Years ago, seniors with memory problems like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease went to nursing homes where they were cared for and protected, but not much else. Today, however, memory care is much more than just care. Seniors in memory care are now encouraged to socialize, participate actively, and stay as independent as possible. If someone you love requires memory care, find out all you need to know before you choose the best community for their needs.
What is memory care?
Memory care in the 21st century is no longer a place for older adults to simply live. Instead, it is a warm and welcoming community where seniors with memory problems receive top-notch care from an expert team at every level and are treated as unique individuals, rather than objects in need of care.
Since seniors with memory loss may experience other associated risks like wandering, forgetting to eat and drink enough water, and losing touch with the world around them, it’s important to understand these factors and the associated risks. For many families, perhaps the scariest of these is wandering, where an older adult just walks away from home, possibly looking for a place from their past or for no reason at all. Doing so can potentially have very bad outcomes so memory care communities include a high level of safety and security that is built in. These communities provide constant attention to every detail to ensure every resident is safe and accounted for at all times, while still giving the older adult the feeling of freedom and independence.
In a memory care community, each senior is respected and treated as an individual as well as encouraged to be a part of the greater community, spend time with friends and family, and take part in activities and events like exercise, entertainment, and games, as well as various therapies designed to help memory loss residents reduce the effects of their condition. Seniors also receive the care they need to perform personal hygiene, get dressed and ready for bed, eat meals and stay healthy. More about memory care options can be found in the AARP blog, “Memory Care: Specialized Support for People With Alzheimer’s or Dementia.”
What other benefits does a memory care community offer?
As discussed above, the high level of care and security are among the greatest benefits of memory care, but there are many other reasons to consider it. Seniors who have memory loss and live at home are not only at risk of wandering or getting injured but of also spending a lot of time alone. This isolation can result in loneliness, depression, and loss of independence, even when caregivers are doing their best.
The truth is, at some point many older adults with memory loss will need full-time, 24/7 oversight to not only be safe but enjoy life. In memory care communities, seniors will feel they are part of a group of their peers and with help from the ever-present, caring team members, will be stimulated and challenged to live life to the fullest. And memory care frees families to continue their lives with peace of mind. Find out more about the importance of senior socialization in our blog, “Combatting Senior Loneliness: Connectedness and Health Effects.”
How we focus on memory care at Thrive.
At Thrive Senior Living, our memory care team members are certified by the National Institute for Dementia Education, and we are always prepared to provide the level of compassionate and professional care each resident requires. We are experts in the field of memory care and work with each other as well as outside professionals to provide the ongoing care best suited for each resident, right from day one. And, our communities are designed to empower our residents to make their own living choices.
But we also take a personal interest in our residents, so they know that we not only care for them but that we care about them too. We encourage relationships that build trust, and our team members always put our residents’ well-being first.
Thrive team members also take the time to keep family informed of their loved one’s status, care plan, and other important information. We work closely with family members to educate them on new and productive communication patterns with their loved ones. And we always welcome visits and love to include family and friends in activities and events as a way to help resident’s stay connected and feel loved. As we stated in Our Purpose, we truly are “honored to serve” and look forward to the challenge of finding new and better ways to do that each and every day.
If life at Thrive Memory Care sounds like the best place for you or a loved one, take a look at our website and contact us with questions or to arrange a tour today!
