5 Tips for Choosing the Right Memory Care Service Provider for Your Loved One
Did you know more than 55 million people worldwide have dementia? If you have a loved one with advanced dementia, it’s important to remember you’re not alone.
When the time comes to find memory care services for your loved one, it can feel overwhelming at first. It helps to know you can reduce the stress in this process by learning the key things to look for in a memory care facility.
Keep reading to learn five tips that will help you find the best memory care services for your loved one.
1. Know Your Loved One’s Needs
Finding the right memory care facility begins with identifying what your loved one needs.
Do they need help with dressing, eating, or bathing? Do they require 24-hour supervision? You also need to consider any chronic health conditions your loved one has.
Chronic health conditions require regular medications, so be sure to ask the memory care provider you’re considering how they adequately monitor health needs.
You also want to evaluate how the memory care provider deals with:
- Aggressive behaviors
- Wandering
- Mobility issues
2. Check Safety Measures
Safety is the number one concern when looking for dementia care for your loved one.
Make sure to ask the memory care service provider what type of security technologies and safety protocols they use.
You’ll need to look for things like 24-hour supervision, doors with keypad entry, enclosed courtyards, and alarms on all the emergency exits.
Rooms should also have automatic lights, low handrails for stability, and emergency call buttons within reach.
3. Ask About Memory Care Plans
Memory care facilities use person-centered care for residents, which means they need to understand a resident’s preferences, past experience, and current abilities.
The care team should do an initial memory care assessment to develop a personalized dementia care plan that meets your loved one’s individual needs. Dementia can progress quickly, so these care plans should be updated and reviewed at least every 2 to 3 months.
It’s important to ask how often care plans are reviewed, how they’re developed, and what staff members are involved in developing the care plan.
4. Ask About Therapies and Activities
Regular therapies and activities can help improve your loved one’s quality of life by delaying memory decline and improving symptoms of depression.
Regular social interaction and physical activity will also decrease aggressive behaviors and give your loved one a sense of purpose.
When you’re researching memory care facilities, ask if they offer therapies like:
- Art therapy
- Music therapy
- Aromatherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Games and trivia
- Nature programs
5. Take a Tour
Once you’ve made a shortlist of the memory care centers you’re considering, your next step is to take a tour of each one.
During your tour, you’ll need to walk through the hallways, watch the daily care activities, and observe mealtimes. You’ll also need to tour the rooms and meet with the caregivers to ask for more details about their services.
If you’re still looking for options, you can add this memory care center to your list.
Ask For Help When Choosing Memory Care Services
You can also make your search for memory care services less overwhelming by asking for help.
Talk to your loved one’s doctor to get the resources you need to help you through the process. You can ask for a referral to a social worker or other community resources for more guidance.
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