If your loved one is among the 66,000 seniors with Alzheimer's in Iowa, finding them adequate care should be a major priority.
There are assisted living communities all over the state that claim they've got the resources and experience to care for your loved one. The only way to find out for sure if they can provide your loved one with the care they need is to do your own due diligence.
In today's post, we'll help you choose the best memory care communities by telling you what to look for and what to factor into your decision. Choosing care services can be overwhelming, especially when your loved one is dealing with changing symptoms.
Keep reading and we'll make the process of finding elderly care support simpler for everyone involved.
The first step before you start searching for memory care communities nearby is to understand what memory care is. There are various types of senior living communities. Choosing the right type of care is the most important part of the process.
You'll see a lot of independent living communities out there. These are better suited for healthy seniors who don't have any health issues holding them back. There's a good chance that your loved one will need care that a retirement home cannot provide.
Then, there's assisted living, which is geared toward seniors with age-related health issues. These have staff available 24/7 to assist with the various needs of residents, whether it's getting dressed, bathing, or taking meds.
Memory care is a separate service offered through some (not all) assisted living communities. It provides all of the same services as assisted living, but the care is aimed at helping Alzheimer's and dementia sufferers navigate their symptoms.
Staff undergo more intensive training to provide the best possible care for memory care residents. The community also provides programming to help residents enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Once you know what you're looking for, you can see what memory care communities are around you. Location is important for a few reasons.
Firstly, the location of the community has a direct effect on how much the community costs. If you're on a budget, you'll want to avoid communities that are centrally located around major amenities, like shopping centers and restaurants.
Determine a location that makes sense for visitors. The transition into memory care is much easier for residents who have frequent visitors from family and friends. If the community is too difficult to reach regularly, it'll be more difficult for your loved one to adapt to their new life.
The next thing to do is look at ratings and reviews. What the loved ones of current and former memory care residents say about a community can give you all of the information you need to assess whether it's a good option.
If you see any complaints about the service, safety, or upkeep in the community, it can act as a red flag. You can eliminate all of the less desirable communities until you're left with a few of the top-rated options. From there, you can schedule tours and see the communities for yourself.
Staff qualifications are always important in senior care, but even more so in memory care. Those caring for your loved one must be highly trained and equipped to deal with the unique challenges that cognitive decline presents.
In addition to possessing qualifications, staff must be compassionate towards residents. When you're touring different communities, make sure to observe how staff interact with residents. You can even ask to speak to staff and residents to glean as much as you can about the quality of care your loved one will be getting.
Among the biggest concerns for loved ones of people with Alzheimer's is the prevalence of wandering. six in ten Alzheimer's patients wander at some point in their lives. If it happens to your loved one, it could put them at serious risk of injury or mental anguish.
Good senior care communities will put measures in place to curtail the possibility of wandering. Safety measures include accessibility ramps, soft surfaces, and mobility aids. Staff will be present to prevent memory care residents from wandering outside the community.
It may sound restrictive, but these measures boost residents' sense of freedom and independence. Without the risk of injury or getting lost, they can freely enjoy all that the community has to offer.
A community's amenities can tip the balance in your memory care decision. It really depends on your loved one's interests and needs.
One of our top amenities at Prairie Hills Tipton is our transportation services. We'll take every measure to get your loved one safely to and from appointments, lunch dates, and whatever else they need outside the communtiy.
The programming on offer in the community is something you must consider when making this big decision. Assisted living communities often have daily activity calendars that promote physical fitness, cognitive health, and socialization among residents.
Take a look at the activities to determine whether they're adequate for your loved one's needs. Look for things like walking clubs, Tai Chi, yoga, and meditation. There should also be social events, like dancing, games nights, and musical performances.
All of these things are essential for senior health. In memory care, the activities will often be geared toward the cognitive health of community members. Residents will have tailored care plans that involve games and puzzles that boost their cognition daily.
Finding the best memory care in Tipton doesn't have to be a challenge. If you know what you're looking for, you'll be able to narrow down the selection quickly and find the best care for your loved one. We hope these memory care tips find you the community that eases the transition for your loved one.
At Prairie Hills Tipton, we're the area's top assisted living and memory care community, offering all of the things mentioned here and more. To schedule a tour and see the community for yourself, contact us today.