Memory Assisted Living

Understanding the Person-Centered Approach to Memory Care

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Memory care is one of the most important areas of healthcare today, especially with the growing elderly population. As a memory care facilitator, it’s very important to understand the different needs of residents and how to address them properly to ensure the best quality of life for them. In the late 1980s, Professor Thomas Kitwood of the Unversity of Bradford in the United Kingdom developed the person-centered approach in healthcare. This method has the goal of offering care that’s specific to a person’s needs, uniqueness, and preferences instead of taking the more general approach of care based on a disease and its signs and symptoms.

With person-centered care, the memory care facilitator acknowledges the presence of the disease, but it doesn’t focus on that diagnosis alone. Rather, this approach sees a person beyond his medical condition.

 

The benefits of person-centered care

More than the physical effects of dementia, it is the emotional and psychological toll that takes up the most burden for the elderly with this medical condition.

But person-centered care ensures that an individual still gets to enjoy the best quality of life even when dealing with the devastating effects of dementia. This method guarantees that:

  • An individual will be treated with the highest dignity and respect even with their medical condition.
  • A memory care facilitator will take the time to understand an individual’s medical history, lifestyle, personal preferences, culture, beliefs, and even their hobbies and interests.
  • The patient is offered the best opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations and build strong relationships with other people.
  • The healthcare team will look at the situation from the patient’s point of view considering the things that they’re going through because of their condition.
  • The individual is still able to explore new horizons and do the things that they love.
  • The patient will be able to enjoy an excellent quality of life with the help of their carers, family members, and peers.

 

The most important aspects of person-centered care

Being diagnosed with dementia leaves a huge impact on a person’s life. Person-centered care focuses on the following points in caring for patients with dementia:

  • A deep understanding of the challenging behaviors for patients with dementia to allow a memory care facilitator to communicate their needs effectively and to avoid any unmet needs.
  • Empowering the caregiver with the information about a patient’s personal beliefs, current health status, relationships, and personal interests to make sure that they are given the best quality of care that’s specific to their needs.
  • Giving the patient the opportunity to be as independent as possible while providing them with the assistance that they need when they need them.

Person-centered care offers a new and better approach to helping patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

By understanding the specific needs of a patient, they are not only offered the best quality of care possible, but they are also given the opportunity to still enjoy the things that they love and not letting their medical condition define the rest of their life.

 

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

Senior Living Center

The Most Important Facts and Statistics About Nursing Homes

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Nursing homes are needed now more than ever. With the American elderly population predicted to reach a staggering 94.7 million by 2060, there has been an increasing interest in nursing homes and how they function. To get started, here are some of the most important facts and statistics about these assisted living communities:

 

How many people live in nursing homes?

According to Dr. Tanya Gure, the section chief of geriatrics and associate professor in internal medicine at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, “there are about 1.4 to 1.5 million people living in nursing homes.”

Of this number, 33.8% are 85-94 years old, 26.4% are 75-84 years old, 16.5% are 65-74 years old, 15.5% are younger than 75 years old and 7.8% are 95 years old and older. As of 2016, there are 15,600 nursing homes in the country with more than 1.7 million licensed beds.

 

What are the most common needs of these residents?

A good chunk of seniors living in nursing homes typically need assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) like preparing meals and eating, bathing, getting dressed, going to the toilet, moving around the community or traveling to other locations, managing their medications.

Some residents may still be capable of these ADLs but are at higher risks for falls, wandering, and other safety issues because of underlying medical conditions. Still, others need quick and easy access to medical care when they need them.

 

What are the common medical conditions of nursing home residents?

One of the main goals of nursing homes is to offer assistance to seniors who have difficulty or limitations with independent living because of their medical conditions. Most of these residents are suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, diabetes, arthritis, amputations, and eye diseases. But contrary to popular belief, a lot of these residents are still healthy and independent. They just need a safe place to live where they can fully enjoy life without any worries about daily chores.

In fact, almost 20% of these residents have no impairment with their ADLs, 15% have significant cognitive impairment that requires assistance with ADLs, 7% only have mild cognitive impairment and 1% have little or no cognitive impairment at all.

