When your loved one’s struggles with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease have reached a tipping point, a memory care facility is often the right choice for long-term care. These facilities, also known as memory care units or special care units, may be housed on a separate floor or wing, or may exist as a stand-alone community. Memory care facilities provide comprehensive care, typically including 24-hour supervision. Memory care personnel are specially trained to assist residents suffering from the symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Once the decision has been made to move your loved one into a memory care community, it’s time to look at the different options and choose the facility that’s right for your loved one and your family. We’ve assembled some key questions you may want to ask, grouped together by specific areas of concern.  

Environment

The overall environment of a memory care facility is the first thing you notice, and provides an indication of the quality of life and the quality of care administered within.

How is the facility kept up?

A poorly kept facility is, of course, an indication to look elsewhere. A lack of cleanliness or worn and tattered furniture are obvious cues that this is not where your loved one belongs. However, many people go too far in the opposite direction. While you don’t want someplace dirty, you also don’t want to choose a facility that feels cold and sterile. This is going to be your loved one’s new home. It should feel like a home, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and furniture that looks lived in, but not worn.

Is the facility easy to navigate?

If you have trouble navigating the facility, be careful. Residents suffering from cognitive impairment tend to get lost and wander. While supervision should be prevalent, residents should also be able to navigate on their own to some extent. Excessively long hallways can be disorienting. But personal markers, such as pictures and personal decorations on the walls and doors of the rooms can help residents find their way around.

Do residents have free access to secure outdoor areas?

We all get stir crazy when we remain indoors too long. Make sure that the outdoor areas are well-kept and welcoming, and that residents don’t need to pay extra to access them. Also double check that the areas are secure. Can a resident easily wander off the grounds? Again, while supervision should be prevalent, you want a measure of security to be inherent in the design of the outdoor space.

Caregivers

The facility staff will be the caregivers responsible for keeping your loved one happy and healthy.

What type of training has the staff received?

Ensure that the staff has been trained specifically in memory care. It’s also important to inquire about how that training was administered. If staff simply watched videos on memory care, that’s a red flag. Ideally, training should be ongoing so that the staff continue to learn.

How long have staff members been at the facility?

If high turnover is occurring at the facility, that’s not a good sign. A place that can’t keep their staff happy and engaged will be hard-pressed to do so for their residents. Additionally, a rotating door of caregivers can be disorienting for residents, and will make settling in and getting comfortable a challenge for your loved one.

Are caregivers engaged with residents?

Once again, the memory care center will act as a new home for your loved one. It’s important that the people caring for them make them feel seen, heard, and valued. Too often, staff simply stand and supervise from the sidelines, looking closer to security guards than healthcare providers. In a quality facility, you’ll see caregivers actively engaging with residents, not only to address medical needs, but simply to communicate and provide personal attention.

Medical Needs

In addition to memory care, communities need to cater to the other medical needs of their residents in order to provide comprehensive support.

What types of care are provided?

Dementia, mobility issues, and a myriad of other health complications often affect residents in addition to their issues with Alzheimer’s disease OR dementia. It’s important to know if the memory care facility you’re considering has the personnel and resources to handle those issues on-site. An internal clinic that provides physical, occupational, and speech therapy is a great asset for residents.

For outside medical appointments, who makes the arrangements?

It’s important that a memory care facility support you as well as your loved one. Regardless of the resources provided on-site, most residents will require a visit to an outside medical professional from time to time, or more regularly. If the facility can make these arrangements, you can rest a little easier.

What is the policy for handling a medical emergency?

While it can be difficult to think about your loved one suffering a medical emergency, it’s important for you to understand how the memory care facility handles these situations ahead of time.

Peace of Mind

Making sure a memory care facility is equipped to deliver peace of mind to loved ones and their families is vital to everyone’s happiness.

What social activities are provided?

While it’s easy to see the limitations of a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, it’s important to realize how much they still can do. The best memory care facilities provide a robust schedule of activities that cover the needs and capabilities of all of their patients, not just the most capable. Music, art, and exercise programs should be offered daily to make sure your loved one is happy and fulfilled.

How easy is it to get to the facility?

Visits from family and friends help make the initial transition to a memory care facility easier. Regular visits after residents are settled in are great for everyone, both for loved ones and their families alike. A memory care facility is a new home, and visits from family and friends help it feel that way. Making it easier for yourself and others to get to the facility keeps these visits from becoming a burden.

How often are family members updated on their loved one’s well-being?

It’s hard not to worry about a loved one, even after they’ve settled into life at a memory care center. Make sure you understand how often you will be updated on your loved one’s health and well-being, and how easy it is to communicate with the facility. Your peace of mind is just as important as that of your loved one, so it’s helpful to make sure that communication with the facility is easy.

At The Woodleigh of Baton Rouge, we’ve worked hard to create an environment for memory care that fulfills all of these criteria. Contact us at 225-272-1401 to learn more about our memory care unit.