also allows you to set realistic expectations and retain control as the caregiver. When you know what pitfalls and challenges to expect, you can plan ahead and take the sting out of your new responsibilities. Furthermore, the right mind frame assures you to retain a more positive attitude despite this harsh prognosis. Here are some vital things you must consider when caring for an elderly loved one with dementia.

Do Work On Communication Skills to Foster Better Interactions

Keep in mind, communicating with a person with dementia takes effort. But it is something that you can readily learn. With proper communication, you can make caregiving less stressful. Furthermore, you can anticipate a better relationship. Expressing yourself properly will help manage any difficult behavior or attitudes that you may encounter. Try the following techniques:

1. Establish a positive mood

More than words, your body language can convey your inner thoughts and feelings. Hence, strive hard to establish a positive mood to ensure a good interaction. Your tone of voice and facial expressions must always be pleasant, cordial, and respectful.

2. Work on getting the right attention

Before you speak, make sure you have the person’s undivided attention. Turn off all distractions like the TV, radio, or computer. Address the person by name and remind them of your relationship. Maintain eye contact to get them to concentrate on your words.

3. Give a clear, succinct message

Remember to speak slowly and use simple words. Be mindful of your tone because it can hurt their feelings. If your elderly loved one doesn’t understand, patiently repeat or rephrase your words. Break everything down into a series of manageable instructions.

4. Listen not only with your ears

When dealing with dementia, you must be patient in waiting for a reply. Sometimes, you must use more than your ears to listen. Look at body cues and overall demeanor. Help supply words when they are grappling for it. Listen with your heart to comprehend their emotions.

5. Respond with love

An elderly loved one with dementia feels insecure. They often feel anxious, confused, and scared. Often, they can mix up facts and remember the wrong things. As such, you need to be patient in explaining. Speak in a soothing tone and use gentle words. Hold their hand, touch them, and pat their back. Offering kindness and love will go a long way.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help and Seek Support

Whether you need to take care of someone in your family or doing so as your profession, never be afraid to seek a helping hand and ask for support. Support groups and organizations can help family members and professionals tremendously. With your group, you can vent your frustrations without any judgment. Since everyone is going through the same thing, you can share coping tips and tricks with one another. A group is a good place to find resources about dementia. Other pro caregivers can also give you their professional insight to apply in caring for your elderly loved one.

Furthermore, professionals should never feel ashamed to ask a colleague for support. Everyone in the healthcare profession understands that caring for someone with dementia is difficult. Hence, there will be moments that even professionals need a friendly ear. Someone to talk to can help unburden you from the stress you feel.

Do Exhibit Compassion and Empathy

Quality care always springs from a compassionate heart that empathizes with the plight of a sick person. This mantra holds true for every human relationship, but it becomes even more important for those who care for people with dementia. To illustrate, a person with dementia can get confused about the time of day, where they live, and who their family members are. This situation is truly heartbreaking!

Thus, it would help to put yourself in the person’s shoes. How would you want to be treated if you ever find yourself not knowing who you are and feeling disoriented about your new assisted-living community? Actively empathizing with the senior in your care can help you become more conscientious of your actions. After all, everyone will eventually enter the twilight of their years. When you experience this season of life, you certainly want everyone to care for and respect you, even if you suffer from dementia.

Don’t Believe the Myth that Dementia is Only Memory Loss

It is an understatement to say that dementia is merely memory loss. However, memory loss is one of the symptoms of dementia. Some dementia cases, such as Pick’s disease and frontotemporal dementia, exhibit personality changes. Remember, the brain has different lobes, so the symptoms that manifest can vary depending on the location affected by the disease.

Noteworthy, memory loss is often the most obvious symptom that exhibits the person is suffering a neurological decline. Sadly, this can lead to many other issues, such as combative behavior and terrible mood swings. To illustrate, it is highly likely that a lady-like grandma will start cussing like a veteran sailor in rough seas. It is normal for dementia patients to experience delusions and even hallucinations. In some cases, an elderly person can even begin to think that his family members plot something evil against him.

In the advanced stage of most kinds of dementia, the patient may be non-functioning. As a result, you will find them unable to dress themselves, brush their teeth, or even eat. Incontinence may also be a problem. When the self-care abilities are gone, you may need a permanent caregiver all the time or consider seeking a dementia facility for help. Dementia patients who lose their ability to communicate and identify people or things can end up getting lost. It is truly heart-wrenching to see someone who was once so lively become unresponsive. Thus, seeking professional help is crucial when they can no longer live independently.

