At Bayshire San Dimas, we understand how overwhelming it can be for a family to know about their loved one’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. For them, it’s a challenging time that often brings mixed emotions. While they might be willing to find a suitable professional care option for their loved one, their lack of knowledge about available resources and the feasibility of these options further complicates matters.

To help families stuck in situations like these, this blog is a helpful resource. In this blog, we’ll cover what memory care is. We’ll put memory care alongside other related care options to see how they differ. Then we’ll cover the memory care costs and signs that show it’s time for a loved one to move to a professional care facility. At last, we’ll cover some tips for finding the best memory care community so that you can successfully navigate your journey to find a reliable care option for memory care senior living for your loved one.

What Is Memory Care? Key Components

Memory care is a long-term residential care setting that provides specialized support to those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. It offers 24/7, secured, highly structured care to help manage cognitive decline and enhance safety and quality of life. The staff focuses on helping residents maintain cognitive function for as long as possible by providing around-the-clock supervision and assistance with daily living activities. Here are the key components of a memory care community:

Secure Environment

Memory care communities feature a specialized design that is thoughtfully prepared to prevent wandering. It features secured exits, alarmed doors, and monitored, enclosed outdoor spaces.

Specialized Staff

These communities have specialized staff trained to manage challenging behaviors related to dementia, such as agitation and confusion. They are available around the clock to offer reliable, professional support to residents in need.

Tailored Activities

Memory care communities offer diverse programs and activities designed to support residents holistically. Their offerings include art, music, reminiscence therapies, and more, designed to ensure residents’ overall wellness.

Comprehensive Care

The community provides 24-hour supervision, medication management, and assistance with daily tasks such as bathing and dressing to ensure residents receive holistic care and wellness.

Memory Care Vs. Other Options

For families whose loved one is at the early stages of dementia, they may find it difficult deciding which senior care option is actually best for their loved one. While they might find dementia care assisted living available, it’s usually better for them to choose a dedicated memory care community if the dementia has progressed significantly. Here’s what other viable professional care options stand against memory care.

Assisted Living

Assisted living focuses more on daily living assistance rather than safety, security, and specialized support. Memory care, on the other hand, offers secured, alarmed environments with specialized, higher-acuity care for safety. Their staff offers specialized support to residents and helps them lead a quality life.

Nursing Homes

A nursing home provides more care and support than a memory care. However, their assistance is focused on treating medically complex medication, while memory care is designed for dementia-specific behavioral management and daily living support.

How Much Does Memory Care Cost?

Memory care usually costs 20-30% more than assisted living due to specialized staff, 24/7 security, and memory-focused care. The costs typically range from $4,000 to over $10,000 per month, with the national average between $7,500 and $8,400. Memory care prices vary based on factors like location, amenities, and room type. Since Medicare generally doesn’t cover long-term memory care, families need to pay out of pocket using personal savings, long-term care insurance, or specialized Veterans benefits.

Signs It Is Time for Memory Care

Deciding whether the time for their loved one to move to a memory care senior living has arrived can be overwhelming for families. They should not confuse normal aging-related forgetfulness with memory loss. Here are some critical signs that show that it’s time for a loved one to access specialized dementia support.

  • Wandering or getting lost.
  • Increasing safety concerns at home (e.g., leaving the stove on).
  • Caregiver burnout or the primary caregiver’s declining health.
  • Increased agitation or behavioral changes.
  • Rapidly worsening hygiene and health.
  • Inability to live independently.

Tips For Finding The Best Memory Care Community

Finding and choosing a memory care option for a loved one is a deeply personal and subjective decision for a family. Therefore, they should research and tour multiple communities to assess the credibility of the claims. They must review the community’s reviews and testimonials to assess whether it is suitable for their loved one. Besides that, they can follow the tips given below to find a reliable option for their loved one in need.

Observe Interactions

Visit the community multiple times and see how the staff interacts with residents. See if they are compassionate, caring, and respectful in their interactions.

Check Safety Measures

Look for options that are secured, enclosed, and have necessary wander-preventing systems and 24/7 staffing.

Evaluate Staff Training

Ask questions about the staff training and how they handle dementia-related behaviors. Assess whether they use validation techniques rather than medications only.

Assess The Environment

As you tour, ensure the community is clean, well-lit, and doesn’t carry an institutional feel.

Review Activities

Confirm if the community features structured, engaging activities tailored to different cognitive levels, and does not offer just passive entertainment.

Bayshire San Dimas – Memory Care That Inspires A Vibrant Living

At Bayshire San Dimas, we understand that for families, finding a memory care senior living community can be a stepping stone toward a holistic wellness experience for their loved one affected by dementia. With a safe and secure environment, medication management, daily assistance with activities, personalized care plans, and social engagement, memory care communities allow residents to flourish and experience the best life has to offer.

Those exploring senior memory care for their loved one with dementia are invited to take a tour of Bayshire San Dimas. From early stages to advanced expressions of dementia, we serve it all. We have a highly professional staff that fosters residents’ whole-person well-being. With meaningful interactions, engaging activities and programs, structured daily routines, and 24/7 supervision, our continuing care retirement community (CCRC) supports residents in every way possible. Contact us today to get details about our care programs and cost structure.