 

What are the costs of sending a loved one to a nursing home?

Another common concern among seniors and family members is the cost of moving into a nursing home. In 2018, the median price for a private room costa around $8,300 per month.

Alaska, Connecticut, and Hawaii have the highest average daily cost for a private nursing home that costs $907, $452, and $449 respectively. Louisiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma, on the other hand, have the lowest rates at $182, $182, and $174 respectively.

Although living in nursing homes is not cheap, they are also worth the cost considering that seniors get to live the best quality of life in a safe, secure, and loving community where they don’t have to worry about anything anymore and just live their life to the fullest.

 

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

Senior Housing

5 Ways a Senior Living Center Promotes Safety and Well-Being to Residents

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As you prepare to send your loved one to a senior living center, you can’t help but worry if they’re going to get the same quality of life that they’re enjoying in your own home. You are not alone in this because it’s a common sentiment among a lot of family members.

But one of the primary goals of any senior living center is to promote the well-being and safety of its residents through these five ways:

 

Consistent intellectual stimulation

The elderly should never stop learning and every senior living center makes sure that its residents are offered consistent opportunities for intellectual stimulation.

It could be online courses, reading sessions, games, and other ways for them to learn something new and keep their memories sharp for a longer time.

 

Social interaction

Residents of senior living centers are encouraged to socialize and interact with their peers. Since loneliness due to separation anxiety is a common problem among seniors, it’s very important for them to maintain social interaction, especially since it can lead to depression and even early death according to a study by the University of Chicago.

 

Physical activities

A research study conducted by Johns Hopkins University revealed that seniors who are physically active tend to live longer than those who are not.

This is why exercise is one of the primary activities for senior living centers where residents can attend tai-chi or Zumba classes or work with a personal trainer in keeping themselves fit and active while making sure that they don’t incur any injuries.

 

Adequate nutrition

Of course, proper nutrition is very important for seniors, especially those with existing medical conditions. At a senior living center, residents are served their meals so they don’t need to cook.

Nutritionists also take into account the special dietary needs or food restrictions of residents to make sure that they get adequate nutrition every day.

 

Stress-free lifestyle

Most family members choose to send their loved one to a senior living center to give him a more relaxed lifestyle where he never needs to worry about cooking his meals, cleaning the house and thinking about utility bills.

Senior living communities offer residents these conveniences so they can fully enjoy the rest of their lives without any stress or worries.

Finally, there’s always the matter of safety where seniors are more prone to accidents and are more vulnerable for break-ins, all of which are eliminated when they live in a senior living center.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fall is the leading cause of injury in seniors, but this can be prevented with the right precautions implemented in a senior home. Residents are also prepared in case of a disaster and there is on-call staff to make sure that any medical emergencies are attended to right away.

If you’re still on the fence about sending your loved one to a senior living center, you can put your worries to rest because he will surely be given the best care possible.

 

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

Senior Living Center

Types of Memory Care Facilitator Jobs and Their Functions

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There are a number of memory care facilitator jobs available for interested individuals. But how does each position meet the needs of the patients with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory loss problems?

 

Executive Director

The executive director will manage the assisted living and memory care facility. Thus, he or she needs to fulfill the following functions.

  • Maintains the operation of the facility, coordinates, directs, and supervises all activities and services
  • Complies with the federal, local, and state standards for the operation of the facility
  • Monitors the procedures and policies, employee morale, and public relations
  • Communicates the facility philosophies and all policies to staff and residents

 

Memory Care Coordinator

It is the job of the memory care coordinator to manage the overall operation of the unit based on the needs of the residents, government regulations, and company policies and procedures.

