What Is Memory Care For Seniors?

When one of your senior loved ones begins to experience memory issues, it can be a scary experience. You can find your family facing unfamiliar decisions, emotional volatility, and tough choices.

Understanding what memory care is and what it means for seniors can help ease the pain and worry. Today, we’ll take a look at what memory care is, common conditions that are supported by memory care, the signs it may be time to consider memory care for your loved ones, and more.

At Monument Health, we believe informed decisions lead to the best medical outcomes for families. This guide is designed to help you understand what your loved one may be going through, and what you can do to help.

What Is Memory Care For Seniors?

Memory care is a form of senior living, like a nursing home, that is specially formulated for people with memory and cognitive decline issues. Memory care typically features facilities with higher levels of security to prevent wandering, their staff are specially trained in memory issues, and enrichment and other activities are tailored to memory care patients.

Memory care is considered a higher level of care than other forms of assisted living because it serves patients specifically with memory issues and their unique needs. In addition, it provides all the help with activities of daily living that an assisted living facility would as well.

Common Conditions Supported By Memory Care

The most common conditions supported by memory care are conditions in the dementia family, including the most common, Alzheimer’s disease. Our facilities at Monument Health are equipped to support a wide variety of conditions, such as:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Dementia
• Parkinson’s-related dementia
• Cognitive impairment that is progressing
• Lewy Body dementia
• Vascular dementia
• And more

To various degrees, all of these conditions affect memory, reasoning, emotional regulation, communication, and more. These symptoms can make care in an assisted living home difficult and are the reason why specialized care is necessary.  

Core Components Of Memory Care Programs

All high-quality memory care programs, like ours at Monument Health, provide essential services, in addition to the help with the activities of daily living provided in other care homes.

These additional essential services include:

• Secure, thoughtfully designed environments: Memory care facilities and wings of assisted living facilities are specifically designed to reduce confusion in patients, as well as provide a secure and safe environment for patients who tend to wander. Our facilities help residents feel safe and oriented without feeling claustrophobic.
• Structured daily routines: Routines that are predictable help reduce confusion and the frustration that comes with confusion. At Monument Health, our schedules are designed to reduce anxiety and provide comfort.
• Staff trained in dementia and memory-related care: At all our Monument Health locations, our staff is the jewel of our organization. Our caregivers are licensed, and highly trained in offering care to patients with dementia and other memory and emotional issues.
• Cognitive stimulation and therapeutic activities: Memory care facilities, including ours, generally always have activities specifically geared toward patients with memory issues. These enrichment activities help reduce anxiety, increase pleasure, and encourage lucidity. Activities may include art therapy, memory therapy, and sensory experiences.  

How Is Memory Care Different From Skilled Nursing?

Memory care and skilled nursing differ in significant ways. Skilled nursing is focused on high-level medical care, often for patients who have just left the hospital, and most patients focus on rehabilitation. Memory care focuses on patients with diseases particular to memory degeneration.

For seniors whose challenges are particular to dementia and other memory diseases, memory care is often preferred to skilled nursing. 

Signs It May Be Time To Consider Memory Care For A Loved One

Every family and each situation are different, but common signs it might be time for memory care include:

• Progression of dementia beyond the ability for families to effectively care.
• Instances where family members are putting themselves into danger.
• Increased wandering.
• Behavior changes, including increased agitation and lashing out.
• Caregiver burnout.
• Difficulty managing the activities of daily life.

If your loved one is having these challenges, it might be time to give us a call. 

Benefit From Memory Care At Monument Health In Utah

Memory care provides peace of mind and support for families and caregivers. At Monument Health Group, our care is compassionate, respectful, and knowledgeable. If you believe your loved one needs memory care, give us a call today at one of our many locations across Utah.