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Things To Know Regarding Dementia Care At Assisted Living Facilities

March 9, 2022 0 Comment Category: Betenu Health

Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia become more involved in the healthcare conversation in the US. Why? Because the aging population in the United States of America is increasing and more individuals develop dementia than before.

The CDC reports that two years ago, around 6 million individuals had Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s disease patient count is expected to reach 14 million in around 40 years. When dementia has become more severe, many people may require a greater level of care than what their family can offer. In other words, they may have to be placed in assisted living facilities or skilled nursing facilities.

Some of those facilities offer amazing support and care for seniors with dementia or cognitive decline, but others are unlikely to do so. When you are thinking about putting a family member in one of those facilities offering dementia care, you should contemplate some factors for the best choice.

Assisted Living Versus Memory Care

When it comes to assisted living settings, there is much variety in their quality and forms of programs. Of the approximately 30,000 assisted living locations in the US, some cater to adults who have cognitive deficits; those locations may be considered memory care facilities.

The facilities may provide better levels of care for older people with dementia as compared to conventional assisted living communities. Those memory care locations usually offer round-the-clock supervision in separate wings or floors of residential facilities. The service not only keeps their residents safer but also keeps them from wandering away from the property and possibly into danger.

More concentrated assistance with judgment, communication, memory and process can be part of senior assisted living services for dementia patients. It is likely to involve managing one’s medication as well as reminding the person of the time for a meal or having a bath.

Dementia sufferers require that assistance as dementia impacts memory, physical abilities and cognition. Many Alzheimer’s disease patients and people with other dementia types mentally go back to earlier periods in their lives. Therefore, memory care locations often attempt to offer outlets for individuals to healthily express their requirements. For instance, dementia sufferers who raised kids in their younger days may need to indulge in mothering roles. In that case, some facilities establish rooms with cribs and dolls, which allow residents to deal with the agitation that comes with missing children.