What is a Memory Care Facility?
A memory care facility is a type of residential care community that provides specialized services for people living with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other cognitive memory issues. These facilities aim to create a safe, supportive, and stimulating environment tailored to the unique needs of residents with memory impairments.
Memory care communities provide:
- 24-hour supervised care
- Secured and monitored premises to reduce wandering risks
- Therapeutic activities to engage residents’ minds and bodies
- Assistance with activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and grooming
- Support groups and education for families and caregivers
The overall goal of memory care is to improve quality of life and slow the progression of memory loss for residents through person-centered care in a protective setting.
Key Services Offered by Memory Care Facilities
Memory care facilities provide a more intensive level of care and supervision compared to standard assisted living. Some key services offered include:
Customized Care Plans
An assessment is conducted for each new resident to understand their unique needs, abilities, history, preferences, and challenges. This information guides the creation of a personalized care plan outlining the types and frequency of care required. Care plans are continually updated as the resident’s cognition changes.
Medication Management
Given potential complexity around medications for memory care residents, communities provide administration, storage, and record-keeping by licensed nursing staff. This removes the medication burden from residents and families.
Enhanced Safety Features
Special safety features are implemented to keep memory impaired residents secure, such as secured outdoor areas, alarmed exit doors, ID bracelets or badges, and wander detection systems. Staff conduct regular checks to ensure no one has left the protected premises.
Engaging Therapeutic Activities
Recreational programming is designed to stimulate minds, strengthen cognitive abilities, improve mood, and slow progression of dementia. Activities might include music therapy, art classes, gardening, reminiscing discussions, sensory stimulation, gentle exercises, or pet visits.
Support Groups and Counseling
Support groups led by professionals allow families and caregivers to share experiences, find reassurance, and learn techniques for managing stress or difficult behaviors in their loved one. Counseling provides an emotional outlet.
The Benefits of Memory Care for Individuals with Dementia
There are many ways that memory care facilities benefit seniors living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or mild cognitive impairment.
Enhanced Safety and Security
Given the tendency to wander and get disoriented, memory care units provide security features that traditional assisted living typically does not. This protects residents from accidents, confusion, or exploitation when unsupervised.
Care Tailored to Cognitive Needs
Whereas basic assisted living provides mainly physical support, memory care also focuses on mental engagement and cognitive therapies. This specialized approach better caters to the unique needs of those with dementia.
Sense of Community
The communal setting and group activities allow residents to socialize and build bonds with others facing similar challenges. This fosters friendships, reduces isolation or loneliness, and creates a supportive community.
More Intensive Medical Oversight
With nurses on staff, memory care facilities offer closer medical management encompassing health monitoring, medication administration, wound care, and coordination with outside healthcare providers.
Relief for Family Caregivers
By providing round-the-clock supportive care in a secured environment, families get some respite knowing their loved one is protected and engaged in a specialized setting aligned to their needs.
Understanding the Costs Associated with Memory Care
Most private insurance policies and government healthcare programs do not cover the cost of long-term custodial care provided by memory care facilities. Like assisted living, individuals typically pay privately using personal financial resources.
On average, memory care costs $6,800 per month nationally, according to the Genworth 2021 Cost of Care Survey. Rates vary significantly by state and specific community based on factors like:
- Geographic location
- Room size
- Level of care required
- Amenities and services offered
Memory care is typically 20-30% higher than traditional assisted living given the increased staffing ratios, need for enhanced security and therapeutic programming, and additional training requirements for memory care staff.
To learn about memory care costs in your area, refer to the Alzheimer’s Support cost lookup tool:
Memory Care Costs in Vancouver, WA
Memory Care vs. Assisted Living: Knowing the Difference
Memory care communities are specialized versions of assisted living tailored specifically to dementia residents through:
Environment: The physical building and layout are designed to be safe, familiar and easy to navigate for memory-impaired individuals. This includes features like circular halls, color/sensory cues, outdoor secure wandering areas, and memory boxes with personal items outside rooms.
