Should We Choose Memory Care or Traditional Assisted Living?

If you are searching for a senior living community for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease, you may find yourself wondering if and why you should incur the additional expense of a Memory Care program. Depending upon the community, the costs associated with specialty Alzheimer’s care can be significantly higher. Families we work with in north Texas often ask us just what services the additional expense entitles their loved one to receive. We believe this is a good question to answer for adult children and family members visiting our Caregiver Resource Center.

Dedicated Memory Care Programs in Dallas and Fort Worth

Here is how a resident with Alzheimer’s disease typically benefits from moving to a dedicated Memory Care program in an assisted living community:

• Secure Environment: One of the toughest challenges in caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is keeping them safe. Wandering is a common and troubling behavior to try to manage. Memory Care programs utilize alarm systems and a variety of technologies to prevent a resident from wandering away and getting lost or harmed.
• Dedicated Caregivers: Everything from communication to mobility can be impacted by Alzheimer’s. Caregivers in specialty Memory Care programs are trained specifically in how to manage these unique challenges. From knowing how to soothe agitation to understanding how to communicate so a person with dementia understands can help to improve your loved one’s quality of life.
• Nutrition and Meal Time: Because people with Alzheimer’s disease usually develop problems with coordination and depth perception, meal time can be more of a struggle. In a Memory Care dining room, caregivers and support staff use adaptive equipment and other best practices to help residents with Alzheimer’s eat a well-balanced meal.
• Life Enrichment Programs: Adults with Alzheimer’s benefit from a structured routine. Life enrichment begins from the time the senior wakes up until the time they fall asleep. Tasks are often performed in the same way and in the same location. That takes the burden of planning off someone who lives with memory loss. Activities are also designed to calm the agitation and restlessness that is common among people with this disease. It might be by utilizing repetitive tasks such as folding towels or sorting silverware or an activity box comprised of familiar items they used in their career.

Let Us Help in Your Search for Memory Care Assisted Living

If you are searching for a dedicated Memory Care program for a senior loved one in north Texas, we can help. Our support and guidance is always free for older adults and their families. We can put our in-depth knowledge of the local senior care community to work for you.

Please call us today at 214-929-5055 to learn how our local senior care advisors can help you find a care solution that best meets your loved one’s needs.