Memory Assisted Living

Choosing an Assisted Living Facility with Memory Care

There will come a time when your loved ones find it difficult to perform daily tasks. When this time comes, you have to make a decision regarding their long-term care. You have to make further considerations if your loved one requires a facility with memory care.

 

 

When it comes to senior care with considerations for memory assisted living might not be a sufficient solution. In the case of conditions like dementia, you might need to find an assisted living facility that has a memory care unit.

 

 

The question is: how do you choose?

 

 

Differentiating between Assisted Living and Memory Care

 

Assisted living and memory care comprise two kinds of residential senior care. The former mostly caters to seniors who find it difficult to live independently. Such facilities make sure that the elderly get the help they need to perform everyday activities, including bathing, dressing and eating.

 

 

There will also come a time when specialized help will be needed by your loved one, especially if they develop memory-related conditions like dementia. In this case, they would be better off if provided with memory care services.

 

 

Some assisted living facilities do have memory care units, but they are quite different from each other. While memory care services still fall within the realm of long-term skilled nursing, it is solely for patients who suffer from different memory problems, including Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

 

 

A memory care unit provides round-the-clock supervised care. The layout of the facility is also designed to not confuse residents. Meaning, the layout is specifically designed to make navigation easy for patients suffering from memory problems.

 

 

In terms of cost, facilities that offer memory care services do charge more because of the kind of specialized service provided.

 

 

Choosing a facility

 

If your loved one has trouble, memory assisted living facilities with memory care units are an option for their long-term care. Here are some factors to consider in choosing a facility:

 

  • Staff training. Memory issues are complex and as such, seniors who suffer from memory-related problems need specialized and skilled help. Facilities offering memory care services should have staff who are trained to deal with the different aspects of memory issues.

 

  • Meals. Nutrition is important to maintain senior health. As such, it’s important to know what kind of food will be served. And most importantly, it’s best to know if the food offered is healthy for their body and mind.

 

  • Programs. Just because someone is suffering from memory-related issues doesn’t mean they aren’t able to participate in activities. Take a look at whether or not the facilities offer programs or activities to help with memory. It could be as simple as doing crafts. It also helps if a facility offers exercise programs to promote overall health.

 

  • Other services. This may include housekeeping, laundry services, and transportation.

 

 

 

It’s important that your loved ones find a facility that not only provides for their needs but also looks after their overall well-being.

 

 

 


Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities: Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead

assisted living

Dispelling Common Myths about Assisted Living Facilities

Believe it or not, not a lot of people know very much about assisted living facilities even to this day. Usually, this type of senior care is the same as a retirement home or a nursing home. While there are similarities between the two, assisted living comes with a more holistic approach to its senior residents.

 

Due to its unfamiliarity, people often hear myths and misconceptions about this type of care. When you look at the big picture, assisted living facilities are more than ordinary retirement homes or nursing homes. To dispel the most common myths about this type of senior care, we rounded up these misconceptions and shed light on the truth about each one.

 

 

Myth # 1: Residents lose their independence and privacy

 

On the contrary, assisted living facilities value privacy and independence the most. This level of senior care prioritizes their residents in a way that they still get to enjoy being independent and having privacy while providing them the care that they need.

 

Together with their activities and the level of care they provide, their residents have a sense of their own space. A lot of communities let their residents choose apartments that they find desirable and allow them to personalize their own space to make it feel like their own.

 

 

Myth # 2: Reduced enjoyable activities of daily living

 

Since they often associate assisted living facilities with nursing homes, a lot of families think that their loved ones will lose some of the activities that they used to enjoy at home like gardening and other forms of recreation. However, it’s never the case with this type of senior care.

 

Residents end up having more activities with community living than when they were living alone. Facilities often have recreational programs fit for different personalities and interests. These can range from gardening and fitness programs to book clubs, game clubs, and so much more. If there’s anything that’s for sure, there surely is something for everyone.

 

 

Myth # 3: Less access to professional assistance

 

Some would also think that help is not enough when within senior assisted living facilities. However, the truth is the exact opposite than this common misconception. These facilities employ individuals that are trained to attend the needs of their residents especially those in need of their medical care.

 

Most facilities even have enough staff that’s ready to help 24 hours a day to attend to their needs whenever they need it. These facilities make sure that their residents’ families become less worried about their loved ones when they choose to put them under their care. Therefore, this type of senior care makes sure that they have activities wherein they still improve their quality of life.

 

 

Myth # 4: Residents will end up feeling more alone or lonely

 

People often think that when they choose to let their loved ones settle in senior care facilities, they’ll feel isolated or left out. However, there’s no truth in that statement at all.

 

When they choose assisted living over other senior care facilities, their family members still get to see other people, interact with them, and make new friends with fellow residents. With activities that improve their quality of life, it becomes even more enjoyable since they get to enjoy their programs with other residents around.

 

 


Oxbow Living offers Assisted Living & Memory Care out of Nebraska and to the Surrounding Cities : Ashland, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Elmwood, Ithaca, Mead