May 14, 2021
When your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, it changes the way they see the world. You want to do all you can, so you’ve started to research long-term care options for them. While the first thought that comes to mind is a nursing home, the senior living industry has evolved over the years, and now offers more specialized care for older adults with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
If you’re looking to find a place where your loved one can thrive, you’ve come to the right place. Join us as we explore some of the best nursing home alternatives for seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia.
When you’re loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia, finding a way to let them stay in their home might be the best option during the early stages. After all, their home is filled with memories that can help they connect fond memories of the past to the present moment. Home care is a great option for the early stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia. Home care providers like Franciscan Ministries will take the time to get to know your loved one on a personal level. From there, they’ll match them with a caregiver to help them reach a higher level of wellness.
If their Alzheimer’s or dementia continues to progress, it might no longer be safe for them to stay at home. An at-home senior care professional will be able to help you monitor your family members behavior. If they’re beginning to wander more often, have lapses in judgement or is neglecting aspects of the personal health, it might be time to consider another option.
A memory care community is one of the best care options for any older adults living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. There are plenty of expert staff members ready to support your loved one who have received specialized training on how to support memory care residents. Plus, communities will often have structured activities planned throughout the day to help give residents a higher sense of purpose.
For example, memory care residents at Mount Alverna Village will often spend afternoons in the community garden. The rewarding practice of tending to plants helps stimulate the mind while offering opportunities for social connections. Memory care communities also offer a dining experience that appeals to all five senses. Residents can expect delicious chef-prepared meals each day, communities like those at Franciscan Ministries, even take requests.
Memory care communities also take resident health and safety seriously. There are door and hall monitor to ensure that residents can safely explore the new the welcoming environment of the community. It’s also common for a memory care community to have a lower resident to staff ratio when compared to a nursing home. This allows your loved one to get more personalized care while staff work to help them with any unique challenges they might be facing.
If you’re loved one is in the middle or late stages of dementia, a nursing home might not be the best place for them to thrive. While the facility will be able to help them with daily living tasks like dressing, bathing and grooming, many of the life enrichment aspects are missing. Activities that are personalized to a resident’s interests can help them reach a higher level of emotional and mental wellness, which in turn improves their quality of life.
Nursing homes are often laid out in a more clinical setting, where residents share rooms that are similar to what you would see in a hospital. Memory care communities on the other hand, are designed to be more like neighborhoods and evoke a homelike feeling.
We know that you only want the best for your loved one who’s been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia. At Franciscan Ministries, we’re dedicated to helping every memory care resident reach a higher level of well-being. All of our memory care communities have programs and activities that use the seven dimensions of wellness to give your loved one more fulfillment in each day. If you’re interested in learning more about the engaging lifestyle at our memory care communities, contact us today.