Likewise, it is his or her primary function to develop and facilitate programming to meet the needs of the residents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

  • Build meaningful relationships with a number of seniors and their families by assisting with activities of daily living
  • Attend to individual care needs and know the unique preferences and personalities
  • Notify management of changes in condition and suggest adjustments in the level of care and services
  • Assist residents in life skills and other life-enriching activities indicated on the individual profile.
  • Manage the process of assessment to decide the levels of care and staff
  • Ensure that the community will follow all federal, local, and state laws and regulations regarding resident care and services
  • Assist the executive director in the completion of the annual community budget
  • Accomplish the team member engagement goals and lead in the engagement improvement planning sessions
  • Keep updated in the professional developments of the field by attending conferences, reading, joining in the training sessions

 

Resident Care Coordinator

  • Advocating the concept of the designated care manager all through the neighborhoods by hiring, recruiting, training, and coaching a high-quality team
  • Provide recognition and create an engaged culture for the team members, as residents and families become an important part of the leadership role

 

Memory Care Program Facilitator

As a memory care facilitator, the job requires the development, coordination, and implementation of programs and services for residents with cognitive impairment. It is also his or her job to provide a therapeutic environment that maintains the highest level of well-being of the body, mind, and spirit of each resident. 

  • Make a difference in the lives of patients being served by providing care and compassion
  • Act as a positive teammate to colleagues by assisting new teammates onboard
  • Ensure the delivery of compassionate quality care approach to residents
  • Protect and promote residents’ rights in all interactions with families and residents being a role model for the center
  • Participate in the interdisciplinary team in the development and maintenance of the social service and activity portions of the plan as a member to care for each resident

As a memory care facilitator, it is also his or her responsibility to oversee the activities of the memory care unit. At the same time, he or she directly supervises all the staff as necessary and reports to the executive director.

 

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 Ashland

What You Get from a Quality Assisted Living Facility

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Getting old has its moments, but has its downfalls too. For as you look forward to grandkids and comfortable retirement, you also have to deal with a host of physical impediments.

Blurry vision, shortness of breath, and aching joints are just some physical old-age symptoms that materialize in your 60s. It becomes much more pronounced as you enter the era of the octogenarian. And then the need for specialized care becomes more apparent.

This is true even if you were once fit, independent, and on-the-go. Age will catch up with you at some point and the body will start to deteriorate.

Choosing to spend the rest of your days in an assisted living facility ensures that you get the medical attention you need while maintaining a satisfying quality of life.

 

Assisted Living vs a Nursing Home

Some seniors and their families are concerned about the idea of a senior living facility because they think that it’s synonymous with a nursing home. But with a little education, they can learn all about the wonderful senior living communities and options available.

The services and amenities available in these senior living facilities do vary. But here are some features you can expect to find across the board.

 

Nutritious Meals

Eating healthy meals is important in keeping seniors energetic throughout the day. So you can expect any assisted living facility to have both delicious and nutritious meals.

These are often prepared by trained chefs and cater to specific conditions and needs. Residents are served three meals a day according to their changing health needs.

 

Daily Living Assistance

Residents at senior living facilities have staff that is responsible for assisting older adults with activities of daily living (ADL). These include bathing, dressing, and eating. This gives family members peace of mind that parents and grandparents will still be cared for in the best way possible.

 

Housekeeping and Transportation

In addition to ADL assistants, senior living facilities also have housekeeping staff that maintains residents’ rooms and apartments. There’s also transportation to take these elderly occupants to and from appointments.

 

Hobbies and Classes

Intellectual stimulation is important for seniors to stay alert and engaged. This is why assisted living communities run book clubs, computer classes, gardening, and more. Communities located near colleges might enable residents to have access to courses and cultural offerings on campus.

 

Venues for Exercise

A lot of assisted living communities have in-house gyms equipped with all sorts of exercise equipment to encourage seniors to stay active. Some even have its own therapy room.

 

Safe Living Environment

The apartments and rooms for senior residents are designed for accessibility and mobility. This allows them to retain independence while having easy access to expert care and medical attention if needed.

 

Events and Outings

A lot of seniors find it difficult to maintain social relationships. This is why assisted living facilities have a long list of activities for residents throughout the year. Attending cultural events or going on field trips are great ways for residents to bond and enjoy being outside together.

 

Conclusion

Assisted living facilities provide a “home away from home” for seniors who want to receive excellent care, yet still maintain that sense of independence. With highly-qualified staff and trained medical professionals on call, these places give families the peace of mind knowing that their elderly loved ones are being looked after.