Do Set Realistic Expectations

Though it is vital to stay positive, you must also be realistic about the disease. Though it may sound harsh, the sad reality is that dementia is often an irreversible and progressive disorder. In fact, prepare for things to get worse over time. There is no known cure for this disease, so manage your expectations and plan accordingly. What you can do is to ensure that the person in your care is always comfortable and safe. You can try the following:

• GPS tracking apps
• Digital clocks with reminders
• Communication aids
• Home monitoring devices
• Security cameras
• Home care bots
• Medication management tools

Remember, most professionals share that dementia patients often have good days and bad days. For best results, always try to prolong the good days by ensuring your elderly loved one is not agitated or stressed. Providing a relaxed environment without excessive stimuli can help them stay calm. Feeding them a healthy diet that maintains their blood pressure and sugar levels will ensure better days ahead.

Don’t Forcefully Correct or Be Mean About Troublesome Behavior

Personality and behavioral changes are the biggest challenges when caring for a loved one with dementia. Most become irritable when they cannot remember things or do what they like. Some become combative when you restrict their movements for their own safety. Sadly, they no longer have the mental faculties to process that what you are doing is for their own good.

In cases like this, you must once again be patient, compassionate, and understanding. Don’t take things personally and strive to maintain a good attitude. To help you out, consider the following:

1. Change how you respond

Remember, you cannot correct nor change a person with dementia. It is an incurable disease. When you attempt to modify their behavior and attitude, you will most likely fail. Most of all, they will resist. Hence, it is better to change how you respond because you still have control over your behavior and reasoning.

2. Check with the primary care provider

Sometimes, when the behavior becomes too much, you need to consult their doctor. It could be an underlying medical issue. Your elderly loved one could be in pain. It could also be a side effect of a medicine. Seek the doctor’s advice to help you sort things out.

3. Consider the various triggers

Often, how a person with dementia reacts is based on a trigger. Sometimes, it could be something as simple as the weather. It could also be what they ate that day or the noise they heard that got them overstimulated. Be more observant in assessing their disruptive patterns. Through proper evaluation, you can find triggers and avoid them.

4. Understand the reason behind it

Since people with dementia cannot eloquently express what they want or need, they can act out. Sometimes, this manifests through erratic behavior, such as throwing out all the clothes from the closet. When this happens, understand the reason behind the behavior. What could your elderly loved one be trying to do or express? Try the best you can to accommodate them.

Do Everything to Prevent Wandering and Avoid Getting Lost

It is often common for people with dementia to wander around. They walk aimlessly even if they have no clue how to return. This could be a potential and serious problem that you have to consider. With poor memory, they can get lost permanently. To help you manage this behavior, consider the following:

• Include regular exercise to prevent restlessness and boredom.
• Consider installing smart locks that they cannot open but are accessible to others.
• Put a barrier on the main entryway, like a curtain to camouflage the door.
• Add child-lock covers on doorknobs to prevent accidents.
• Install security cameras to keep watch over your elderly loved ones.
• Sew name, contact number, and address labels on clothes.
• Inform neighbors about this problem so they can help keep watch.

Do Make Concrete Plans for the Future

When caring for someone with dementia, change is an inevitable part of the course. Remember this detail, so you won’t get used to a routine or status quo. As this disease is progressive, you must prepare for when you need to bring your loved one to a professional memory care facility with a residential option. As such, you need to check your finances and scout your area for a good nursing home. You must face the fact that care needs will increase as your elderly family member’s condition deteriorates. Thus, you must eventually transition your loved one into a reputable adult-living community.

If you need help, you can get in touch with us at Lakeside Manor. Our team understands that it is difficult to pick a care facility for your loved one. After all, you want quality care you can trust, as well as a good team that your beloved family member is comfortable with. Don’t hesitate to call and ask us any questions if you need additional information. We also invite you to tour our community to see how we spend our days with our lovely seniors.

The post Caring for Someone With Dementia appeared first on Lakeside Manor.

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 you may find that a particular facility is better suited to take care of your family member.

Assisted Living Facilities

Starting with assisted living facilities, these establishments focus on helping residents keep up their regular routines.  As we get older, some of the chores we’ve been doing seemingly forever become harder to complete. Cleaning may start to take a huge toll on your body, and bathing may become more troublesome, given how slippery everything is.

The staff members at assisted living facilities can help residents with those daily tasks. They can also assist residents who need help eating or moving around.

Assisted living facilities also give their residents opportunities to join several activities. Those activities help the residents enjoy their time at the facility more and to create a more tightly-knit community.

