One in ten people over 65 has Alzheimer's. One in three seniors dies of Alzheimer's or other dementias. The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease worsen over time, although the rate at which the disease progresses varies. On average, a person with Alzheimer's lives four to eight years after diagnosis, but can live as long as 20 years, depending on other factors.
Memory care is care tailored to meet the needs of those with varying degrees of dementia or Alzheimer's. Specifically, it provides a secure (locked), highly structured environment with set schedules, programs and activities proven to stimulate and extend cognitive functioning. Research informs the activities, caregiver techniques and even diet in a good memory care community. Many communities also offer support and education for the extended family.
Here are the most common questions clients ask about memory care, when they can no longer care for their loved one at home.
Some communities offer Assisted Living and Memory on one campus. Others specialize in memory only. Continuous Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) offer independent, assisted, memory and nursing—for a hefty buy-in fee which guarantees you will be cared for until the end --all on one campus. The problem is, if memory issues are evident, few—if any--CCRCs will accept you. A newer option that many don’t know about are Family Care Homes, which house from three to six residents in a customized home that specializes in memory issues.
The very least I’ve seen for a shared room in the Triangle area is $4000 and the most is $9500. When visiting communities, ask if the rate is "all-inclusive," which means there won’t be any unanticipated expenses at the end of the month for things like continence or medication management, or "a la carte," where each service has a price tag.
- What is the environment like? Is it clean? How does it smell? A heavy urine scent may indicate that incontinence issues are not being addressed frequently enough.
- How do the staff treat the residents? What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day? At night?
- How do you feel when you are there?
- What programs and activities do they offer (Physical? Memory exercises? Social?)
- Do they segregate according to cognitive level?
- Is it secure? Six in ten people with dementia will wander. Insure your family member cannot leave without being checked out.
- How do they communicate with family members?
- What programs (exercise, physical therapy, social and other activities) does the facility offer?
- What is their discharge policy? What happens if mom becomes problematic?
Clients will tell me that their mom would never share a room. Some of the higher-end places only offer private rooms, but there is research suggesting that for many with memory issues, having a roommate can actually be protective. Being social is good for the brain.
- Memory boxes outside residents’ doors which convey something about who they are (Brighton Gardens, Morningside and Sunrise at North Hills display these which feature photos and mementos that help tell the resident's story).
- Stimulation stations along the hallway and out for residents to freely use in activity rooms (Morningside has a safe carpenter bench and art stations along its hallway)
- Memory prompts (instructions via text or pictures)
- Sunrise at North Hills has a dog in the memory care area.
- Activities, such as singing and puzzles, which are proven to stimulate memory and the brain.
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