 

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

brain exercises

5 Healthy Brain Exercises to Delay Memory Loss or Dementia

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Someone in the world will develop dementia every 3 seconds, so it’s no surprise that the number of people living with the condition is expected to reach 152 million by 2050. But while dementia still baffles medical experts, any memory care facilitator would agree that embracing these five healthy brain exercises would help delay memory loss or the onset of dementia:

 

Learn and re-learn

 

Like they say, you can never stop learning. Even if you already have a degree and you have a lot up your sleeve, there’s still room for more knowledge. Sign up for online classes, read about your favorite subject and even write your thoughts on a journal. You can never be too old or busy to add a new skill on your list.

 

Practice a new language

 

According to research, people who learned a new language showed better concentration and better brain function than those who only knew one language. And you don’t need to be in a classroom to learn a new language because there are a lot of online language courses that allow you to spend some time each day to learn a new language.

 

Learn a musical instrument

 

Any memory care facilitator would highly recommend learning a musical instrument because it is considered the ultimate brain exercise. According to research, playing an instrument doesn’t only keep your mind sharp, but it also forces your brain to really work considering that you’re learning something that’s unfamiliar territory.

 

A study by the University of Montreal even revealed that people who played an instrument have faster reaction times and it helps prevent cognitive slips.

 

Work on puzzles

 

Sudoko is a highly recommended puzzle game, especially for the elderly because it really makes the brain work by fitting the numbers in a box with a very specific order. This game helps sharpen thinking skills and prolong your memory. You can also learn a new card or board game and play it with your family. Games like Monopoly and Chess have also been proven to improve cognitive thinking and improve decision-making skills.

 

Read, read, read

 

You can never put too much emphasis on the benefits of reading at any age. When you read, you are not only learning new things but you are also giving your brain a chance to function properly.

 

Try reading problem-solving mysteries that allows you to think deeply about how you can solve a problem, which is not only a great exercise but also a smart way to entertain yourself.

 

Although dementia can happen to anyone, you can always protect yourself from it or slow down the progression of the disease by keeping your brain active with these exercises.

 

The trick here is to always find ways to stop your brain from being stagnant. And if you have a loved one who is susceptible to getting dementia, help him stay active by giving him activities that allow him to have fun while giving his brain a good exercise.

 

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

memory care assisted living

Is Respite Care Provided in a Senior Living Center?

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With such a high demand for elderly care, there has been a huge growth in the number of options for seniors to enjoy the latter years of their lives. Some prefer to stay at home with family while others go to a senior living center due to their need for specialized care due to sickness or disability. But there is one option that meets both worlds. Respite care is an option for the elderly to stay at a senior living center for a short period of time to gain back their strength after a hospitalization, recover from an illness or just have a professional to take care of them while their caregiver is away.

 

 

Respite Care in a Senior Living Center

Most senior living centers and other elderly care communities offer respite care as part of their service because they understand that caregivers at home also need a break. There are also times when a senior needs more specialized care than what their spouse, family member or even professional caregiver can provide.

 

Respite care can be used in several situations too. According to AARP, caregivers have the option to take advantage of respite care for their patients so they can still function as regular individuals. They can do their groceries, run errands and even take vacations without worrying that their elderly would be left alone to care for themselves.

 

 

Is Respite an Important Part of Elderly Care?

Perhaps the biggest benefit of respite care at a senior living center is consistency. While taking care of a loved one is such a rewarding job, caregivers also need time to take care of the other aspects of their life. But there has always been that concern of who will care of their patient while they are away.

 

Respite care fills that gap by taking over while a caregiver is away. This ensures consistency of care, which is highly needed for the elderly population without sacrificing the quality of life of caregivers.

 

Respite also offers the right environment for seniors to recover from an illness or hospitalization. As people age, it takes longer for them to get back to being active and healthy, especially since they’re not as strong and resilient as when they were younger. Respite care in a senior living center gives them the opportunity to regain their footing while having access to all the health services they require throughout the recovery process.

 

Community

Finally, staying in respite care offers seniors the chance to communicate and bond with people of the same age. The elderly usually have a hard time building strong relationships because of how they’re surrounded by younger people who may not understand them as much as people within their age group.

