Memory Care

When loved ones are diagnosed with memory-related illnesses like Alzheimer’s, care can become difficult. The unique challenges of these conditions require a structured environment. That means bringing together the comforts of home and a familiar routine with proven therapeutic methods that stimulate memories while addressing additional symptoms like:

  • Wandering
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Loneliness

What you are looking for is a memory care community. These unique forms of assisted living are designed to address memory loss and related symptoms that challenge patients positively and stimulate the mind.

What is Memory Care?

Memory care is a specialized approach to providing a comforting environment that reinforces seniors’ memories through connection to loved ones, everyday activities, active socialization, and proven memory-related therapies. These therapeutic approaches include memory-reinforcing activities that produce crafts and documents your loved ones can reference to help them reconnect to their treasured experiences.

What Is Memory Care Designed To Accomplish?

The most challenging part of dementia care is the slow loss of memory and communication skills that depend on it. That is what memory care addresses. While its degree changes with time, the brain retains the ability to build new neural pathways and strengthen connections to old ones throughout life. It’s how you learn new skills at any age. Memory care uses therapies tailored to the individual to minimize memory loss and maintain a high quality of life for as long as possible.

How Memory Care Communities Help Patients & Loved Ones

The structure and social activities in communities dedicated to memory care help stimulate an active mind while providing the emotional support needed to combat loneliness and depression. This environment is combined with tailored support plans that supplement loved ones’ skills as needed while working to keep them as independent as possible. Memory-related therapies are added as necessary to address the patient’s specific memory-related issues and strengthen their connection to loved ones and past experiences. These therapies include:

  • Puzzles and brain games designed to stimulate mental processes and challenge critical thinking skills
  • Activities and crafts designed to reconnect patients to their life stories while preserving them
  • Individualized approaches to reinforcing memory that involves getting to know the staff and working with families to support Alzheimer’s care in a well-rounded and community-oriented way

Our staff is continuously working on putting together a treatment plan that is highly individualized to the patient’s experience and needs. At Caring Places Management, we’re always working towards expanding the range of effective tools for reaching dementia patients and helping them reconnect with their memories.

What Can Patients & Loved Ones Expect From a Memory Care Community?

In addition to the social opportunities and memory-related care, communities are designed to support people with memory issues’ specific daily living needs. That includes access to kitchenette facilities that provide patients with the opportunity to enact familiar and soothing routines in a safe and supported way, as well as a library, community room, and outdoor visiting areas. Staff meets with the family monthly to address patient needs and concerns, giving patients a voice in their treatment and a way to voice their desires to family and staff alike. Other features of memory care communities include:

  • Available nursery and changing areas for residents as needed
  • Workshops stocked with safe & suitable tools as well as handy projects
  • Quilting & sewing rooms with guided projects and areas for both group and individual crafting
  • Office space and safe office supplies
  • Clearly labeled signage and directions throughout the facility
  • Outdoor gardening areas for residents who desire a chance to work growing things
  • Transportation coordination

These features are combined with staples of assisted living facilities like an active nurse call system, access to a phone, and social programming that includes live entertainment. All of it is designed to help your loved ones live their best life for as long as possible.

  • Card/puzzle table(s) for resident use in resident accessible spaces
  • Smooth and comfortable outdoor walking paths
  • Well landscaped property for enjoyable outdoor experience
  • Furniture provided for comfortable outdoor seating
  • Clearly labeled hallways and apartments for easy way finding
  • Resident-to-Staff (“Nurse”) Call/Alert system provided
  • Outdoor area where resident gardening is encouraged if desired
  • Secure outdoor space free of toxic or hazardous plants
  • Coordination for transport through community vehicle or outside provider
  • Monthly Resident/Family Council and other open communication with Administrator encouraged to voice concerns or desires
  • Area for group activities
  • Area(s) for music entertainers to perform within common areas
  • Access to a public, non-pay, telephone

Life Skill Stations promoting self-directed engagement and activities with the intent to provide the resident purpose, pleasure, or peace. Examples of these include:

  • Kitchenette with towel sorting, dish cleaning and/or organizing, sorting and putting away groceries, and even small “meal” preparation tasks when resident appropriate, etc.
  • Workshop with resident safe and appropriate tools and handy projects like assembling drainage pipe systems, putting together and/or painting bird houses, sorting socket sets or screws, etc.
  • Quilting / Sewing with various fabric squares of different shapes and color for sorting, flattening, or sewing with supervision when resident appropriate
  • Nursery area(s) with crib, changing table, chairs, nursery decorations, babies, etc for those residents when desired.
  • Library / Office with bookshelves and books for resident use, files for sorting and organizing, resident safe office supplies, calendar, etc.

Our Memory Care Communities

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