When it comes to the living quarters themselves, residents usually have their own rooms. Open areas are also available, and residents can spend time in one of them if they so desire.

Notably, the staff members at assisted living facilities allow the residents to be independent, according to MedlinePlus. Residents are usually free to go about their day in whichever way they choose, although they will receive reminders about meals and medication.

Speaking of medication, assisted living facilities don’t focus on providing medical care to residents. They will monitor a resident’s intake of medication and offer reminders to take them on time, but that’s about it.

You will need to seek out a different type of establishment if you wish to secure more comprehensive medical care for your loved one.

Also, assisted living facilities provide round-the-clock supervision over their residents to ensure that they are always safe. However, the residents still receive the chance to manage their schedules on how they see fit.

Memory Care Facilities

Memory care and assisted living facilities are remarkably similar. The two offer assistance for daily tasks, handle meals, and provide 24-hour monitoring.

Where memory care facilities differ is in the way they approach monitoring. It’s an aspect of care they take more seriously because doing so is a necessity.

Among the more troubling symptoms of dementia are confusion and disorientation. People diagnosed with that condition are more likely to get lost and/or forget where they were going. They also tend to wander away from their place of residence, only realizing they have strayed too far.

Understanding how susceptible people with dementia are to getting lost, memory care facilities put more safeguards in place to keep them safe. Staff members at memory care facilities pay closer attention to residents and keep closer tabs on them. They may also ask residents to participate in more structured activities so that they are engaged better.

Residents of memory care facilities don’t experience the same level of independence as those in assisted living facilities do. Unfortunately, that’s a necessary change to ensure their safety.

According to AARP, memory care facilities also have more security measures in place compared to assisted living facilities. They often feature doors monitored by alarms, and their outdoor spaces are enclosed. Residents are also often required to wear monitoring bracelets.

With those additional security measures in place, you can feel more at ease knowing that your relatives are always safe.

When Should You Move Your Loved One from an Assisted Living to a Memory Care Facility?

The decision to transition from an assisted living facility to a memory care facility is not an easy one to make. As much as possible, we want to give our older relatives the chance to live as independently as they can.

Still, there comes a time when your loved one needs the type of supervision and security only a memory care facility can provide. To better determine when that time has arrived, it helps to ask yourself the questions listed below.

Is Your Loved One Being Monitored Adequately?

You need to prioritize your loved one’s safety. That always must be the first thing on your mind whenever you’re deciding which facility to choose.

If you’ve heard from the staff at the assisted living facility that your loved one has tended to wander off more recently, alarm bells should start ringing in your head. Look around the facility and see if they have the security measures in place to monitor your loved one diligently.

Since they need to strike a balance between giving their residents some measure of independence while simultaneously monitoring them, it may not register right away that your relative could be wandering off accidentally. If you want them monitored better, looking for a memory care facility is the right move.

Has Your Loved One’s Condition Worsened?

Dementia is not a stagnant condition. Over time, it can worsen, and its effects on your family member may become more pronounced.

Activities they could handle on their own not too long ago may prove too complex due to their deteriorating condition. Even something as important as eating may slip their mind due to their dementia.

A person affected that significantly by dementia requires more diligent and attentive care. Assisted living facilities can offer more than adequate care for people dealing with the early symptoms of dementia. However, they may not be accommodating residents displaying more advanced symptoms.

Continuing to let them stay at a facility that may not be well-equipped to deal with their condition is risky. It’s best to move them to a memory care facility to manage their condition the best way possible.

Are the Staff Members Adequately Trained?

One of the more unfortunate symptoms of dementia is erratic behavior. Someone affected by that condition may lash out at times or suddenly become aggressive. Dealing with residents who exhibit those symptoms is not easy.

Staff members must be experienced in handling those situations to prevent any unfortunate incidents from taking place. You’re more likely to find staff members with extensive training at memory care facilities.

It’s easier to entrust your loved one to a memory care facility since you know their workers are fully capable of handling situations that may arise.

Are the Activities Offered Helpful to Your Loved One?

There is still no known cure for dementia, but there are ways to manage the symptoms. One such approach involves keeping the minds of those with dementia consistently engaged.

Assisted living facilities present their residents with various activities, but not all of them focus on mental stimulation. The greater emphasis placed on those mentally beneficial activities offered by memory care facilities is a real plus for people with dementia.

Considering the long-term benefits of mental stimulation in the fight against dementia, it’s not a bad idea to move your loved one to a memory care facility sooner rather than later.

How Should You Handle the Move from an Assisted Living Facility to a Memory Care Facility?

