Memory care is one of those words you hear a lot when it comes to caring for aging patients. Unfortunately, very few of the venues that advertise memory care explain what it means for their patients and how it is different from traditional care for elderly patients. The distinctions, though, are vitally important to families who are watching aging loved ones fade away a little more every day. Here's what you need to know about memory care so you can make sure your loved ones receive the care they require.
Memory Care Offers Services Unique to the Needs of Alzheimer's and Dementia Patients
While memory care patients receive the same basic services all other residents in an assisted living community receive, they also receive services that are tailored to their unique and specific needs. All patients receive certain standards of care, such as:
Patients in memory care programs receive additional services that are unique to their needs not only as dementia and Alzheimer's patients, but also as unique individuals dealing with varying degrees of memory loss and the complications that go along with that memory loss.
Memory Care Involves Hiring Specially Trained Staff with Stable Work Histories
Consistency is one of the most important things for memory care patients. Few people in the universe thrive on routine better or react more adversely when their routines are interrupted. The people who care for Alzheimer's patients require specialized training, take the time to get to know their patients, and provide consistent quality care day after day to these patients. This routine and quality care provides stability, reduces stress, and delivers a safe environment for patients who feel as though they are constantly surrounded by unfamiliar people and things in a world that is foreign and terrifying to them.
The people who work with memory care patients are as special as the people they help every day. Their jobs aren't easy; they can be viewed as a helpful friend one minute, then a frightening stranger the next by the people they are charged with assisting. These professionals have specialized training to help your loved one at the early stages of Alzheimer's or dementia and as the disease progresses.
These are the things that set memory care facilities and services apart from standard assisted living offerings. Contact memory care centers like Spruce Point to know your options before making any final decisions. Make sure you're all on the same page for treatment and standards of care.