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Dementia is silently taking away people’s 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 Alzheimer’s disease. Most of these patients need intensive support for their Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) to make sure they enjoy a good quality of life.

Some individuals with dementia also need help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs).

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
• Eating
• Grooming

Other residential care options for dementia patients

While assisted living facilities are good for independent patients, there may come a time when they would need more specialized care in a memory care unit. This facility is ideal for individuals who need skilled care and supervision, especially those who are in the advanced stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Also called Special Care Units (SCUs), these units could be a separate residence or a part of an existing memory assisted living facility or nursing home and they can offer both separate and shared living spaces.

Memory care units have the same services as assisted living facilities. The only difference is the level of supervision and the additional activities offered by staff to help with stimulating the patient’s memory to hopefully slow down the progression of dementia.

In some instances, a patient may need to be transferred to a skilled nursing facility where extensive medical care is provided. Nursing homes are especially recommended for patients in the later stages of their condition or those who already have serious complications from the disease.

If your loved one already has a tendency to wander off, if he poses a threat to himself or others, if he has difficulties to keep himself healthy and properly hydrated or if he is no longer able to perform even the simplest activities of daily living, it might be time to move him to a nursing facility.

The bottomline

The decision to move a loved one to memory assisted living is not easy for any family. But if it means that you’ll be able to give your loved one the best quality of life while battling dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, then it’s definitely a wise decision.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

The numbers say it all. 1 in 3 seniors die from Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia, more than 5 million Americans are living with it and this year, the disease will cost America more than $305 billion. But the question that most of us often choose to overlook is: how does Alzheimer’s disease progress?

Alzheimer’s disease generally has three stages: mild, moderate and severe. Here, we take a look at what happens during each stage and how memory assisted living helps patients with the disease get the best quality of life:

Mild Alzheimer’s

At this stage, the individual may still show little signs of the disease. He may not be aware yet that he is showing some signs of Alzheimer’s, but his family and friends will start to notice some changes and challenges that may prompt a consultation. But he is still able to function independently and perform self-care and social activities.

During a thorough medical interview, the doctor may be able to determine difficulties like challenges in performing usual tasks, problems coming up with the right name, difficulty remembering names of newly introduced people and misplacing an important object.

Moderate Alzheimer’s

Lasting for years, this is the longest stage of the disease and it’s typically when the individual would require care in memory assisted living. In moderate Alzheimer’s, the symptoms are more pronounced including severe forgetfulness, changes in mood, disorientation with days and times, and even trouble controlling bladder and bowels.

The individual may also be at risk for wandering and he may have difficulties establishing a proper sleeping routine. This is why it’s not surprising that some patients with moderate Alzheimer’s may sleep during the day and become restless during the night.

Severe Alzheimer’s

In the final stage of the disease, the symptoms of dementia are already severe and the need for care in memory assisted living is inevitable. The individual is already unable to respond in his environment, engage in conversations and even control movement. He may also require round-the-clock assistance with self-care and activities of daily living.

Moreover, because he may experience challenges in physical abilities like sitting, walking and even swallowing, he is at risk for accidents, which is why it’s very important to have him assisted by a healthcare professional at this point. A lot of individuals at the final stage of Alzheimer’s disease are already more vulnerable to infections and are at risk for pneumonia.

The bottom line

The survival and progression rate of Alzheimer’s disease differs for each individual. But most people over 65 years old would survive for up to eight years after diagnosis. Some even live for 20 years, although most of this time will be spent in the most severe stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

Every 65 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the rate of individuals affected by the disease continues to rise rapidly. But while there is still no cure for Alzheimer’s, the best thing that families can do is to provide the right support and love to their loved ones suffering from the disease.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

There was a time when younger people dominated the world. But in a few years, history will be made when the older population will be more than the younger generation.

With the baby boomers reaching late adulthood, the world is definitely aging and with it are the many concerns for seniors, one of which is where to live.

As people age, their needs also change due to restrictions brought about by health conditions or just the fact that they’re not as active and mobile as they used to be. But the good thing is, there are several options for independent living for seniors depending on what their specific needs are:

Senior Apartment

Also known as an independent living community, a senior apartment is typically a part of a senior facility that offers different types of care to the elderly including assisted living, skilled nursing care, memory care and independent living for seniors.

This type of housing option is perfect for seniors who are still active but don’t want to think about the basic chores anymore. Senior apartments usually promote the maintenance-free lifestyle where usual activities like doing the laundry, cleaning the house and arranging for transportation are already taken care of by the facility. Residents even have the option to eat in the communal space if they don’t want to cook their own meals.

Seniors living in this type of accommodation are usually aiming for independent living but they also want assistance to be easily accessible whenever they need it. Senior apartments are safety and security measures that allow residents to enjoy their facilities without worrying about any dangers.

Retirement Community

For individuals looking for independent living for seniors with the least amount of services available, a retirement community is one of the best options out there. This type of living option is basically like a neighborhood where active and independent seniors live harmoniously with people within their age group.

When a senior resides in a retirement community, he will be responsible for almost all the tasks in his residence including cleaning, doing the laundry and cooking meals. Grounds maintenance is usually the only service offered in a retirement community, but residents can still enjoy amenities like a fitness center, clubhouse, swimming pool, and even its own restaurant.