It’s difficult to predict how your loved one will react after telling them your plan to move them to a new facility. Some may agree with the move with no complaints while others may strongly dislike the idea and decide that they want to stay put.

Obviously, you’d prefer it if your loved one was open to the move. They may reject the idea at first but following the tips below should better communicate to them why the transition is necessary and why it will ultimately be good for them.

Include Your Loved One in the Decision-Making Process

Probably the most important thing you can do as you plan the move to a new memory care facility is to first consult your relative. Don’t spring your plan on them like a surprise. Inform them ahead of time of what you have in mind and ask for their feedback.

They may disapprove of the move initially, but that’s why communicating ahead of time is so important. By taking this step, you can tell them why you think the move will ultimately be more helpful and ask why they disapprove.

You can also take this opportunity to talk about the new facility. Discuss its features, services, and how they can help. Once you’re able to tell your loved one the benefits, they may become more amenable to it.

It’s also worth taking their suggestions regarding which facility they want to stay in. They may have a reason for wanting to stay in a facility and accommodating them will make the transition smoother.

Be Honest About How Their Living Situation Will Change

The more intensive monitoring conducted by memory care facilities could rub your loved one the wrong way. They may start to think that the staff members at the new facility dislike or distrust them, hence the increased monitoring.

Misunderstandings like that can happen easily if you don’t talk to your relative beforehand.

Prior to the move, make sure that you give your loved one a clear idea of how their living situation will change. Talk to them about the new security features that will be in place and how the staff members will approach them.

Your loved one won’t grow frustrated over changes they didn’t anticipate. Instead, they can adjust better because they already have a good grasp of what’s going to happen thanks to you.

Try to Make Their New Home as Familiar as Possible

Moving to a new home is intimidating. Interacting with all the unfamiliar faces and places can be overwhelming for your elderly relative.

To help them get settled faster, try to make their new home feel like their old one. Take their possessions from their room at the assisted living facility and move them to the memory care facility.

You can even transfer an old couch or chair they’ve been using. Doing so may help them relax better at the new place.

It’s also worth checking if someone from your loved one’s old facility is currently working at the memory care facility. Having a familiar face on the premises can help your loved one get used to their new home faster.

Maintain Contact with Your Loved One and Visit Whenever Possible

Nothing can replace family.

The best way to make the move to a memory care facility easier on your relative is to assure him/her that you’ll still be around no matter what. During the first few days after the move, make a point of spending time with your loved one. Join them in walking around the facility so they can interact with the other residents and staff members.

In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, remember to check in regularly with your relative. Regular phone calls can work wonders at lifting the spirits of our elderly loved ones.

The most important thing here is to let your loved one know that they are not alone even if they’re in a new facility. You can do that by staying in touch.

Moving to a memory care facility is a big change. It can be tough for your loved one to adjust to right away. Regardless, that kind of move becomes necessary if their safety starts becoming a bigger issue.

Hopefully, the information included in this article will help as you prepare for your loved one’s move to a new facility.

Still Unsure What to Do?

We at Lakeside Manor are ready to serve anyone in need of diligent everyday care. Contact us today to learn more about our facilities and services. Together, we can help ensure that your loved one’s golden years will be full of joyful experiences.

The post When to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care appeared first on Lakeside Manor.

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?
How many beds are available now?
How many staff are there?
How many staff are there from 6AM to 6PM each day?
Is there awake staff at night?
Does the home specialize in the disease that your parent suffers from (dementia, stroke, etc.)?
Is there a special care for Alzheimer’s or dementia?
What is the daily routine?
What activities are there daily?
What are the visiting hours?
Can residents bring personal items and furniture?
What common areas are there inside? Outside?
When are mealtimes?
Can I get a copy of the menu?
What was served yesterday for Breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?
Where is the food prepared?
Are snacks provided between meals?
What kind of snacks?
How often do you shop for food?
If my loved one doesn’t want what is served, what is provided?
Who controls the medications?
Do you use med logs or a MAR record for each resident?
Who orders the medications?
If a resident is given the wrong medication, what do you do?
Do doctors come to the home?
When was the last doctor visit to the home?
Can residents continue to see their personal doctors?
In a medical emergency, who do you call for help?
Are paramedics available to come to the home in an emergency?
When was the last time they were called?
Can I get their phone number? (You want to visit them and ask about the home)
Do you do hospice care?
Is the charge the same?
If more, why – hospice is paid for by Medicare, what do you charge more for?
Can I get a list of people who have placed here to call for recommendation?
What is the cost per month?
What is your refund policy?
Do you charge extra for anything?
How often do you change your rates?
If my loved one dies there, do you refund the balance of money?
Does the facility have any complaints or lawsuits filed against it?
What is the complaint?
May I talk to one of your staff in private? If yes, ask the staff member about the facility and the owner.

