Tips For Families Navigating Transitional Memory Care

Memory care refers to a type of specialized long-term care and environment meant for people living with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. It often involves a community of dementia patients, personalized memory care programs, and a highly trained team of health care professionals.

Dementia is divided into early stages, middle stages, and late stages on a seven-stage scale. By stage five, or moderately severe cognitive impairment, it is recommended that dementia patients either have a home caregiver or move into a memory care community.

As dementia patients navigate their transition into a memory care center, it makes all the difference when they receive unyielding support and empathy from their family and friends along the way. Here are a few tips for families navigating transitional memory care.

1. Visit Regularly and Stay Engaged

The fear of being forgotten by or detached from family and friends is common among memory care residents. To alleviate these fears and give your loved one peace of mind, families should be as involved as possible: visiting the memory care unit often and staying engaged in their loved one’s life.

Most memory care communities allow friends and family members to visit at any time. They welcome and integrate family and friends to participate in their events and activities at every opportunity.

2. Create a Comforting, Familiar Place

Change is always daunting, no matter how old you are. To make this change less jarring and stressful, families can decorate their loved one’s room with beloved belongings from home and gifts that will make their space feel more like home such as photo albums and cards.

Ensuring your loved one feels comfortable and relaxed is the utmost priority as they enter a new chapter of their life.

Lend an Ear and Be Patient

Your loved one may be experiencing a wide range of emotions during this time and have many questions as they adjust to a different environment. Grant them the time and space they need to do so.

Moving into a memory care community isn’t easy, but having the empathy and patience of others to fall back on will make the process a lot easier.

Get to Know Other Patients and Staff Members

Regularly communicate with memory care staff to receive updates on your loved one’s health. Establishing a strong connection with them will also simplify future care plan discussions.

Getting to know the people that surround your loved one every day will help you feel confident and satisfied with the support and care they are receiving. This also goes back to staying involved and engaged with your loved one’s life.

Benefits of Transitional Memory Care

1. Built-In Community of Support and Specialized Care

Social interaction is so important as we get older, stimulating brain activity and promoting emotional wellness. Participating in recreational activities with friends and peers has endless benefits that significantly enhance our quality of life.

For seniors living with dementia, personal care and memory care services will retain their independence and cognitive health. Request an individual level of care that best fits your loved one’s needs and preferences.

2. Daily Social and Physical Activities and Programs

Staying social and active can be harder for seniors, but at a memory care community, residents can maintain a busy schedule.

Numerous activities are conveniently located within and close to the residences. Common areas allow residents to gather and enjoy each other’s company at any time of the day. Life is much brighter when you have events to look forward to and people to share them with.

3. Physical Safety

Isolation, sundowning, and depression are major concerns for seniors with dementia. Having access to 24/7 supervision and nursing care is an incredible benefit that keeps seniors safe and at ease.

Families can rest easy knowing their loved ones are well taken care of and are having fun!