Staffing: Administrators and direct care staff have certification and training in supporting those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Staff-to-resident ratios are lower to provide more care oversight and supervision needed by this population.
Care Plans: Individualized care plans focus on retaining cognitive abilities longer through various therapies involving music, art, pets, reminiscence, and sensory stimulation. Care plans continually adapt as cognition and abilities change.
Activities: Group programming and recreation revolve around cognitive stimulation and engagement the abilities, needs and interests of those with memory impairment, rather than standard assisted living residents. All activities factor in retention challenges.
Security: Given wandering risks, memory care units provide 24-hour monitoring, exit alarms, ID badges, check-in protocols, and perhaps wireless tracking bracelets linked back to the care team.
The specialized environment and staff expertise allow those with dementia to receive targeted care promoting safety and quality of life as their memories fade.
How to Choose the Right Memory Care Facility for Your Loved One
Selecting the best memory care community entails:
Defining Needed Services
Assessing what types and level of care your loved one requires will guide what services to look for. This covers healthcare needs, assistance with daily living activities, behavioral issues, and therapeutic programming to retain cognitive abilities longer. Identify must-have care elements before touring.
Understanding Affordability
Get clarity on budget parameters for monthly fees covering basic services, as well as any supplementary amenities or personalized care involved. This allows focusing the search only on affordable options meeting needed financial guardrails.
Researching Options
Leverage senior housing websites and local advisors to compile a list of inspected memory care facilities in preferred geographic areas meeting defined service and affordability criteria. Look beyond brand names to discover all potential options.
Visiting Short List
Tour top contenders, asking questions about their memory care approach, safety protocols, staffing competencies, activities, menus, and policies. Also observe interactions between staff and residents. Assess if culture and care model align with your loved one’s needs and personality.
Checking References
Request references from current and past residents or their family members to gain direct feedback on their memory care experience regarding the quality of care, staff attentiveness and competency, community engagement and oversight.
By investing time defining care needs, researching all options locally, touring the shortlist, and checking credible references, the right memory care residence can hopefully emerge fitting your loved one’s unique circumstances.
Questions to Ask When Touring a Memory Care Facility
Key questions to ask when touring potential memory care communities include:
- What safety protocols prevent wandering? What is procedure if a resident elopes?
- What training do staff receive in supporting those with dementia and Alzheimer’s? How many direct care hours are provided per resident daily?
- What types of therapeutic programming and activities are offered? What is a typical daily schedule?
- Are there any visiting physician or psychology services? What medical oversight is provided?
- What involvement will family members have in developing personalized care plans? How are families kept informed of changes?
- What specialized interventions are used to support increased agitation, resistance, or difficult behaviors? What is the facility’s philosophy in this area?
- What specialized interventions are used to support increased agitation, resistance, or difficult behaviors? What is the facility’s philosophy in this area?
- What percentage of current residents suffer from moderate versus advanced dementia? Is there room flexibility based on changing acuity?
- How personalized is the dining program? What assistance is provided at mealtimes? How are special dietary needs handled?
- What steps maintain community cleanliness? How are infections controlled and prevented? What are visitation polices for ill visitors?
- What activities and programming keep residents positively engaged? What is a typical day like? How are families involved?
Gathering detailed answers to questions like these provides deeper insight on how well each program aligns to your family’s needs and preferences.
Financing Memory Care: Options and Resources
Financing memory care starts by understanding available resources which potentially include:
Long-Term Care Insurance – If they have existing long-term care insurance or hybrid life insurance policies with an LTC rider, check if they include memory care benefits covering facility costs.
Veterans Benefits – The Aid and Attendance benefit provides supplementary income to pay for care costs of eligible veterans or surviving spouses. Special tax breaks may also assist.
Reverse Mortgages – Converting home equity into cash via a reverse mortgage creates funds to pay monthly memory care invoices without requiring repayment while living in the home.
