Before Deciding To Move:
- Is your loved one no longer able to maintain their current home without significant assistance?
- Do they find themselves isolated from their peer group or having trouble meeting people their own age?
- Are you beginning to notice lapses in their memory?
- Is meeting their personal care needs becoming a challenge?
Read more about Alzheimer’s disease, its causes, symptoms, stages and treatments. Download Comfort Life‘s free eBook.
Memory Loss And Assisted Living Facilities
Many people with dementia and Alzheimers live in assisted-living facilities receiving specialized care and ongoing support. These dementia residents enjoy living in a community that provides continuing care, social interaction, and assistance in an individual residential apartment.
These residents often enjoy the best quality of life with access to fun social events, freshly cooked meals, and activities of daily living with nursing assistance in comfortable and pleasant living accommodations. An assisted-living center and senior living care facility are often the first step between living independently at home and moving into a nursing facility.
The federal government does not regulate assisted living facilities. Instead, numerous agencies provide state regulations, inspections, and surveys on assisted homes to minimize problems, including neglect, abuse, and mistreatment.
Help Finding & Choosing Residential Care
When searching for an assisted living facility or a memory care unit, its important that one thoroughly researches options. Since residences vary on services and care provided, number of occupants and staff, layout of the community, cost, and so forth, its vital to find a home that best meets your loved ones needs. This process can be overwhelming especially when already spending so much time and effort caring for your loved one. Fortunately, free assistance is available to help families locate and evaluate assisted living, memory care residences and adult foster care homes. Get free assistance here.
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Medical Services At Edmonton Alzheimers Care Homes:
The vast majority of seniors housing Edmonton and memory care homes will have a doctor on site or at least one who makes regular visits and is available in case of emergency. A dedicated Alzheimers care facility will likely have frequent visits from dementia specialists. Any Alzheimers care facility will have 24 hour supervision and nursing, delivered in such a way that the patients are cared for and attended to without feeling coddled or smothered. Though some homes do not have pharmacies on site many offer services to fill patients prescriptions, for dementia and all other medications, effectively compensating for a pharmacy on the grounds. The Alzheimers care centres in Edmonton tend to be very close to major hospitals should more advanced medical treatment be necessary. Any facility practicing Alzheimers or will organize therapeutic activities like games, classes, and talks that promote socializing and mental stimulation, which are considered a form of treatment given the nature of the disease. Like most senior living communities, Alzheimers and memory care centres are beginning to integrate nutrition into their treatment plans by designing restaurant quality meals that also align with their patients dietary needs.
Alzheimers And Dementia Care
Piatt County Nursing Home is proud to offer specialized care for residents with Alzheimers and other dementia-related disorder on our Halcyon Unit. The Halcyon Unit program is an activity-based program designed to support and enhance each residents individuality, dignity and self-esteem as they experience the chronic progressive dementia of Alzheimers Disease and other related disorders.
The Halcyon Unit Program objective is to provide a 24-hour environment that emphasizes simplicity and flexibility in all aspects of life which is achieved by:
The criteria to be admitted to or remain in resident on the Halcyon Unit:
This area is to focus on Alzheimers and Dementia Care
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Can I Realistically Offer Home Care
There are a number of factors that affect whether or not you can realistically offer home care:
- How much support does the patient need?
The patients physician may be the best person to advise how much support they need, and you can also seek advice from the Alzheimers Association. The amount of support needed will depend on the stage of Alzheimers, but also the patients specific symptoms and difficulties. There are useful guidelines of what you can expect as a caregiver at every stage here.
- Is family support available?
Caring for an Alzheimers patient is an exhausting and potentially overwhelming task, and if possible should not fall on only one persons shoulders. If there are multiple, committed family members to help out, during the day and also overnight when needed, then a nursing home may not be necessary – but otherwise, it should be considered.
- Can I afford paid home help?
Paid home help is also a possibility, but the Alzheimers Association found that it costs around $20 an hour – which quickly becomes prohibitive if you need 24-hour care. However, if you are able to combine family support with brief home visits, this may be a good choice for minimal disruption to the patient. Other options include respite care and adult day centers, which can give you and your family a break. Alternatively, if you feel your loved one could use more support but is not ready for a nursing home, you could consider retirement housing or assisted living.
Of Seasons Alzheimers Careand Assisted Livingis Directed By Mona Talukdar
Give your loved one a tranquil and caring environment at Seasons Alzheimers Care and Assisted Living
Enriched with a vast experience of working at nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and hospice care, Mona Talukdar is a successful physical therapist since 1993. She is a dedicated professional who understands and attends to emotional as well as medical needs of patients suffering from dementia.