Good luck … happy hunting.

The post Finding a home for your loved one appeared first on Lakeside Manor.

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 is essential for developing the right treatment plan since there is no specific test for diagnosing it. Also, there are medications that help to slow the progression of the disease but symptoms cannot be reversed.

Medications are used to treat the different symptoms of dementia. Some treat memory loss while others are used to treat behavioral changes or sleep disorders. Most of these drugs are only effective during the early stages and for a short period of time. The most valuable thing you can do for your loved one is to get quality San Diego memory care that will keep their mind active as long as possible.

The Seven Stages of Dementia:

Stage 1

People who experience no memory loss and are mentally healthy are considered stage 1. According to the scale, every person without dementia is classified as Stage 1.

Stage 2

Those in Stage 2 have very mild cognitive decline. They experience occasional forgetfulness that appears to be normal for their age. You aren’t likely to notice these symptoms and neither is their physician.

Stage 3

This stage of cognitive decline includes more frequent forgetfulness and the beginning of a decline in concentration. The person in Stage 3 dementia often performs normal tasks less efficiently. They may have problems finding the right words or get lost when going places they are familiar with.

The people who live with the person may notice the symptoms during this stage. It is more difficult to realize the decline in their cognitive abilities from a distance. On average, Stage 3 lasts for seven years before progressing to actual dementia.

Stage 4

During Stage 4, the person experiences a moderate cognitive decline. They begin to forget attending recent events and have problems managing their finances. They may be unable to travel to new locations without getting lost.

It isn’t unusual for people in Stage 4 to withdraw from their loved ones because of the difficulties they have socializing. Loss of memory and problems recalling names or finding the right words makes it difficult to socialize. Physicians can detect a decline in cognitive abilities by examining the patient and interviewing them. Denial of their symptoms sometimes makes them resistant to doctor’s appointments. Stage 4 lasts an average of two years.

Stage 5

During this stage, loss of memory is more pronounced. Most people require help performing normal daily activities such as preparing meals and bathing. During Stage 5, the need for professional and compassionate San Diego memory care may be necessary. People who live alone often stop doing daily tasks like bathing. They may wear the same clothes day after day and have difficulty distinguishing day from night.

Stage 6

People in Stage 6 dementia often forget the names of those closest to them. They can’t remember recent events and often recall some details of events from the past. They are unable to complete simple tasks and their ability to speak diminishes. Loss of bladder and bowel control often occurs and personality changes begin to take place. Stage 6 dementia patients often believe things that aren’t true, begin to show compulsive behavior, and they may become anxious or agitated. Caring for the person becomes difficult to impossible for loved ones as the person becomes more resistant to performing normal activities.

Caregivers in a specialized San Diego memory care facility know the special needs of dementia patients in every stage. They have the skills and the experience to provide their residents with the physical care they need while also providing activities that bring them greater happiness and quality of life. Taking care of a loved one with dementia is more than a little challenging. Getting the advanced level of care they need from a memory care facility is the best choice for the patient and for their family members.

Stage 7

The final stage in the scale is very severe cognitive decline. During Stage 7, the person is no longer able to speak or communicate and they often can’t walk. They need help with almost everything they do including eating and using the toilet. Stage 7 lasts an average of two-and-a-half years.

The Need for Dementia Care

As you can see from these stages, dementia is more than simple memory loss. Although the time period of each stage varies among patients, the disease progresses over a period of several years. Although many people continue to care for themselves during the first two stages, obvious changes in their abilities and behaviors begin to take place during Stage 3. By the time they enter Stage 4, their abilities decline. How long they are safe in their own homes depends on the individual and their rate of decline in cognitive abilities.

In addition to memory loss, dementia also increases the risk of falls. The patient may forget to take medications or forget that they have already taken their medications. They could forget to turn off the stove and may leave food cooking unattended.

During the earlier stages, the person will be able to prepare and eat nutritious meals, take safety precautions while walking and showering, and even take care of their finances. Over time, these simple tasks become overwhelming and put them at risk of fires, falls, and other health and safety risks.

Once your loved one is no longer safe in their own home, it’s time to look into San Diego memory care. Contact Lakeside Manor to schedule a tour of our facility and get the special care you need for your loved one and for your peace of mind.

