As dementia progresses, the person with dementia may experience many stressors. This can be made even worse if you are also caring for them. The best way to address these stressors is by finding a place specifically designed for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. For example, memory care communities in Jefferson, LA understand what it means to live with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. They can offer a safe environment that helps reduce stress and anxiety while providing companionship and support throughout the day.
Memory Care Communities Offer a Safe Environment
Memory care communities are safe environments. The care team is trained to keep residents safe and monitor their behavior closely. In addition, families can rest assured that their loved one is in good hands when they are occupied otherwise.
The care team at a memory care community actively encourages residents to be independent and participate in activities such as painting and music therapy. However, they also know when it’s time for assistance from the caregiver or family member who visits regularly. This combination of independence and safety helps prevent unnecessary stress on caregivers and patients, allowing them to engage with others in their community who share similar interests.
Memory Care Communities Create Daily Schedules and Rituals
It’s important to understand that dementia creates stress and can lead to behavioral issues. To help alleviate some of the stress caused by the disease, it is helpful to create daily schedules and rituals that are easy to follow.
A daily schedule should be simple but allow for variety daily. It will also need to be short enough not to overwhelm your loved one with too much information. For example, if you have an hour-long activity planned for your loved one on Monday morning, try keeping everything else in the day simple (like just walking around town), so they don’t get overwhelmed or tired from pushing too many new things at once. You might also consider making up a “cheat sheet” with all of your loved one’s daily activities written down in bullet points (which could easily be transferred from the paper onto an iPad), so they can refer back when needed!
Memory Care Communities Provide Companionship
Dementia doesn’t just affect your loved one’s memory. It also affects their ability to complete daily tasks like eating, dressing, and bathing independently. Consequently, many people with dementia experience depression or anxiety because they feel isolated from the world around them.
Companionship is vital in memory care communities; this can be provided by the care team and family members who visit regularly. Also, residents within the community who want an opportunity for friendship outside their rooms find themselves in the company of like-minded people.
Memory Care Communities Provide Specialized Activities
Memory care communities have plenty of activities for residents with dementia. For example, you might have a music therapist come in to play the piano or teach a group how to sing. A creative arts therapist can teach people how to paint or sculpt, and a dance therapist may lead them through some simple dance steps. Yoga classes are also very popular in memory care communities, but they’re not just a means of exercise—they’re also good for increasing awareness and improving balance and coordination. In addition to these physical activities, there are plenty of mental ones that can be tailored specifically toward the needs of people with dementia.
Conclusion
The right memory care community can be powerful in your fight against dementia. They provide the support and assistance you need to make life easier for yourself and your loved one. As you consider where to place your loved one, make sure they offer the services that are most important to you, whether it’s companionship or specialized activities. The more options available at an assisted living community, the better off everyone will be!
