The journey of caring for a loved one with dementia begins at diagnosis. No matter if you’re the primary caregiver or sharing the responsibility with others, caregiving can have its ups and downs. At some point, you may need an alternative to caregiving on your own.

Unfortunately, there are many fears people can have about memory care. In reality, memory care and dementia communities are excellent environments where seniors can lead meaningful lives – allowing you to have peace of mind about your loved ones.
Here’s a look at five common fears families have about memory care and what a positive memory care environment really looks like.

Fear 1: “The staff won’t know how to handle my loved one’s dementia behavior issues”

The staff at quality memory care communities are specially trained professionals who receive ongoing training. They understand how the disease manifests, why patients may exhibit disruptive behavior, and how to communicate with individuals with dementia. Memory care communities usually require a higher staff-to-patient ratio to adequately provide the care the residents need.

Whether it’s repetitive questions, nighttime wandering, or confusion, the staff understands and has the expertise to handle these concerns.

Fear 2: “My loved one will decline more rapidly”

Memory care communities encourage independence because maintaining activity may help delay the disease’s progression. To help residents feel confident as they make decisions, care facilities create an environment of positive encouragement.

Fear 3: “My loved one will be isolated from the rest of the care community”

If dementia has led your loved one to become isolated, moving to a memory care community can combat this. While memory care can often be located in a separate unit of a larger assisted living facility, social engagement and involvement in activities are critical elements of dementia care. Staff will encourage residents to stay as physically, mentally, and socially active as possible by providing activities like exercise classes and music therapy.

In addition to leisure programs, therapeutic activities that address memory impairment can help residents to maintain their functional abilities. These activities help to stir memories, foster emotional connections, encourage self-expression, and lessen anxiety and irritability.

Fear 4: “My family can’t afford memory care”

Memory care costs vary from community to community, but the average cost of memory care tends to be more expensive than assisted living. This is due to the comprehensive 24-hour care for patients at all stages of the disease. However, there are many options to cover the cost of memory care, including long-term care insurance, life insurance funding, and veterans benefits.

Some communities even offer companion suites. This helps to reduce costs and ease the transition when you bring two compatible seniors together to share an apartment.

Fear 5: “My parents won’t be able to stay together”

At many facilities, spouses can live together in the same suite or be a short walk away from each other. For example, if your mom has dementia and your dad doesn’t, your mom could live in the memory care community and your dad can live in the assisted living community. Because both communities are on the same campus, they can be together as often as they wish.

Discover a continuum of care at Oasis Dementia Care

At Oasis Dementia Care, our mission is to provide the highest level of care for our neighbors and to also assist Tristate families that are dealing with dementia. We strive to get to know you and we care about providing the best care possible. If you’re interested in learning more about the community at Oasis Dementia Care, please contact us.