If you’re in the process of deciding on a retirement community, you may get confused over the types of communities available. Due to the advancements in medical research, retirement communities in the United States are now delivering more tailored care for each older adult, ensuring that each resident receives personalized medical care that’s not just one-size-fits-all. One of the communities is Memory Care, which is specifically targeted toward older adults living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other forms of memory-loss related conditions. Due to the high care needs required of these elderly people, memory care communities provide more intensive care by ensuring 24/7 monitoring and creating a more safe and secure environment. To find out what makes memory care communities stand out from other types, continue reading.
Care Needs
The main factor of a memory care community is the high level of personal care assistance offered to each resident. In memory care, residents can look forward to a structured environment, where team members can help out during meal times, assist in other responsibilities like bathing and taking medication, and bring them to activities. What’s more, these team members are generally trained and well-experienced in dealing with older adults who are diagnosed with dementia. Since residents in memory care require that extra support to navigate the day smoothly, they can rely on team members anytime and anywhere.
Cognitive Health
Considering that many older adults with dementia face cognitive impairment, one of the priorities of a memory care community is to improve the memory skills of residents. Whether it’s through fitness activities or therapy sessions, memory care communities offer a wide range of programs that not only provide forms of entertainment for older adults but also allow them to work on their cognitive health and address other specific needs as well. Some of the more common activities include pet therapy, arts and crafts, light physical activities like yoga and Tai Chi, and many more.
Living Space and Layout
Most loved ones living with dementia tend to wander around and forget their directions. This means that they may face difficulties in heading back to their apartments, making them extremely vulnerable to unsafe situations. As such, in order to prevent any incidents of residents leaving the community or getting injured, memory care communities like SummerHouse Bay Cove are specially designed to be dementia-friendly by featuring enclosed spaces and easy-to-navigate walking paths. The apartments are also fitted with emergency call systems in order to allow residents to contact for help and medical assistance whenever necessary.
Dining Experiences
It’s common for older adults with dementia to get easily distracted during mealtimes. Some may even feel unmotivated to eat their food, which can put much stress on the caregiver. In a memory care community, this problem is taken care of by motivating residents to eat and preventing them from wandering around. At SummerHouse Bay Cove, this is achieved by providing delicious and nutritious meals in a calm yet socially engaging environment. In addition, all the meals are cooked to be easily digested.
