Caring for your loved one can be stressful. It can leave you feeling burnt out and overwhelmed as you try to navigate through learning your loved one’s needs while looking after your own. If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, they may require more care than you can give. Memory support is available to help you care for your loved one.
Particular senior living communities offer memory care to help people with Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, or Parkinson’s disease. But how do these communities work? What makes them different from assisted living? How do they compare to options like assisted living?
What is Memory Care?
Memory care is a particular form of senior living that supports people with memory loss diseases and conditions. These may include Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, or Parkinson’s disease. Each condition, and the way they occur, changes how a person behaves and the level of care they require.
Depending on the stage of their disease, a person with Alzheimer’s may only need help occasionally, but assistance is available 24/7. However, a person with dementia may require more specialized care because the condition causes their motor skills to deteriorate. Dementia can also make some activities unsafe because it may cause increased confusion and visual hallucinations.
Memory Care vs. Assisted Living
While all types of senior living communities provide excellent care and a healthy community environment for residents, there are key differences between them, including assisted living and memory care.
Assisted living provides personal assistance based on individual needs. A person in an assisted living community may need some help with general chores like cooking and cleaning, but they can remain largely independent.
On the other hand, memory care provides specialized, dedicated support for people with memory loss conditions. Specially trained staff in memory care communities build a personalized plan for each resident to keep their mind engaged, including mental exercises and social activities.
Providing Security & Comfort
It can be difficult for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias to keep out of harm’s way. Memory care communities are designed to provide residents with a safe, secure environment.
Memory loss diseases can cause a loss of cognitive and motor function. A person with Alzheimer’s walking down the street can forget where they’re going. A person with dementia may become confused and be unable to ask for help. These situations can be dangerous and may lead to serious injury.
Staff in memory care work to create a safe community where residents have less chance of injury and more opportunities to explore safely. Memory care communities offer scheduled transportation, restaurant-style meals, and planned leisure activities. Dedication to routine removes variables that can confuse and create dangerous situations for residents.
It’s important you trust your loved one is safe and cared for. Some memory care communities come equipped with emergency alert systems and use safety checks to provide the highest level of security and peace of mind for residents and their loved ones.
When Is Memory Care an Option?
Memory care may become an option when the needs of a person with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or Parkinson’s disease exceed what their caregiver can offer. Their caregiver could be a spouse, child, or close relative. They could be you.
Memory loss conditions are hard on everybody they touch. It can be challenging to determine whether a person requires more care than you can give. A person will often need more care when their condition gets worse. Some signs of worsening memory loss conditions include:
- Increased forgetfulness
- Difficulty with motor skills
- Visual hallucinations
- Confusion & paranoia
- Irritation & anger
- Sudden personality changes
Looking out for these signs can help you decide whether or not memory care is an option for your loved one. The decision can be difficult but having more information about how memory care communities can help your loved one lead a fulfilling life as they navigate their condition can make it easier.
The Club at Mattison
The Club at Mattison is here to help with your loved one’s memory support needs. The Club is a dedicated memory care neighborhood within the larger Mattison Crossing community. Specially trained staff provide personalized memory support experience for your loved ones. These include cognitive and physical support services designed to enrich your loved one’s life.
Beautiful apartments come furnished, or you can bring your loved one’s furniture to make their environment cozy and familiar. Depending on your loved one’s needs and comfort, you can choose a studio, one-bedroom, or two-bedroom apartment. No matter which you choose, apartments at The Club are specially equipped to make your loved one’s life easier. If you believe memory care is an option for your loved one, consider choosing The Club at Mattison. Schedule a visit, and we’ll be happy to walk you through memory support options and show you how we can support your loved one.