The post San Diego Memory Care and the Seven Stages of Dementia appeared first on Lakeside Manor.

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 tasks.

Depending upon personal preferences, budget, and layout of the specific home, residents in assisted living may enjoy a private room or share space in an apartment. Assisted living centers should be licensed by the state in which they are situated, yet they are not federally regulated.

What is Memory Care?

A memory care facility is intended specifically for patients with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory disorders. Sometimes these homes are referred to as SCUs – special care units. Typically, memory care units provide supervised services around the clock, and they are often located on a separate floor or area of a residential center. The staff is specially trained and qualified to assist and nurture people with cognitive problems or dementia, often through customized guided activities.

A unique and necessary feature of memory care is the high level of security, which is designed to meet the specific needs of patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Wandering is minimized, and the layout is usually easy for residents to navigate. Another benefit of memory care that is growing in popularity is outdoor gardens, which have been shown to enhance the lives of Alzheimer’s patients dramatically.

The state must license memory care facilities, and they are also regulated in 23 states by SCU disclosure rules, which require them to inform the public about their special services.

Which Basic Services Are Provided by Both Assisted Living and Memory Care?

• Emergency call buttons and systems
• Exercise/health programs
• Medical care access
• 24-hour staff and security
• Housekeeping and laundry
• Social programs
• Daily meals
• Transportation

Do Memory Care and Assisted Living Cost the Same?

A number of factors determine the cost of every senior care facility. The size of the rooms, shared versus private space, geographic location, and available services all play a role in the final expense. However, when comparing the price of memory care versus assisted living, there are additional considerations.

Assisted living is typically charged on a monthly basis, which includes room and board with two or three meals a day. Some of these homes provide laundry and housekeeping in the base rate, while others tack on cleaning services as an additional charge. In comparison, memory care also offers specialized nursing, which makes the cost considerably higher than assisted living. However, the final fee of both places depends upon the patient’s insurance plan or veterans’ benefits.

How to Make Your Final Decision? 

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. How Active Is Mom or Dad? 

Some seniors are very involved in social and physical activities. They regularly participate in golden-age exercise groups, games, and art classes, as well as attend lectures and cultural performances. However, when it comes to bathing, dressing or preparing food, they may not be entirely independent. Sometimes this is because their mobility is impaired due to age or they have mild dementia. In general, these individuals are well suited for assisted living.

2. Does Mom or Dad Have a Memory Problem?

If your mother or father has progressive memory impairment, their needs will typically be more complex and specialized. They may require assistance that goes way beyond help with hygiene and getting dressed, and it can be unsafe for them to live without enough supervision.  In this case, memory care may be the most appropriate living solution.

3. Does Your Loved One Wander?

It is usual for patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia to wander off at any hour of the day or night. They are often found walking the halls or streets, lost and confused. This practice increases their risk of injuries due to slips and falls. Memory care homes are designed to address this problem with advanced security systems and staff that keeps an eye on patients at all times.

What is Your Final Step?

There is no substitute for seeing things for yourself. After you contemplate and have answers to the issues above, it is advisable to visit some local facilities that satisfy your parent’s requirements. Prepare in advance by compiling a list of what you want to know; the Alzheimer’s Association has a helpful, comprehensive checklist for choosing residential care, which you can adapt to meet your needs. 

Ideally, you should first visit alone to narrow down the options, and then bring Mom or Dad for a follow-up trip. They may have their own questions and concerns that you didn’t consider. Also, you can observe how they fit in with the crowd, as well as how the staff interacts with them. These are all clues that can help you match your mother or father to the type of senior care that’s best for them.

Last, but not least, no matter which setting you select – do not feel guilty about putting your parent in assisted living or a memory care facility. This decision is challenging and filled with emotion for all children. However, it helps to keep sight of the end goal – to optimize the quality of life for your loved one by keeping them comfortable, safe, and as independent as possible. For more information and assistance with your decision, please contact our friendly and compassionate staff at Lakeside Manor.

The post Memory Care or Assisted Living? Making the Best Choice for Mom or Dad appeared first on Lakeside Manor.

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 load for those of us who love them.

The Benefits of Assisted Living for Memory Care

Assisted living memory care facilities are designed to maximize residents’ independence while prioritizing safety. There are several stages of Alzheimer’s dementia (seven, actually), progressing from mild, intermittent symptoms to constant and severe ones. An Alzheimer’s care facility is set up to accommodate all stages of Alzheimer’s dementia. The facility itself will be handicapped accessible, from common spaces to bathrooms (including showers), to seating arrangements, beds and so on. They’ll be designed specifically to allow for easy navigation, and many will also provide a safe way for residents to access the outdoors. 

