What is Memory Care?
Finding care for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia comes with a unique set of challenges – not least among them the broad range of terminology for service options you can find across the nation. There’s standalone memory care, combination communities with specialized memory care wings and secure memory care units, just to name a few.
As a care provider, it’s our responsibility to help you make the most informed decision for your family. To give you a leg up on your search, read this quick introduction to understanding memory care.
What Does ‘Memory Care’ Mean?
Per the AARP, memory care is “a form of senior living that provides intensive, specialized care for people with memory issues.” As mentioned, you can find this kind of care in many different environments, from familiar, homelike senior living communities to secured dementia care units in skilled nursing facilities. Regulation varies from state to state – and with it the kind of services and quality you can expect to find.
What does memory care provide? The primary thing communities offer is safety – protecting your loved one from dangers brought on by their surroundings or behavior. Caregivers also work to help your loved one feel comfortable and calm. Memory loss is disorienting and emotionally challenging, but specialized techniques used by memory care professionals can make daily life more enjoyable.
Memory care communities take care of the necessities of life in a way that’s friendly toward seniors with dementia. That can mean modifying meal offerings to fit pickier palates – or designing residences that are safe for seniors with mobility and spatial awareness issues. It also means keeping residents occupied and active to engage their minds and delay the progression of symptoms.
Is Memory Care Covered by Medicare?
It depends. Generally speaking, Medicare can be used to pay for some – but not all – care costs. Fortunately, Medicare will cover planning services with memory care providers like Tiffany Springs, allowing your family to learn about possible treatments and the services available in the community.
Do Dementia Patients Need 24-Hour Care?
Sometimes. People in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia can often lead near-independent lives, especially with the support of a family member or caregiver. But as the symptoms progress, it can become impossible to take care of the essential tasks of daily life while staying safe.
If you’re not sure whether your loved one needs extra help, ask yourself these questions:
- Is your loved one safe in their current home? It’s not easy to danger-proof a home, especially for a senior with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. You have to consider obstacles and tripping hazards – and wandering behaviors that put dementia patients at risk.
- Is being a caregiver harming your happiness? And is that affecting your ability to give the best care you can? Frustration and stress can make it hard to keep going.
- Are caregiving needs exceeding your ability to handle them? There are some things you can’t handle at home – like extreme behaviors and loss of function from advanced memory loss.
- Are you neglecting other parts of your life? Whether it’s your work life, social obligations or family schedule, caregiving can be disruptive to your day-to-day.
See the Difference Our Care Can Make
Get in touch with a member of the Tiffany Springs team today. They’ll help to guide you through your options and make the best decision for your loved one.