How to Choose the Best Memory Care or Assisted Living Facility for Your Family
/Accepting that your loved one would benefit from a professional assisted living facility can be a difficult pill to swallow, especially if you’ve been in a caregiver position for some time now. Many individuals struggle with feeling like it’s a sign of “giving up” on their loved one or a failure on their part to provide the care needed.
Rather than framing this difficult decision as a sign of inadequacy, we encourage individuals to recognize it as an act of love. We can’t prevent our family members from aging, but we can take action to make sure they get the level of care they need to live their lives with dignity.
While this doesn’t negate the challenging feelings that can arise during this transition, it does uncover the root of the choice as a positive one. Plus, the sense of relief, stability, and safety that comes with knowing your loved one is comfortable and cared for can provide the peace of mind you’ve been searching for throughout this process.
Finding the right community starts with understanding the key features of high-quality memory care and assisted living facilities, as well as the difference between the two. Keep reading to learn what factors to consider when choosing memory care and what questions to ask, plus our staff’s top tips for touring facilities.
What is Memory Care? What Should I Look for in a Memory Care Community?
Memory care can seem like a vague term at first blush. What exactly does it entail?
In general, memory care is a specialized form of professional care designed for individuals with memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or other cognitive impairments. This form of care typically involves a higher level of attention than other types of assisted living.
Most first-rate memory care facilities will offer multiple levels of care. At our memory care community, each resident undergoes a thorough initial assessment to determine which level will offer them the most safety and comfort.
With a focus on safety, structure, and meaningful engagement, key elements of quality memory care include:
Staff Expertise: Caregivers and staff should have thorough, specialized training in specific conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. This includes knowledge about managing behavioral changes and symptoms, reducing agitation and confusion, as well as providing engaging, cognitive stimulation.
Personalized Care Plans: Each resident’s needs should be met with tailored care plans, which may include specific medical care, therapies, and activities to support their cognitive, physical, and emotional health. These care plans should be regularly reassessed as your loved one and their needs continue to evolve.
Comfort and Safety Features: Memory care communities should not only provide a comfortable, home-like environment but also have enhanced security features for the safety of residents. These features often come in the form of secure entrances and exits, eliminated corridors, fall prevention systems, and controlled communal environments.
Memory Care vs. Assisted Living: What’s the Difference?
Memory care and assisted living aren’t the same thing, but they do have some similarities. Both communities offer assistance with daily activities, but memory care is carefully designed to support individuals experiencing memory loss or cognitive decline.
Assisted living, on the other hand, is typically geared toward older individuals who benefit from some specialized care services but do not have memory loss or cognitive impairments.
Assisted Living typically includes:
Help with activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing, and eating.
Socialization and recreational activities.
General healthcare, such as medication management.
Memory Care includes all of the above, as well as:
24/7 support and security to prevent wandering.
Specialized activities to engage the mind and provide sensory stimulation.
Staff-to-resident ratio that exceeds state minimums and ensures personalized attention.
A structured environment to reduce confusion and promote well-being.
What Should a Memory Care Community Look Like?
Now that you understand the difference between assisted living and memory care facilities, let’s dive into what makes the latter special.
Touring memory care facilities can be overwhelming, but be sure to take the time to look for certain features that promote safety and comfort. If you see the following, you’re likely in a high-quality memory care community:
Clear and Open Spaces: Large, well-lit common areas and hallways can reduce confusion and provide a sense of stability for residents. These simple layouts should have easily navigable rooms as well as clear signage to help residents feel more at home.
Familiarity and Comfort: Are residents able to personalize their spaces with little touches of home, like family photos and keepsakes? Bringing personality and individuality into the memory care space can help foster a familiar atmosphere and reduce anxiety.
Engagement Spaces and Activities: A quality memory care community will have dedicated areas for activities that stimulate the mind and promote social interaction, like secure indoor/outdoor communal areas, gardens, and art rooms. These memory care activities are crucial for prioritizing joy, relaxation, and fun for your loved one during their time in the community.
Safety Features: Beyond the safety features mentioned above, a high-quality memory care community will include secure doors, alarm systems, and non-slip floors. Bathrooms should be equipped with grab bars, and the unit should be designed to minimize fall risks. Here at Haciendas at Grace Village, we’ve taken it a step further with zero-entry showers and buildings that are all exactly the same. These features, among others, have been intentionally designed to help reduce anxiety during both daily life and transitions between levels of care.
7 Questions to Ask When Touring an Assisted Living or Memory Care Facility
Once you determine whether your loved one would benefit from assisted living or professional memory care, the next step is to thoroughly vet the facility.
The assisted living or memory care community you choose should be equipped to meet the emotional, physical, and safety needs of your loved one. Plus, every individual is unique — that’s why it’s integral to ask questions before choosing a particular assisted living or memory care facility.
Here are essential questions to ask when you visit a potential care provider:
1. What is the staff-to-resident ratio?
A lower ratio means more personalized care. This is incredibly important, as your loved one deserves care from people they can get to know and trust.
2. What kind of training does the staff receive?
Specialized education is crucial, even in assisted living facilities that offer more flexibility. Ask about the forms of memory care training that the community’s staff has received, as well as ongoing professional development.
3. What activities are offered to residents?
Inquire about cognitive, physical, and social activities, and how the facility adapts activities for different stages of memory loss or dementia.
4. How do you handle behavioral challenges like wandering or aggression?
These behavioral challenges are very common in individuals with memory loss or dementia. Ask how the staff manages these behaviors and what strategies they use to keep residents calm and safe.
5. How do you involve families in care?
Family involvement is crucial for both you and your loved one at both assisted living communities and memory care facilities. Ask about visitation policies, family meetings, and communication strategies for each level of care provided.
6. What is the facility’s approach to medical care?
To reiterate, each individual’s physical and emotional needs are different. Make sure to find out about on-site or outsourced healthcare providers, emergency care protocols, and whether the facility coordinates with external doctors or specialists.
7. How are transition processes handled?
The move to an assisted living community can be emotional. Further, the transition between levels of memory care can be difficult as well, if not handled appropriately. Ask how the facility supports families and residents during changes like these.
The Right Care Can Make a World of Difference
Here at Haciendas at Grace Village, we know that choosing the right assisted living or memory care facility is one of the most important decisions you can make for your loved one.
By focusing on factors like staff expertise, safety features, personalized care, and family involvement, you find a facility that offers comfort, security, and dignity.
But remember, the right community will not just meet your loved one’s medical needs. It will also offer a nurturing environment where they can truly thrive. If you have more questions about whether assisted living or memory care is right for your unique family member, don’t hesitate to reach out to our staff of compassionate, competent care professionals.