Low-Income Housing

Designed specifically for low-income seniors, this type of housing option is quite similar to a senior apartment. The only difference is the rent where low-income housing usually costs a lot lower because it is subsidized or supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

There are certain requirements for a senior to qualify for low-income housing and it’s not uncommon to have a waitlist since these housing programs attract more applications because of their lower rental cost.

Knowing the Right Option for your Loved One

Independent living for seniors varies because each elderly individual has specific needs and preferences. So before you decide on the right option for your loved one, make sure that you consider things like comfort, safety and most importantly, cost so you can really let him enjoy the best quality of life without the burden of hefty expenses in the long run.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

As the American population grows older, more people are becoming aware of the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease. The progressive brain disorder that affects memory and thinking skills is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States with over 5.5 million individuals, most of which are seniors, suffering from the disease.

Memory assisted living makes a difference in these people’s lives by helping them live the best quality of life despite the irreversible effects of their disease. The demand for this type of facility is increasing and while families have to pay premium for this service, memory assisted living is still the best option for patients who want to live a normal life without compromising their safety:

Memory Care takes Long-Term Care to Whole New Heights

People suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia will need assistance for even the most routine tasks at some point. Memory assisted living is different from regular long-term care because it specializes in the needs of patients with memory problems.

This means that all its units are designed with an Alzheimer’s patient in mind where you can see enclosed outdoor spaces, secured bedrooms and alarm and monitoring devices everywhere to make sure that patients don’t wander off and get lost.

Memory Care offers a Non-Constricting Space for Patients

Unlike a regular long-term care facility, memory care is all about giving Alzheimer’s patients as much freedom as possible while keeping them safe and secure within the unit.

Residents in memory assisted living are encouraged to make use of a space where they can live an active lifestyle to help with their physical and emotional well-being. Good memory care also promotes alternative therapy options for patients with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia so they are not overly reliant on medication.

Memory Care Assists Families during a Crisis Situation

Because there is still no known cure for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, the development of symptoms may not handled by caregivers well.

Also called a crisis situation, the patient at this stage of the disease becomes more dependent on others even for simple activities and in due time, it becomes frustrating for the spouse or family member who’s caring for him.

This is when memory care takes over to ease the burden of families while making sure that their loved ones are given the best care possible.

A good memory care facility is the difference between a happy and unfulfilled life for a patient with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Memory units are classified according to the needs of a resident to make sure that he is given excellent quality care while giving him as much freedom and independence as possible.

For families, the right memory care facility is heaven sent because it gives them the peace of mind knowing that their loved ones are in a safe place where healthcare professionals are readily available to attend to their needs.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco

For anyone showing signs of dementia or undergoing a progression into Alzheimer’s disease, receiving care in a memory assisted living facility is one way to ensure optimum comfort and safety. This is especially true if you’re too busy to look after a senior loved one or that you can only spare a small amount of time.

Whether you are a primary caregiver or not, it’s best to arm yourself with strategies on how to better care and deal with dementia patients. Because as the disease progresses, taking care of an aging loved one can be a real challenge.

Strategies for Better Dementia Care

Understand the effects of dementia

It’s one thing to know that your parent or both parents are in the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It’s an altogether different story to know how the condition will affect patients over time.

Knowing that forgetfulness will become more prominent over time will make it easier for you to communicate with a parent and to tolerate whatever inconvenience they will cause.

It is also important to know that dementia care patients would have less control over their feelings and the ability to properly express them. This way, you can react appropriately if a patient experiences rapid mood changes or is often irritable.

Knowing dementia and its impact on a patient’s emotions and feelings is the key to better take care of a patient.

Change the way you communicate

Effective communication deteriorates as dementia progresses. There will come a time when having a simple conversation with a senior will be hard to do.

As a solution:

• Carry out a conversation only at a place where there is little to no distraction. This way, a patient can focus all their mental energy on what you guys are talking about.
• Speak naturally and clearly and be sure to maintain a calm and warm voice.
• Avoid using pronouns. Instead, refer to people by names for easy recognition and flow of conversation. The same goes for when you’re referring to yourself.
• Endeavor to talk about one thing at the time. Most patients with dementia have difficulty juggling multiple threads of conversations, much less keep track of them.
• Learn how to use nonverbal cues to help ease the flow of conversation.
  • Make eye contact when you introduce yourself and all throughout the chat.
  • Be patient and smile Even when an aging loved one doesn’t cooperate. It could be Alzheimer’s disease that is causing confusion and slow mental processing.
  • Use the power of touch to diffuse a situation. A simple touch can help a loved one who is acting negatively to stay calm.
  • Use hand gestures for better understanding. If they are trying to tell you something, for example, urge them to point or make gestures.
  • Project positive body language by maintaining an open posture and good eye contact.

Be aware of the signs of good and bad days

Patients with dementia will have their ups and downs like anyone else, except that they’re worse than normal. If you notice that a senior loved one is more irritable than usual, change your approach when dealing with them.

There is no one formula to properly care for someone with dementia. But if you know the basics, taking care of them at home or in a memory assisted living facility is easier on you and the patient.

Richmont Senior Living is proud to serve Ashland, NE and the surrounding cities: Memphis, Springfield, South Bend, Greenwood, Murdock, Waverly, Murdock, Ithaca, and Chalco