 

Being in respite care gives them the opportunity to get to know people and even build meaningful relationships with them. It gives them that sense of fulfillment knowing that they still matter and they are still capable of enjoying a good quality of life despite being in their later years.

 

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

senior living terminology

Senior Living Terminologies You Should Familiarize for Better Decision-Making

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Knowing and understanding the terminologies often used in senior living will guide you in making a better decision when the time comes to plan for your future. This is especially true with regards to the names and acronyms of agencies that are responsible for ensuring the safety of seniors.

 

Senior Living Terms and Definitions

 

Accreditation

This refers to a designation or seal of approval that a facility receives from an independent governing body. This indicates that a community or service provider has met specific requirements set by the controlling body.

This guarantees that a care home has the required equipment, accommodation, and staff as designated by the governing body.

 

American College of Healthcare Administrators (ACHCA)

This non-profit professional membership association provides care administrators with educational programming, career development, and certification opportunities. A carer certified by the ACHCA has received the proper training and passed.

 

Activities of Daily Living (ADL)

This refers to any form of assistance provided to help a senior perform daily life-supporting tasks. Examples of which are assistance with using the toilet, bathing, dressing, eating, and moving around.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

Passed by Congress in 1980, the law is designed to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. It outlines a comprehensive and clear set of rules.

 

Adult Daycare

This refers to organizations that provide structured programs for aging individuals. These include stimulation of social activities and even rehab services for emotionally or physically disabled elderly.

 

Adult Family Home

This is a facility that meets the following criteria:

  • Private, home-like setting
  • Located in a residential neighborhood
  • Serves only a limited number of residents
  • Care is provided by live-in caretakers
  • Provides laundry, group meals, and housekeeping

 

Services provided in an adult home vary from one facility to another. The facility is also known as:

  • Board and care home
  • Group home
  • Adult foster care
  • Residential care facility
  • Personal care home

 

Aging in Place

This means seniors continue to live at home or with a family despite the decline in their mental and physical health. This usually involves renovating a home to make it suitable for senior living and hiring the services of in-home caregivers.

 

Assisted Living

This refers to a kind of senior living facility where housing, healthcare, and personalized support services are provided to seniors. Care programs are designed to help seniors with their daily activities and cater to their needs.

 

Administrator

This refers to a licensed professional that is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a nursing home independent living, assisted living, and other care communities.

 

Caregiver

Any person who cares for another individual, whether a trained caregiver or a family member.

 

Charge Nurse

A Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) who supervises nursing care or hospital unit. Their main task is to supervise the nursing staff and their schedules. They also provide care to residents in a caring community.

 

Concierge Service

This service is available in most high-end senior care facilities. The role involves:

  • Acquiring resources
  • Arranging activities for seniors
  • Providing advice in improving a senior’s quality of life

 

Continuum of Care

This refers to a wide range of care services designed to assist individuals throughout different health care requirements. Examples of such services are home care, hospice, nursing care, and assisted living.

There are plenty of other terminologies used in the aging sector, but the ones above should help you get started.

 

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 home plans

How Assisted Living Home Plans Are Changing Based on the Needs of Today’s Seniors

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Like most things, senior and assisted living facilities also evolve with the times and the ever-changing needs of their residents and those who are expected to live in them.

 

Today’s changes are influenced by the baby boomers and their preferences for their future aged care accommodation. It’s not a surprise that assisted living home plans nowadays are different from what they were five years or a decade ago.

 

 

How do architects design assisted living home plans?

 

They do so base on two things— (1) the updated key standards, codes, and guidelines that apply to the design and construction of senior living facilities and (2) the most self-sufficient seniors in assisted living.

 

Updated key standards are:

 

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to help address accessibility issues.
  • International Building Code (IBC) that building inspectors use as a guide. It’s updated by the International Code Council every 3 years.
  • NFPA 101, Life Safety Code that fire officials use as a guide. This is updated every 3 years by the National Fire Protection Association.
  • Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) Guidelines for the Design and Construction of Residential Health, Care, and Support Facilities serve as a reference for programming in assisted living, nursing homes, or skilled nursing.

