Memory care communities provide residential support and 24-hour monitoring for seniors with early to advanced dementia. These communities offer evidence-based recreational therapies, structured daily routines and hands-on assistance. They also have tailored security features to promote residents’ safety.
Below, we outline seven questions you can ask when considering residential memory care communities for your loved one. You can use this guide to compare long-term care options to find the best environment for your loved one and your family’s needs.
Memory care offers exceptional peace of mind for families by ensuring their loved ones receive 24-hour monitoring in a secured environment. As you’re touring local memory care communities, note environmental features that reduce the risk of unsafe wandering. This includes keypad entries, enclosed outdoor areas, motion sensors, disguised exit points and staffed reception areas. You may also consider inquiring about the community’s emergency response protocols and fall prevention measures.
Regular social, physical and cognitive engagement is vital for those living with memory loss, promoting their quality of life and brain health. When visiting memory care communities, you may want to ask for a typical daily schedule to find out about the purposeful, structured activities residents participate in.
Along with failure-free group games and activities, many memory care centers provide personalized enrichment opportunities tailored to individual interests. Consider asking about life skills stations, music therapy, sensory activities and memory boxes filled with personal keepsakes, which promote comfort, engagement and a sense of familiarity.
Mealtime brings an opportunity for socialization and connection. A dementia-informed approach to nutrition supports residents’ health and functioning, giving their bodies the nutrients they need for every other aspect of daily life.
During your visit, take the opportunity to ask about dining approaches. This includes accommodations for mobility challenges, such as adaptive utensils and high-contrast place settings, as well as the community’s ability to accommodate changes in dietary needs and preferences. You might also want to ask how the community ensures nutritionally balanced menus.
Memory care communities support the health and comfort of residents through specialized care. Because training and certifications for memory care staff vary according to state laws, it’s a good idea to find out details of caregiver qualifications. This includes how many hours of specialized training caregivers receive, as well as ongoing training opportunities.
Consider asking how the community screens and trains caregivers. Ask about what the training covers, such as pain recognition, communication strategies and redirecting behaviors. You may also want to find out how caregivers address challenges such as sundowning or moments of confusion or agitation that can arise throughout the day.
For family caregivers, one of the most significant benefits of memory care is that it takes over the aspects of day-to-day care — transportation for medical appointments, maintaining a structured routine and providing 24-hour monitoring — letting them focus on spending quality time with their loved ones.
Memory care communities value families’ participation and feedback with their loved one's care, but their policies regarding communication differ. You might want to find out whether the community you’re considering provides regular updates on your loved one’s mood, health and level of engagement. Additionally, it’s helpful to know how they communicate, whether through phone calls, texts or regularly scheduled meetings.
Seniors and families researching memory care communities prioritize those with homelike settings that create a comfortable and familiar atmosphere. During your tour, note the general cleanliness of the community, whether it incorporates visual cues to encourage self-direction and whether there are quiet spaces for preventing overstimulation.
Additionally, it’s helpful to ask about housekeeping practices. Communities are happy to answer questions regarding how often they schedule cleaning services as well as laundry and linen care.
The needs of someone in the early stages of memory loss differ considerably from those of someone in the late stages of dementia. To meet residents’ needs while supporting their privacy and independence, memory care communities develop individualized care plans.
It’s a good idea to ask whether these plans are developed with family input and whether they have the flexibility to adapt to your loved one’s routines and preferences. You may also want to ask how often the community updates these care plans.
In Bethesda Senior Living Communities’ network of memory care communities, our trained caregivers are committed to providing exceptional service for residents and their families. Our research-based program, BLOOM by Bethesda, offers a tailored approach that supports residents’ emotional, spiritual, mental, social and physical wellness as their conditions progress.
To schedule your tour of one of our memory care residences, contact us today.