Her sincerity and compassion towards the Alzheimers patients is commendable. Her strong ability to care for these patients and cater to their needs is reflected in the way she takes up the responsibility as a director at the perfect provider of Alzheimers assisted living in San Antonio, Texas, Seasons Alzheimers Care.
Alzheimers is a devastating disease that causes memory loss and inability to think and behave normally leading to problems arising in doing daily chores. It is the most common form of dementia the symptoms of which develop gradually over the time and become severe with old age. Not only the patient, but the entire family goes through the pain of suffering by seeing their loved ones condition getting worse day by day.
Though there is no treatment as such for this medical condition, but the progressiveness of this disease can be slowed down and patients quality of life can be made better by gifting them with a home like caring environment at Seasons Alzheimers Care and Assisted Living.
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Can A Person With Dementia Live In Assisted Living
Dementia is silently taking away peoples memory, thinking, and ability to perform daily activities for many years. Today, at least 50 million people suffer from this debilitating syndrome with 10 new cases added to the statistic every year.
The sad truth is that patients suffering from dementia will need specialized care for the rest of their lives and especially as their condition progresses.
If you already feel overwhelmed with caring for a loved one with dementia, you may be starting to look at options for memory care including memory assisted living. But can this facility accept patients with dementia?
Defining assisted living residences
A memory assisted living facility offers care for individuals in the early stages of dementia and Alzheimers disease. Most of these patients need intensive support for their Instrumental Activities of Daily Living to make sure they enjoy a good quality of life.
Some individuals with dementia also need help with Activities of Daily Living .
In memory assisted living, patients can either live on their own or in a shared apartment and they will have 24-hour access to a staff who can assist them with their needs. This type of facility is ideal for patients who can still live independently but require assistance mostly with ADLs like:
- Toilet use and cleaning oneself after
- Bathing
- Control of urine and bowels
- Moving
Other residential care options for dementia patients
The bottomline
Welcome To The Cottages
The Cottages are state-of-the-art certified assisted living residences for people living with Alzheimers and other memory disorders. Under the direction of our highly qualified, 24-hour staff, our residents are cared for individually in a warm and compassionate environment that makes it home for them. Learn More »
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Overworked Family Caregivers: Alternative Living Options For A Loved One
Many families with a loved one at home suffering from memory issues become overworked and exhausted in providing around-the-clock care to ensure all needs are met. Providing care to a spouse, parent, or grandparent with dementia behaviors in tight living spaces is often more than challenging.
In time, the caregiver will make the tough decision of considering other residential care options, ensuring that medical professionals in memory care units provide specialized care to their loved ones along with other patients.
Not all senior care retirement communities accept individuals who require around-the-clock dementia care.
Before selecting the optimal senior care community location, families must consider the extent of their loved ones memory loss, current medical care plan, and the need for help with activities of daily living.
What Makes Us Different
The Cottages Senior Living takes a different approach to memory care. Our residences are designed from the ground up, with all of the furnishings, layout and finishing touches that feel like home. Our outdoor spaces are the largest you will find in any memory care residence, with generous walking paths, outdoor dining, gardening and plenty of sunshine. Each of our resident halls have fewer resident apartments, spacious living areas, activity kitchen and dining room. This allows for a more personalized level of care in a setting that feels just like home. Learn More »
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Memory Care Vs Assisted Living: Staff Training
Memory care communities and assisted living communities both share similar staff, such as nurses and nursing assistants. However, memory care communities boast staff with additional training and experience with the issues people living with dementia often face such as swallowing difficulties, wandering, and anxiety. Staff working in memory care communities, from the administrator to the housekeepers, are required by most states to attend continuing education classes that help them understand the brains of people living with dementia while mastering strategies for mitigating distress and supporting residents. If your loved one seems anxious or has problem behaviors, or you have trouble supporting and reassuring them at home, memory care is usually the superior option.
Outcomes Measurement And Research Issues For The Dementia Population In Assisted Living
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services defines research as a systematic investigation designed to develop or contribute to generalizable knowledge . As assisted living for dementia evolves, part of the issue is what generalizable knowledge assisted living’s various stakeholders need.
In the long-term-care field, most research has focused on the relationship of structure and process, as mediated by resident characteristics, on resident outcomes. identified five dimensions of care in their literature review that are generally considered to be relevant to outcomes in dementia care. These are: assessment and diagnosis staff specialization and ongoing education nonuse of restraints flexible care routines, including client-relevant activities and specialized environmental design and adaptation. The studies they reviewed and their own study were primarily in a nursing home population. Chappell and Reid went on to write, These dimensions have received varying degrees of attention in the literature , with the most attention going to staff training and some attention being paid to care routines and the physical environment. Falls, elopements, acts of aggression, pain, and other adverse outcomes have been the subject of many anecdotal reports and few rigorous reviews or studies.