Though moving into a residence can be a challenging transition for your loved one, once they’re settled in, they’re in a place where they can move about safely and quite independently in the course of their day to day activities – with assistance provided when needed. This less constrained, more self-sufficient lifestyle can help dementia patients stay cognitively engaged with their environment, and those around them. 

Activities and Therapies for All Patients 

Memory care facilities provide leveled therapies and activities to address patients’ individual needs and interests, at all levels of dementia.

At a memory care center, your loved one (whatever stage they’re at) can benefit from ongoing socialization and as much engagement as they can partake in. Most memory care facilities will have certain therapies that they specialize in – art and music, for example. They’ll employ professionals who specialize in these areas and the activities will be structured to cater to different levels of ability. Participants will be challenged, yet enabled to achieve success. 

Most of us are laymen when it comes to the science of dementia. Our best-intentioned attempts at therapy may go very well at times, but they may also create situations that are frustrating, or not challenging enough. This, of course, is hard not to take personally when we love each other, and it can lead to tension, physical and mental strain, and total exhaustion.

Speaking of Total Exhaustion . . .

When you’re the sole care giver (or one of a few) for a person with dementia, you must fulfill all provider roles as a one-woman (or a one-man) show. You’ll constantly be juggling hats from chef and nutritionist to behavioral therapist to activity planner to doctor appointment scheduler to chauffeur to housekeeper (and then some). You’re also responsible for daily hygiene and toileting needs, hiring and managing outside assistance – and, there’s a pretty good chance you’re also working full time. This is a huge load for any one (or a few) loved ones to handle well. Daily decisions and time constraints can cause friction and arguments among family members. 

On top of the stress among you, agitation and anger cues will be picked up on by your loved one. This can be confusing and upsetting, and detrimental to their dementia treatment. It also leaves very little time, if any, where you can be the thing you want to be most to them – a loving, caring friend.

Quality Time for Both of You 

At an assisted living facility, the above responsibilities become a team effort, delegated across a staff who have training and expertise in various realms of Alzheimer’s care. You’ll still be involved. Care and treatment decisions will be communicated with you and your input will be required and valued. But the hands-on tasks and constant frenzy of running around while trying to understand this debilitating illness, will be taken off your shoulders. 

When you visit and spend time with your loved one, it can be quality time – a little less stressful and a lot more enjoyable for everyone. This, too, is part of dementia treatment. Studies have shown that dementia patients’ brains (and brains without dementia too) remain healthier when they’re releasing more ‘feel good’ chemicals. So it seems that all who are living with, and loving someone with, Alzheimer’s dementia, can be helped by just ‘feeling’ better.

Trusting the Professionals 

One of the hardest things about having a loved one with dementia is that we’re so close to them and so used to ‘who they were’ that we’re always adjusting to their ever-changing disabilities and personalities. Our emotional distress can make it hard to remain objective when it comes to managing their care.

At an assisted living facility, caring for dementia patients is the staff’s full-time profession. They’re interacting with dementia and its sufferers at all levels and every day. They’re used to its peaks and valleys and tend not to take behavioral and functional changes personally. A well trained, dedicated memory care facility staff has ‘seen it all’. They can remain objective and have a better ability to see the forest for the trees. They’ll be more able to recognize and address changes in a patient’s needs or status, without allowing their emotions to take the decision-making reigns. They can tailor activities and routines to meet the needs of each individual patient. It’s what they do.

At Lakeside Manor, our priority is to provide a safe, friendly, comfortable home for people with Alzheimer’s dementia. Our caring, professional staff offers years of combined experience and a genuine devotion to meeting the needs of our residents and those who love them. We hope you’ll reach out to us with any questions you may have.

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 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 one to five, explains Lisa Esposito, RN, staff health writer for U.S. News. In addition, these caregivers should keep current with all the latest developments in Alzheimer’s treatments, dementia treatments, and in geriatric care in general. With that knowledge, caregivers can tell the difference between medication-induced behavior issues and ones that occur due to the natural progression of the disease. Armed with that knowledge, caregivers can provide the correct interventions.

3. Ability-Based Activity Programs

 Because persons in memory care facilities vary in cognitive abilities and interests, the activity programming at the facility should provide a wide range of activities that offer something for each resident, no matter what their level of language ability, reasoning ability, attention span, memory, or physical ability. Matching the right activity with each person is essential to ensure a pleasant experience for all residents. Activity leaders should have adequate training and experience with patients with memory issues.

