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Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Private Memory Care Facilities

The diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s for a loved one is a challenging, emotionally charged experience. One of the many decisions you’ll face relates to how much help your loved one needs now, and how that might change in the future. As you begin researching, you’ll find that there are several care options for seniors living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. A private, specialized memory care home like Syncare Memory Suites here in Minnesota is one of them. Here’s what to know about the benefits of private memory care facilities.

What is a Memory Care Home?

Memory care is a specialized option designed for people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s. It’s a live-in option in a private home with the kind of structured environment that contributes to a supportive, enriching life.

Seniors living with dementia and Alzheimer’s often need specialized care in a safe, secure environment. This level of care can be challenging for family members or caretakers, and nursing homes or hired caretakers may not be able to accommodate the special needs inherent to seniors with memory loss conditions. Memory care homes like Syncare fill this need, offering professional, round-the-clock care in homes specifically to be safe, secure, and stimulating.

Memory Care Goals

A good memory care home doesn’t just provide an appropriate environment – it also uses industry best practices to help slow down the progression of dementia or Alzheimer’s. At the same time, quality memory care homes are committed to ensuring each resident feels a personalized sense of community, enjoyment, and purpose. Every resident is different, and care should be centered on the individual – not the condition.

There are a number of proven methods for achieving this quality of life, including but not limited to:

  • Team members: An engaging, committed, and experienced staff is critical and the very heart of any memory care community. Inquire about staff screening processes, ongoing training, and availability.
  • Environment: A familiar, comfortable environment helps residents thrive. At Syncare, our suites are highly personalized. Comprehensive assessments prior to move-in help our team create spaces that look and feel like home.
  • Resources: Proven resources and technology can help ensure a safe, secure environment and up-to-the-minute care. Ask about the kinds of resources that make life better for a home’s residents.
  • Meals: Purposeful nutrition should include freshly prepared gourmet meals and specialty food programs that accommodate individual residents’ dietary restrictions and preferences.
  • Activities: Events and activities should be specifically planned for their proven ability to help residents improve cognitive function and help maintain skills

Finding the Right Care Option for your Loved One

Finding the right care option for your loved one with memory loss starts with a realistic discussion among family members about expectations and abilities. A memory care home may be the best option, and that can be easily investigated with a phone call and a visit. Plan to visit several homes so you can compare the strengths of different facilities. Ask lots of questions about how, specifically, they prioritize the resident, and not the disease. Ultimately, the right home will be the one that offers your loved one a safe, comfortable, familiar space to live with dignity and support.

If you have questions about specialized memory care, we’re happy to answer them. Contact us today, and let us share what makes Syncare Memory Suites a home like no other.

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5 Steps to Turn Dementia Care Principles into Best Practices

The number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is increasing. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5.8 million Americans are currently living with this brain disease. And as our senior population grows, so too will Alzheimer’s diagnoses. That makes proper care options even more pressing. Syncare Memory Suites in Minnesota is a specialized memory care home for seniors living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. It’s our goal to provide safe, structured, person-centered care that emphasizes choice, dignity, and purposeful living for our residents. We want to be part of the movement that’s committed to creating a society designed to support people living with dementia. Today, we’re sharing five steps to turn dementia care principles into best practices. If you’re looking at care options for your loved one, these are practices you want to see emphasized in a home.

Appropriate Assessments

Assessing a new resident’s experiences and abilities are a critical first step. As you investigate care options, make note of admission criteria. During the onboarding process, a thorough assessment that evaluates cognition, health history, and your loved one’s life story should be conducted. A cognitive assessment will help caregivers identify the dementia stage and your loved one’s remaining abilities. The health history and life story will give them necessary medical facts and an understanding of what’s meaningful and familiar to your loved one.

Person-Centered Care

The Alzheimer’s Association recommends engagement in meaningful activities to help those living with dementia maintain functional ability while also enhancing quality of life. In practice, that means a variety of therapeutic plans and programs that are individually designed to suit the needs, preferences, and abilities of the resident. These kinds of programs and plans should also include activities like dining, grooming, and other habits of daily living.

A Competent, Trained Support Team

Qualified caregivers in a memory care home should be fully trained and experienced with dementia. This means ongoing coaching, mentoring, and training to keep caregivers current on new tools, technology, and best practices. A competent, trained support team includes everyone involved in a private memory care home, from the founder to direct caregivers to supporting staff.

Inquire about staff turnover as well. Minimizing staff changes facilitates familiarity and camaraderie between caregivers and residents. The goal should be fostering a relationship that puts residents at ease.

Environmental Support

A welcoming, inviting physical environment should facilitate independence, engagement, and safety. Accommodations for the needs of aging residents means minimal obstructions, non-slip flooring, grab bars, and good lighting. At Syncare Memory Suites, our common areas are designed to promote sensory stimulation, while individual rooms are structured to be as familiar and comfortable as home.

Support from the Family

Involving family members is critical from the beginning. Family members should be involved in the development of therapeutic plans and programs, because it’s important that these are designed around the needs, interests, and abilities of their loved one. You are a valuable member of your loved one’s care, and your support and involvement is important.

The Takeaway

Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are conditions that require specialized care. Understanding what should be done to transform dementia care principles into best practices can help you find the right level of care for your loved one. If you’re investigating care options, we’re here to help. Contact Syncare Memory Suites in Minnesota today.

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How Do I Know It’s Time for Memory Care?

It’s not always easy to know when a loved one should be transitioned out of the family home into memory care. That’s why it can be helpful to know that there are signs that often point to the inevitable. If you’re wondering whether it may be time for memory care for your loved one, these may be indications.

The Burden on Loved Ones

Caregiving is a difficult task. From physical demands to demands on time, caring for an aging loved one, particularly one who has dementia, can quickly become overwhelming. Burnout is a very real phenomenon for family members who have taken it upon themselves to care for a loved one. Don’t overlook it. As the saying goes, you cannot pour from an empty cup. Neglecting your own physical and mental needs will catch up with you – quickly. 

Transitioning to a specialized memory care home, like Syncare Memory Suites here in Minnesota, can mean more quality time with your loved one. Our staff is trained to meet the needs and individual best interests of those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, so that you can spend time with your loved one in ways that truly matter.

Safety Concerns

If your loved one is dealing with confusion issues, has wandered off, or appears disoriented, it’s important to judge the situation realistically. There are a number of safety concerns that can arise from confusion, disorientation, or wandering off. If these are on your mind, it could be a sign that your loved one needs more supervision than you can provide.

Hygiene Decline

A telltale sign of memory loss is often related to a decline in personal hygiene. People living with dementia may forget to brush their teeth, bathe, shave, style their hair, or even dress in clean clothes. In some cases, they’ve forgotten how to do these things, but feel too embarrassed to ask for help.

Difficulty with Household Tasks

A common sign of dementia is difficulty completing familiar tasks. These can often include things like paying bills and keeping household items properly stocked. A loved one may also have trouble remembering whether they’ve already purchased something, or determining whether something is valuable or not. This decline in reasoning can also make them susceptible to scams.

Next Steps

Recognizing one or more of these signs in your loved one may be the incentive you need to learn more about your care options. At Syncare Memory Suites, we understand how overwhelming this process can be. We’re here to help – even if you don’t end up choosing our private home for your loved one. Contact us today, and let us answer all of your questions.