Delineating Outcomes
Other Methodological Issues
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Amenities In Dementia & Alzheimer’s Facilities
Alzheimers and Memory Care Facilities have amenities that could make life interesting for people with dementia. Check the memory care facilities near you carefully to see if they concur with the interests of your loved one. For instance, if the patient is still capable of activities like swimming or playing board games, they will want to relocate to a facility that offers such activities. Note that the progression of Alzheimers disease can be slowed down if a patient exercises frequently and keeps their mind busy by indulging in such activities like reading or playing board games. Moreover, socializing is an extremely important part of aging, as such, your loved one should be able to socialize with their peers in order to slow down the gradual memory decline.
Choosing An Alzheimers Care Facility
There is no magic answer for the best facility to meet every patients individual needs. While some people may value location to be near their adult day programs, family, or friends, others choose their care facility based on comforts like food and room size. Though there is no one way to determine the ideal facility for a particular patient, there are several common factors every potential patient should consider before moving from Edmonton home care to an Alzheimers care home.
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Finances Contracts And More
- Does the facility meet local and state licensing standards?
- Whatâs the policy on insurance and personal property?
- How does the staff respond to a medical emergency?
- Are visitors welcome at any time?
- Is there a written care plan for each resident?
- How does the staff decide what services a new resident needs? How often do they do that?
- Can the facility kick out residents who refuse to comply with a care plan?
- Do contracts cover housing, personal care, health care, and support services?
- When can the center terminate a contract? Whatâs the refund policy?
- Are extra services available if a residentâs needs change?
- How do you pay for extra services that your loved one needs only for a short time ?
- How much do different levels or types of services cost?
- What are the billing, payment, and credit policies?
Can Dementia Get Worse Suddenly
According to the National Institutes of Health, dementia, Alzheimers, and other memory loss diseases are progressive conditions that worsen significantly over time. However, the speed at which the condition progresses is based on unique circumstances between people.
The memory loss in some dementia patients in good health without any underlying diseases tends to deteriorate slower. However, the condition could lead to significant brain damage, causing the disease to suddenly and rapidly decline.
Dementia deterioration is usually a gradual, slow process that takes months or years to advance to its next stage. The condition will progress quickly in rare cases, making significant deteriorating changes in just weeks or months.
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Staff Training And Care
Staff members at both assisted living and memory care facilities have experience supporting residents with day-to-day tasks. But staff at memory care facilities are well-equipped and trained to provide 24-hour, person-centered care that helps seniors with dementia maintain cognitive skills, a sense of self, and quality of life for as long as possible.
Staff at memory care facilities understand how to effectively and compassionately prevent and manage difficult dementia behaviors, like wandering and aggression. They also understand the balance of encouraging residents to stay as independent as possible while providing the support they need. Even more, with a higher staff-to-resident ratio than assisted living and other senior care types, memory care gives residents more one-on-one attention throughout the day.
Other Factors In Memory Care
Alzheimer’s or Memory care means the facility and staff require training in dementia care.
Memory care is sometimes part of a larger, assisted living facility like care continuum but not always. In other cases, it’s a stand-alone service. Since Alzheimer’s and dementia affects many, the stand alone model is on the rise.
All Memory Care facilities remain locked so that the residents have a freedom to wander in the building, to engage with other residents without the danger of going outside and getting lost. So when visiting one, make sure it’s safe and secure.
Look for signs of respect, dignity, and compassion. Are they treated like grown-ups? Are they up and around, dressed and well-groomed, or are they restrained, medicated and out of it? Your first impressions are accurate in the look and feel of the facility.
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What Type Of Care Facility Is Appropriate
Only you can decide what’s best for a loved one. In the process, there are relevant factors to help you determine if a placement is appropriate. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends paying close attention to conditions that give strong indications that alternative living is best for everyone involved.
Are your loved ones displaying any one of more of the behaviors, incident, and conditions:
- Increasingly withdrawn and isolated
- “Acts out” has a minor upset resulted in violent behavior
- Increased incontinence or avoids protection or voids receptacles other than the toilet
- Evaluate how the loved one’s care affects you, the caregiver:
- Unable to socialize or take time for themselves
- Unable to lift or transfer the person with dementia
- Have difficulty sleeping and getting enough rest
- Neglects other familial roles and friendships
- Feels stressed, exhausted, hopeless or helpless
- Abuses alcohol or medications to cope
- Frequent bouts of crying
- Has a serious health problem such as pneumonia
- Verbally, physically or emotionally out of control in response to a person with dementia who doesn’t listen, asks the same question excessively, and wanders