Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
Memory care: finding peace in the present
As senior care has evolved and become more personalized, the term memory care is one that you may have heard before with regards to the spectrum of types of senior living options.
In short, memory care is a specialized type of care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. There are several key features of memory care that make it unique.
Security
Elopement, or when a confused or cognitively impaired resident leaves a facility without anyone’s knowledge, is a significant concern among those with dementia.
Risks associated with elopement include falls, exposure to extreme temperatures, traffic accidents and even drowning.
In memory care settings, the neighborhood is a secure environment — meaning that access to get in or out requires a keypad code for all staff and visitors. This is an important safety measure for the residents in memory care, one that prevents elopement into the community.
Atmosphere
Memory care neighborhoods ideally have a brightly lit interior layout that allows for safe exploration by residents and outdoor spaces that are gated.
Aside from the necessary safety measures, a memory care community looks like a home.
Comfortable couches and armchairs to rest, shared areas to socialize and take part in activities and art on the walls create an environment residents will find soothing.
Areas designed for residents to safely participate
in activities they enjoyed earlier in life, such as kitchenettes, laundry folding stations and baby changing tables, provide opportunities for connection to the past and purpose in the present.
Engagement
Caring for individuals with dementia requires a special set of skills; the right approach not only facilitates care but more importantly puts the person with dementia at ease and
reduces their stress.
Trained memory care staff are compassionate and will engage in reminiscing with residents, meeting them in the time and place of their perceived reality rather than insisting on bringing them into the present moment.
Reminiscence is key to creating an environment that feels safe to the residents with impaired cognition, allowing them to feel a connection to the confusing
present by way of long-term memories not forgotten (and fundamental to who they are as individuals).
An array of group and individual activities should be offered for stimulation, socialization and connection.
Personalized care
Like anyone else, those living with dementia are unique and require an approach to care that is tailored to their needs.
A treatment team in
memory care includes professionals from a range of specialties, including — but not limited to — nursing, social work, psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy and recreational therapy.
A multidisciplinary approach is essential for providing well-rounded care specific to each resident and the stage of dementia they are in.
Where can your loved one experience the absolute
best in memory care? Here at The Hickman, our Darlington Community offers a secure, home-like setting for residents with dementia.