Facilities for Alzheimer's: Finding the Right Place

The senior care industry has grown throughout the years. Part of this growth is the establishment of facilities that offer different levels of care — skilled nursing, assisted living, and independent living. Alongside them, the number of memory units and other facilities for Alzheimer’s have also grown in response to the increasing number of persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Memory care units exist as part of an assisted living facility or as a stand-alone unit. They are ideal when a person needs trained caregivers who understand the needs of someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Memory care facilities also have amenities that ensure the security of its residents. This prevents residents from wandering away unsupervised.

What to Look for in Facilities for Alzheimer’s

If you have a loved one or family member who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, how do you go about looking for the right place for them? You can work with a professional specializing in the field of eldercare to help you find the right memory care facility.

However, if you’d like to save on the added expense, you can follow the tips below.

Conduct Online Research

When looking for facilities for Alzheimer’s, an online search is always a good place to start. Some specific resources to help you find licensed memory care facilities include:

Eldercare Locator
State Department of Social Services
Your local Department of Social Services and/or Aging Services
Your state’s general website (i.e. “name of state.gov”)

On the last resource, you can input search terms that fit your location. For example, if you live in Bellevue, Nebraska you can go log on to Nebraska.gov and type in “memory care in Bellevue” on the search bar. This should lead you to the state department that oversees the licensing of memory care and/or assisted care and to information about licensed facilities in the city of Bellevue that accepts residents suffering from dementia.

Narrowing your Search

Once you’ve obtained a list of licensed memory care units, the next step is to define the geographical area where you want to focus your search. You can narrow this down further by selecting three facilities to visit. After picking out your three options, get in touch with each of them to schedule tours.

See the Facility

Be thorough when touring the three memory care units options you’ve picked out. Walk the halls and look at the rooms. Stay for lunch and observe the activity of the unit. Most importantly, meet the caregivers and ask questions. Ask if they can refer you to another family of a resident to speak with someone who has experience with the facility.

Some Questions to Ask when Evaluating Memory Care Units

When evaluating the quality and cost of facilities for Alzheimer’s, here are a couple of questions that could serve as your guide.

What kind of training do caregivers have?
How many caregivers work during each shift?
What is the resident to staff ratio?
How does the staff handle difficult patient behavior?
What happens if my loved one is admitted and does not adapt to his/her new environment?
Is the facility able to care for residents for the rest of their life?
Can hospice come in?
What is the facility’s emergency plan for emergencies, such as a hurricane or fire?
How much is the basic monthly fee and how often does this change?
What are the levels of care and their rates?
Is there an e required deposit?
Does the facility work with long-term care policies?

Hopefully, these tips provide you with the confidence to go out there and find the best memory care facility for the needs of your elderly loved one.

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