Medicaid – Once personal financial resources deplete down to under $2,000 in countable assets, Medicaid helps cover medical costs if the memory care facility accepts Medicaid. An elder law attorney can advise on qualifying.
Annual Gifts – Family members can contribute up to $16,000 per year each without tax implications, thereby leaving the senior with more assets to privately fund care.
With various private financing options and government resources available, families can access needed funds for memory care services either through their own savings/insurance policies or public assistance programs once personal funds have been exhausted. Consult with a senior care advisor to map out a personalized financing strategy.
The Role of Family in Memory Care Decisions
Family involvement is crucial when transitioning a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s into memory care. Ways relatives help include:
- Providing History – Share details about personal history, former occupation interests and hobbies used to enhance personalized care. This allows staff to encourage reminiscing.
- Designating Healthcare Proxies – Assign power of attorney and healthcare proxies to designate trusted individuals that can discuss care options with staff should the resident be unable to make informed decisions when required.
- Visiting Often – Visit regularly to monitor quality of care and changes in cognition/demeanor – identifying where better support may help. Also to bring familiar items from home to trigger memories and engage in activities.
- Coordinating Appointments – Help schedule medical appointments, arrange transportation needs, and track health changes across clinicians to ensure continuity of care. Attend appointments whenever possible.
- Providing Updates – Keep memory care staff abreast of family matters, relationship dynamics, or health news that may influence mood and behaviors. This allows them to understand situational triggers.
- Assisting Transition – Share family photos, favorite blankets or pillows, accustomed toiletries and clothing brands, preferred snacks, etc. to make the new community feel familiar during an unsettling transition.
While staff oversees daily care plans and therapeutic programming, family involvement remains integral to optimizing quality of life during memory care. Ongoing participation provides perspectives and insights that the care team may otherwise lack.
Success Stories: Positive Outcomes in Memory Care
Despite the difficulties of dementia progression for both caregivers and individuals, many families share positive experiences from memory care facilities. Some examples include:
Enhanced Communication Skills – A non-verbal woman with advanced Alzheimer’s now sings full songs from memory without supports after months of intensive music therapy at her memory care community. Her diction and vocal range continue improving.
Increased Mobility – A wheelchair-bound Parkinson’s patient that resisted at-home physical therapy walks short distances with a walker after arriving at her dementia care facility, thanks partly to companionship during movement activities keeping her motivated.
Improved Sleep Patterns – Struggling with sundowning issues at home, a memory care resident now sleeps soundly through most nights after establishing a calming pre-bed routine including a lavender foot bath, muscle relaxation and family photo slideshows evoking positive memories before sleep.
Higher Quality Family Time – Limited verbal exchanges left a husband feeling defeated during visits with his dementia-stricken wife at home. At her new memory care facility, engagement in familiar puzzles, games and music from earlier in their marriage enable more quality facetime together.
While absolutely challenging, Alzheimer’s progression can sometimes be temporarily slowed through evidence-based therapies. More importantly, residents find joy, meaning and increased quality of life in supportive settings despite cognitive decline.
Navigating Challenges: Tips for Families
Even high quality memory care cannot halt dementia progression completely. Families still encounter difficulties like:
- Worsening cognition lowering engagement in once beloved activities
- Increasing medical oversight as co-morbid conditions emerge
- Personality shifts or more frequent difficult behaviors as executive functions fade
- Losses in mobility or daily living skills reducing independence
Coping strategies for families include:
- Seeking counsel to reconcile feelings of guilt, loss, helplessness or burnout
- Joining caregiver support groups to find reassurance from those facing similar struggles
- Asking staff how to complement therapeutic programming efforts through at-home activities
- Celebrating small milestones versus mourning only growing losses
- Ensuring legal paperwork, advanced directives, and care proxies are in place
- Touring other nearby options should care needs eventually exceed current facility capabilities
While heartbreaking to witness growing confusion and dependence, focusing on providing person-centered love and support can make daily connections meaningful despite the challenges of dementia.
