Memory Care is a type of care designed to cater to the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Many families prefer to keep their loved ones at their individual residence for as long as possible to maintain a recognizable environment, but at some point, a person with Alzheimer’s disease will need more care than what can be provided at home. An environment which can provide round the clock supervised care is best to meet the demands of these individuals. Memory care is available as a specialized unit within an assisted living facility or in some cases, entire communities are tailored to care for the specific needs of individuals with various degrees of the cognitive impairment.
Memory care units or facilities typically offer a higher ratio of staff to residents, in comparison to other types of long term care, with specialized training for staff to ensure the safet of residents, including medical care, personal assistance, and support services. Features of some memory care communities include secured exits to prevent wandering and enhanced visual cues, such as signs or pictures, designed to help resident feel more oriented within their surroundings. Additionally, residents in memory care facilities generally require assistance with medication management, and daily tasks such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and eating.
The cost of memory care is higher than standard assisted living services due to the additional staffing, various therapy and social programs. Most states require additional licensing for permission to care for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
