Memory care facilities have been specially designed to have a dementia-friendly layout and offer residents dementia-focused memory care programmes/activities to help them manage the symptoms of their condition.
A residential memory care facility will include many of the following:
- Circular hallways for residents to walk around, without becoming frustrated at dead ends or locked doors
- Safe outdoor spaces that can be freely wandered
- Smaller communal areas that create a calming atmosphere
- Naturally well-lit rooms with pleasant views from the windows
- Consistent patterns and colours around the home
- Memory-focused activities and therapies
While some of these facilities may sound a bit much, they’re necessary to ensure residents remain safe and receive an amazing level of care. Dementia residents are prone to wandering off, so locked doors and enclosed spaces mean that residents can enjoy the freedom of exploring their surroundings, without ending up in danger.
How to Choose a Memory Care Facility
Trying to find a memory care facility for your loved one can be overwhelming, especially as services and amenities will vary from memory unit to memory unit. So where to begin?
Your loved one’s specific needs will play a huge role in guiding your decision. For example, if your parent is prone to wandering, then safety is a big priority.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a handful, we’d then recommend you visit each residence a handful of times, including one unannounced visit in the evening when staffing will be thinner.
There’s no substitute for actually visiting a memory care community and experiencing a typical day, as this is what’ll allow you to see the building’s layout, how staff interact with residents and what activities are offered. Virtual tours are usually an option if in-person visits aren’t possible. Don’t forget to ask about safety measures, features and staff training when on these visits (more on this below).
Next, we’ve gone over a few of the most important factors you should consider when choosing residential memory care.
Care layout and safety features
The majority of dementia and Alzheimer’s care facilities are designed to feel like a home. Floor plans are easy to navigate, while exits are marked and rooms are labelled. Some memory care facilities will even include soundproofed walls to help reduce agitation and confusion for residents.
Other things to consider are enclosed outdoor areas with walking paths, circular hallways (so residents don’t become frustrated by dead ends) and the overall cleanliness of the facility.
Be sure to keep an eye out for all these details. Though they might seem minor, a well-thought-out design can make your loved one’s transition into a memory care facility much more seamless.
Staff expertise and the staff-to-resident ratio
The Covid-19 pandemic has left numerous long-term care facilities in the UK short-staffed. Find out if this is the case and what impact it could have on the standard of care your loved one will receive.
You’ll also want to know how staff members interact with their residents. It’s worth finding out what kind of dementia-specific training employees are given, how they’d manage a person who becomes aggressive (it should involve plenty of compassion) and what memory care programmes/activities they provide to residents.
Dementia care plans, programmes and activities
Does the facility provide activities that will keep your loved one engaged? What strategies do the staff use to encourage their residents to eat? How are dementia care plans developed and do staff take the time to get to know their residents? How often are care plans updated and are residents’ interests taken into consideration when planning activities?
These are all questions worth asking to get a better understanding of how well a memory care unit can cater to your loved one’s individual needs.
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