How To Choose a Memory Care Facility for Your Loved One With Dementia

Senior living facilities exist on a spectrum based on the amount of care provided:

• A nursing home provides 24/7 nursing care and medical treatment.
• An independent living community offers little to no supervision.
• Assisted living lies in the middle, offering more assistance, such as meals and some health care services.
• Memory care, care designed especially for individuals experiencing dementia, may be provided in a nursing home or assisted living context. 

Often, there’s no need to move to a separate facility to receive memory care because it can be incorporated into an individual’s care package. Memory care packages/facilities focus on:

• Extra safety features for dementia patients who may tend to wander
• Ways to retain cognition and encourage memory retention in patients
• Understanding different types of dementia to offer customized care
• Offering many types of therapy (not just pharmaceuticals), including recreational, individual, and group therapies

Country Home provides independent and assisted living, permanent care, and memory care, all with the compassionate, person-centered approach that will help your loved one feel at home.

When comparing facilities and their quality of care, it may be helpful to give each one a grade in each of the following categories. These are what will make up the overall experience of residents and their families or support systems.

A facility’s approach to care makes a world of difference in the quality and propriety of care. What does the facility do to ensure its employees are qualified to deliver memory care? You should be confident that the staff is adequately trained and mentally/emotionally prepared to handle the challenges of caring for individuals with dementia. 

The following questions (which you can answer by observation or by direct inquiry) will help you determine the degree of medical and interpersonal confidence you can place in the caregivers at a given facility:

• How do staff members personalize and improve resident care? Do they consult residents’ histories?
• Do staff make an effort to get to know the residents?
• Do residents interact with the same staff members each day?
• How do staff respond to aggression and disruptions?
• Is the facility accredited?
• What special training do staff receive before providing dementia care, and is ongoing training required? What are some techniques used to ensure proper dementia care?

Special programs and services designed specifically to help dementia patients are a critical element of a well-functioning memory care facility. All initiatives should be evidence-based practices that help improve quality of life and slow cognitive decline, such as:

• Cognitive stimulation therapy: A program involving group activities to encourage cognition, problem-solving, and memory
• Reminiscence therapy: A service that involves discussing past experiences and helps reduce agitation and improve mood and cognitive function
• Music or art therapy: The use of music or art to engage individuals, boost mood, and improve communication
• Environmental modifications: Purposeful changes to the environment (such as labels/signage, color-coding, and enhanced lighting) to reduce stress and prevent confusion or accidents
• Occupational therapy: A service that helps individuals practice life skills and retain as much independence as possible
• Medications: Used in conjunction with the above interventions, these can help manage symptoms of dementia, but they may come with unpleasant side effects 

Programming, or a schedule of activities centered around these types of interventions, is an excellent way to accommodate the needs of dementia patients and help them establish a routine that keeps them oriented.

This may be the first consideration, as it could narrow your options significantly. The following questions will help give you a complete picture of all the costs involved before you decide that you can afford a facility: 

• What is the cost of living in the facility, including hidden fees?
• Is there a down payment, or do you pay month-to-month?
• What services are or are not included in the cost?
• How will pricing be affected if a resident’s needs change?
• Does the cost increase every year? By how much?

The cost of memory care may be offset by using the proceeds from selling your loved one’s home and/or by securing assistance from Medicaid.

There’s no substitute for visiting a facility yourself to get a feel for the physical and emotional atmosphere. Pay attention to both staff and residents, and ask yourself:

• Do staff behave with compassion and appear knowledgeable?
• Would you feel peaceful knowing your loved one lives there?
• Do the residents seem engaged and happy?
• Are you in alignment with the philosophy of care?
• Does the place feel safe?
• Does the facility appear welcoming when family visits?
• Are there unpleasant odors?
• Is it clean and spacious enough?
• Are residents permitted to bring personal belongings that are familiar to them?
• Is there monitoring of both indoor and outdoor areas?
• How easy is it to navigate the facility?

Imagine your loved one living there and answer these questions based on what you know of their personality and preferences.

Many factors combine to make up the resident’s experience in a senior living community. Because the culture and logistics of any place are unique, some firsthand acquaintance will be necessary to decide whether it’s a good fit. Ask the following questions:

• How big are the resident rooms? Are they for one or two occupants?
• How many dining rooms are there?
• How much space is there for both indoor and outdoor activities?
• How does the registered dietitian ensure the residents’ nutrition needs are met?
• Are there meal alternatives?
• When are meals offered?
• Do residents have flexibility about when they eat or receive care?
• Where are televisions situated?
• Is personal care performed with respect for the residents’ dignity?
• What amenities are available?
• Do the residents seem comfortable and relaxed, clean and properly dressed?

Consider the setup and schedule, and determine whether the arrangement will be something your loved one can adapt to with relative ease.

Policies and procedures are a direct indicator of the facility’s priorities and values. A memory care facility should aim to fulfill its goals by establishing practices that address the following facets of caregiving for individuals with dementia:

• The need for a person- and family-centered approach
• Regular assessment and care plan development
• Medication management
• Maintenance of a supportive, therapeutic environment
• Support for activities of daily living
• Utilization of evidence-based interventions for transitions in care
• Information, education, and support for individuals and their families
• Ongoing caregiver education, training, and support

Some questions you can ask to better understand how the memory care facility operates within these categories include:

• Does each resident have a care plan, and is it developed/evaluated regularly?
• How are residents grouped (by cognitive level, diagnosis, etc.)?
• Can family/friends participate in care?
• What are the visiting hours?
• What situations would result in discharge?
• How does the facility handle changing resident needs?
• Does the facility provide an emergency room escort if needed?
• How are staff supported to provide the best possible care?

One of your main concerns is probably how the facility ensures the safety of its residents. Besides a staff that is attentive to and knowledgeable about the members of the community, there are a number of features that have proven to prevent accidents and wandering, such as:

• Handrails
• Motion-sensor technology
• Doors with keypads
• Secured windows
• Zero-threshold showers that are wheelchair accessible
• Nonslip rugs
• Soundproof walls
• Color-coded hallways

Ask these questions to further evaluate the facility’s commitment to resident safety:

• Is there a nurse on duty 24 hours a day?
• What is the ratio of staff to residents during the day and night?
• How are the buildings and grounds secured?
• Does a physician or psychiatrist regularly visit the facility to evaluate residents?
• What medical services are available?
• Do residents have an emergency call button in their rooms?
• What other safety measures are in place?

• Make a memory care checklist: Considering your loved one’s needs and preferences, make a list of priorities/things you believe are absolutely necessary. Take it with you and make notes regarding your visit to a facility.
• Visit more than once: Plan a scheduled and unscheduled visit to evaluate the staff’s consistency.

• Ask questions: Visit with staff and family members of other residents. What do family members like most and least about the place? Has their experience changed throughout the course of their loved one’s stay?

At Country Home, we are committed to compassionate, person-centered care for each of our residents. Our facility provides all the comforts of home and even more. Besides social and recreational activities that help your loved one connect with the community, they will be able to take advantage of our on-site:

• Rehabilitation and recovery support
• Religious and spiritual services
• Salon
• Transportation services
• Emergency support services

The Country Home administration and staff understand that even the little things count when it comes to making your loved one’s new residence a home. That’s why we’d love to get to know you to learn how we can make the transition to memory care smooth, welcoming, and reassuring. Contact us today!