 4. Behavior Management That Emphasizes Alternatives to Medication

 Because some residents with dementia exhibit behavior that is destructive or aggressive, trained staff members should try to defuse the disruptive behavior with non-pharmaceutical interventions first—such as activities that redirect the person. Medication should be a last resort.

 5. A Secure, Yet Understanding Environment

Wandering becomes an issue with some residents with dementia. With that in mind, alarm devices and security units may be necessary. Yet a memory care facility must not become a prison. As Esposito puts it, “good memory care…gives [residents] space to be active.” To allow that freedom, many memory care facilities provide special bracelets that can track wander-prone residents, so caregivers can redirect them to activities within the boundaries of the facility. An enclosed outdoor area gives residents the freedom of outdoors without the danger of wandering.

 6. Separate Areas for Different Needs

Ideally, memory care facilities should house those with early dementia symptoms in a different unit than those with advanced symptoms. Residents will have a better chance of forging friendships with each other, and caregivers can tailor their care to the residents’ specific needs.

Staff members should be trained to understand the needs of people with dementia, who can lose the ability to communicate in normal ways yet still respond to verbal cues and sensory stimulation.

7. Freedom to Move

 Many people in memory care are younger than the average assisted care facility residents. With early-onset Alzheimer’s, a facility may host residents as young as their thirties, says the Alzheimer’s Association. These residents need a safe, yet natural space large enough to allow them freedom of movement within their designated area. Some memory care homes provide enclosed outdoor areas, while others create nature indoors—with painted murals, indoor fish ponds, and park-like interiors. For those homes with enclosed outdoor spaces, residents can even tend to gardens, says Esposito.

 8. Activities That Involve Families

 According to the Joint Commission, an oversight body for healthcare institutions, ideal memory care facilities—in San Diego or elsewhere—provide social, recreational, and dining opportunities for their residents that involve the residents’ families. When families create bonds across generations, it strengthens ties and helps the resident’s family better understand their loved one’s situation. Such activities make the resident feel included and loved—a plus whatever their cognitive state.

 9. Activities That Stimulate the Senses

Just like with the rest of us, memory care residents feel emotion when activities trigger a remote memory. When a facility offers activities that engage residents’ heartstrings, their brains follow suit. Music, says Esposito, is an important one. Many homes offer concerts and other activities that showcase the music popular with the residents’ generation. That, of course, will vary—but a wide range of musical styles will certainly find something that touches a resident’s heart.

The smells and tastes of a resident’s childhood can trigger long-buried memories, so an effective memory care facility will try to incorporate meals and snacks that replicate childhood favorites. Arts and crafts—pottery making, painting, sewing, and beading—give residents both a sense of purpose and tactile stimulation, both important to retaining as much cognitive capacity and memory as is possible, given the resident’s condition.

Because sleep patterns often alter with the onset of dementia, a facility should do its best to reprogram the sleep cycle to coordinate with normal day and night rhythms. If it cannot, staff should do their best to provide activities to those who are active at night without disturbing the other residents.

 10. Respect and Dignity

Above all, the staff members at a California memory care facility should treat residents as adults capable of making choices. They should never treat them as children or patronize them. Look for a facility whose staff helps residents move in a gentle manner. Pushing or shoving should never occur, no matter what the residents’ behavior.

Patience should be a given with staff members. If you get the impression they don’t care about you—they certainly won’t care about your loved one. In fact, caregivers should learn to communicate with people who have lost their language skills with alternative means of communication. Making eye contact, using symbols or pictures of activities instead of words, will give residents the dignity of choice—even when they have lost their voice.

One of the best things you can do for your loved one is to speak to a prospective memory care facility’s current residents. Their families, too, will be a fruitful source of information about the facility’s services and level of care. A facility that goes out of its way to see that they meet each of their residents’ needs should go at the top of your list.

To learn more about our memory care facility in the San Diego area, contact Lakeside Manor for a consultation soon.

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‘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 of dementia.  Until then, have good thoughts … and enjoy them.

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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;

– if it can be, address the need or request;

– redirect by suggestion, often to ‘go’ or to ‘eat’ –

“Let’s go up to the den and check on those folks up there.”

“Did you get any of that cheescake – it was good – let’s go get some.”

“Let’s talk about Bob, when was the last time you saw him.”

The most important aspect of Memory Care is to have empathy with what is happening and take the time and patience to pay attention to and address this person who is simply trying to communicate, confused as they may be.

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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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