 

Because some states craft their own build and design standards, consistency across regions is lacking. For this reason, architects take cues from the seniors in aged care.

 

 

What are the current changes made on existing assisted living home plans?

 

Expanded food service in independent living facilities

These facilities are classified by the IBC as R-2 residential use. This means they must meet the same building and safety requirements that apply to dormitories and multifamily housing.

 

Such facilities offer seniors a range of living accommodations, from apartments to cottages. They also come with full service for its residents, including concierge services.

 

What has been improved is the type of dining options offered. Not only are seniors treated to a variety of cuisines, but they can also dine in bars, cafes, pubs, and restaurants.

 

 

Proper classification of the use and occupancy of assisted living buildings

There used to be confusion on whether assisted living facilities are best classified as an I-2 building instead of I-1:

 

I-1 – allows wood frame construction. Assumes that residents are capable of evacuating in an emergency

 

I-2 – requires that multistory buildings are made noncombustible

 

The I-1 remains but with a couple of conditions appended to it:

 

1 – senior residents should be able to evacuate all by themselves

 

2 – must be built with a higher standard. If wood is used, the building should only have 3 stories.

 

 

Updated design to skilled nursing

New FGI guidelines paved the way for better-skilled nursing assisted living home plans.

 

2010 edition specifies a new room design that allows residents to have unimpeded access to a toilet room, closet for personal belongings, and exterior windows to bring in natural light.

 

2014 edition specifies that design should be person-centered care that will promote dignity and purposeful living.

 

Changes to life plan communities or continuing care retirement communities are expected as well. Seniors of today want something different from their predecessors, after all.

 

They now want to see spas, walking trails, health-focused meals, and other wellness-enhancing amenities in assisted living.

 

 

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 facilities in Nebraska

The Five Things All Facilities for Alzheimer’s Should Provide

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Alzheimer’s disease is affecting more people, especially with the baby boomer population now in their later adulthood years. In fact, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds and about 500,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease will be diagnosed in the United States this year.

 

With these staggering statistics in mind, the need to learn about the different facilities for Alzheimer’s and what they provide has never been more important, especially if you have a loved one who is diagnosed with this disease.

 

 

When choosing the right place from a list of facilities for Alzheimer’s, here are five things that you should look for:

 

 

Excellent Staffing

 

The first and probably most important thing that all facilities for Alzheimer’s should provide is an excellent staff. All members of the health care team should recognize that individuals with Alzheimer’s disease are unique and that their care should be personalized to ensure that their specific needs are met.

 

Facilities should have physicians and nurses on the premises at all times to cater to emergencies and the ration of residents to staff should be adequate so proper care can be given to each individual.

 

 

A Good Living Environment

 

The decision to move into an Alzheimer’s facility is a huge step for any individual. This is why it’s very important to make sure that he will be provided with the right living environment that is clean, easy to navigate and has amenities like family visiting areas and indoor and outdoor spaces where residents can still have a great time and never feel like they’re far from home.

 

 

Efficient Services

 

Since every individual with Alzheimer’s is unique, the facility should provide services that are created around the specific health and behavioral needs of the resident. Activities should be planned every day, on the weekends and during evenings, all while taking into consideration the needs, abilities, and interests of the individual.

 

Physical, speech, recreational and occupational therapies should also be accessible and care planning sessions should be done regularly to monitor the condition of the resident. Transportation is also a must for when residents have to go to medical appointments or shop for personal items.

 

 

Healthy and Well-Prepared Meals

 

Since most individuals with Alzheimer’s already have difficulty cooking their own food, all facilities for Alzheimer’s should provide for the residents’ meals and snacks.

 

It’s good to have a weekly menu laid out to ensure that the food served by the facility meets the health requirements of the resident. A good dining environment should also be provided and family and friends should be given the opportunity to join at mealtime when they’re around.

 

 

Good Policies

 

Finally, as with any facility, an Alzheimer’s facility should have good policies that will ensure the quality of life of a resident during his stay.

 

Aside from involving the family in the care of the patient, a facility should have policies for every aspect of a resident’s care including continuing care, aging in place policies and even hospice care.

 

 

 

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