Jenny, 56, from Maryland, was diagnosed with early-stage dementia. Initially, her daughter, Missy, did not notice the changes much. However, with time, her mother showed subtle changes like getting lost in a familiar place, forgetting her medications, and so on.
Missy, who runs a charitable trust, noticed these signs when she was returning from her work. Since she kept on seeing such unusual behavior from her mother, she decided to take her to a doctor. The doctor informed her that her mother was diagnosed with dementia.
At first, things were not very challenging. And she went on to become a family caregiver to her mother.
However, things took a different stage in the mid-stage dementia. Missy felt a bit overwhelmed with full-time caregiving responsibilities and decided to speak to a senior care expert.
Thanks to dementia care services, otherwise known as memory care facilities, have played a significant role in slowing cognitive decline. Today, many Alzheimer’s care homes have offered support to loved ones with socialization and brain-stimulating activities. This doesn’t stop the growth of the memory issue but reduces the rate of progress among other adults.
In the following blog, I am going to explain how memory care facilities have been offering dementia help to older adults.
Table of Contents
- What are memory care facilities?
- Importance of dementia care facilities
- Structure of the memory care homes
- How does staff prepare customized plans for Alzheimer’s care?
What are Memory Care Facilities?
Memory care refers to the programs and services offered to older adults who are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or some other form of dementia. Memory care facilities offer dementia care to reduce the progression of cognitive decline.
Therefore, dementia care services include various programs, and care homes for dementia have amenities to help individuals with various forms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
This Is What Memory Care Does,
- Customized activities to boost memory
- Reduce progressive cognitive decline
- Promote social interaction and engagement
- Support cognitive and emotional well-being
- Importance of memory care facilities
Since dementia care homes have facilities to offer dementia support to loved ones, these memory care facilities are known to have a positive impact in the advancing years.
Importance Of Dementia Care Facilities
- Slowing down dementia progress
- Improving the quality of life with socialization opportunities
- Brain-stimulating activities to improve cognitive and emotional well being
- Storytelling (now quite popular) to enhance communication skills
At dementia memory care homes, they get ample facilities to interact and socialize with their peer groups. Various brain-stimulating activities in dementia care services like playing board games, gardening, puzzles, and so on help older adults connect the dots in their daily lives.
When I am talking particularly about the concept of storytelling in memory care facilities, this refers to both verbal and written ways of expressing themselves. Older adults often share their experiences in various ways to show how they feel about things.
Such dementia care activities improve cognitive functions and promote emotional well-being.
How Are Memory Care Facilities Structured?
When memory care homes offer friendly services to promote senior socialization. The common rooms have various gaming activities with brain-stimulating activities that older adults can play together.
Dementia memory care homes also offer safe living to reduce the risk of accidents or tripping hazards. So, you will find security alarms and surveillance monitors with advanced security features to avert risks. These surveillance features track and keep records of the movements.
One can easily navigate their way in Dementia care homes. The care homes have game rooms and therapeutic whirlpools that offer older people a calm and peaceful environment.
Similarly, you will also find a resident garden that offers a soothing environment for a loved one diagnosed with dementia. Since people diagnosed with dementia wander frequently or feel disoriented in familiar places, they need a peaceful and soothing environment.
Such an environment reduces further anxiety and frustration and reduces the progression rate of dementia.
How Staff Prepares Dementia Care Plans?
Every certified caregiver at the memory care facilities offers a customized plan to help older individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. This customized plan helps individuals diagnosed with dementia to live peacefully.
To develop a customized care plan, the staff consider the following information:
- Likes/dislikes
- Cognitive abilities
- Sensory impairments
- Food preferences
- Physical well-being
- Personality
Based on these preferences, the staff at memory care units develop a care plan that is tailored to meet the needs of an individual diagnosed with dementia.
However, the staff follows a few things while creating a dementia memory care plan.
These are,
Simplify tasks To Reduce Dementia
The caregivers at dementia care services eliminate tasks that may cause frustration among people diagnosed with dementia.
The caregivers keep the tasks simple to eliminate frustration and help them with the activities of daily living to promote independence. For instance, cutting foods into chunks, keeping small notes on closets to remind them of activities, and so on.
This helps the individuals focus on achieving goals that create purposeful and meaningful connections.
Brain-Stimulating Activities To Promote Socialization
Meaningful conversation and socialization can have a positive impact on brain cells. Therefore, staff caring for a loved one diagnosed with dementia must initiate a respectful and quality conversation to meet healthy cognitive needs.
For this, the memory care staff can offer brain-stimulating activities or play games with older people to help them initiate conversations and be expressive about their needs.
Creative Activities For Better Cognitive Health
Various creative activities like pet therapy, art therapy, and music therapy can offer great peace of mind. Also, these activities enhance communication skills among people diagnosed with dementia.
Such therapies are stress busters and reduce anxiety and stress among loved ones. It enhances cognitive functions and memory skills.
Finding Memory Care in Maryland
There are an ample number of memory care services but finding the right one can seem like a Herculean task. You may not know which memory care facilities are the best for your loved ones.
So, Senior Care Love is at your service to help you find the right memory care homes in Maryland for your loved ones.
Our care experts first understand the needs of your loved ones to find the best memory care in Maryland. After assessing the severity of the progressive cognitive decline, the senior care expert will provide your loved one with dementia support.
If you are wondering where to start, look at the top 5 questions to ask a senior care advisor to find the right care facility.
Call us to learn about memory care in Maryland.
