Making the Right Care Choice: Assisted Living for Dementia Patients
Dementia is a complex disorder, and it can be devastating for families and patients alike. Many people fear being a burden to their family or not being able to adequately care for themselves. If these concerns sound familiar, it may be time to consider assisted living options.
Assisted living can offer dementia patients their independence and dignity while providing care in a social, active environment.
Read on to learn about how assisted living can support dementia patients, and what to look for in an assisted living facility for your loved one.
Is Assisted Living Good for Dementia Patients?
A quality assisted living facility can offer a lot for dementia patients, especially those in the early stages of dementia.
Dementia advances differently for everyone, and it can be hard to tell when dementia has progressed. Early stages of dementia are often subtle, with the person in question still driving, keeping up with social and home care, and even working. Signs of early dementia include:
- Intense periods of forgetfulness, such as losing or misplacing valuable objects
- Forgetting names and words
- Forgetting material they just read
- Trouble with organizing or planning
People in the early stages of dementia can still live well but should consider preparing themselves for later stages. This includes getting proper legal paperwork for end-of-life care, as well as considering assisted living to ensure comfort and safety before making the transition to a memory facility.
The middle stages of dementia tend to be the most long-lasting, sometimes for many years. During this period, the symptoms of dementia can become more evident, such as:
- Personality and behavioral changes, such as becoming suspicious or developing delusions
- Becoming moody and withdrawn during social situations
- Forgetting personal history, such as events, family members, or even the name of the high school they attended
- Experiencing confusion
- Wandering and frequently becoming lost
- Restlessness, change in sleeping patterns
- Loss of control of bodily functions
At these more advanced stages of dementia, memory care is more appropriate than assisted living. However, residents who start at assisted living facilities may be more comfortable transitioning to a memory care facility.
Many senior living communities offer both memory care and assisted living within the same building to make the transition easier.
Benefits of Assisted Living for Dementia Patients
Assisted living is good for early dementia patients for a lot of reasons, including:
- Offering structured routines to soothe confusion or agitation
- Providing social interactions
- 24/7 staff on hand
- Patient, dignified assistance with activities of daily living
- Reduce caregiver burden on families
In addition to these benefits, many assisted living facilities make it easy for patients to transition to memory care facilities later on.
Limitations and Risks of Assisted Living for Dementia Patients
There are very few drawbacks to getting the help of a high-quality assisted living facility for a loved one with dementia. Here are some possible risks and limitations of assisted living for dementia patients:
- No specific training for serving residents with dementia
- Safety concerns as dementia progresses, especially for patients prone to wandering or elopement
- The need to eventually transition to memory care
It is essential to note that the quality of assisted living facilities varies. That’s why it is so important to do your research to ensure a high-quality assisted living situation for yourself or your loved one.
Assisted Living vs. Memory Care for Patients with Dementia: 5 Differences to Consider
Assisted living is great for people with early stages of dementia, but assisted living facilities do not have the same features as memory care facilities. Here are some of the differences:
#1: Safety Features
One of the major differences between assisted living and memory care facilities is the safety features. Assisted living facilities offer emergency assistance buttons as well as daily check-ins, but memory care offers more advanced safety features. People who suffer from mid-to-advanced dementia disorders can experience confusion and wandering, in addition to difficulty with daily tasks like dressing and bathing.
One of the biggest risks associated with dementia is elopement. To prevent this, memory care facilities work extra hard to ensure that they have anti-elopement safety features in place, such as
- Keypad doors
- Secure outdoor spaces
- Doorbells that announce coming and going
- Obscured exits to prevent wandering and elopement
- 24/7 staff to check on patients and ensure they are safe
#2: Staff Experience and Training
Any quality assisted living facility will have staff trained to help seniors with early stages of dementia. However, patients with later stages of dementia require specific care and training to ensure that their needs are met.
In addition to all the training in assisting with daily life activities, staff in memory care facilities must be prepared to help residents who are experiencing:
- Dementia-related aggression and agitation
- Patients who wander or become lost easily
- Patients who have lost the ability to effectively communicate
#3: Amenities
Memory care residents benefit greatly from certain amenities designed to soothe emotional upset and agitation associated with dementia. Assisted living facilities may not have these amenities. Memory care facility amenities include:
- Specialized safety features for patients prone to wandering
- Advanced physical care for patients with advanced dementia
- Social engagements designed for patients with dementia
- Assistance with medication in addition to daily living activities
- Specialized staff training for people with memory problems
#4: Activities
Did you know that dementia patients benefit from specifically designed activities? A high-quality memory care center will provide activities that can help a dementia patient be engaged in a soothing, appropriate way. These include:
- Reviewing old pictures and photo albums to refresh memories
- Listening to soothing music, especially if it’s music they are familiar with
- Gardening or weeding
- Social activities like dancing, flower arranging classes, etc
- Singing and music, which can improve the brain and overall well-being
#5: Cost
The reality is that assisted living is usually less expensive than memory care. Memory care requires specialist amenities and fully trained staff.
When Should a Dementia Patient Move To Assisted Living?
A person with early stages of dementia should transition to memory care as soon as severe symptoms develop. These symptoms include lapses in personal care, memory recall, getting frequently lost or confused, and forgetting medication.
An early transition to assisted living is beneficial for many reasons. Not only does it lessen caregiver burden on the family, but it also provides a safe environment as the patient’s dementia develops. Some facilities also have memory care on site or nearby, allowing the eventual transition to be smooth and easy for the patient.
Transitioning from Assisted Living to Memory Care
When is it time for a patient to transition from assisted living to memory care? Dementia is an irreversible degenerative disease, and caregivers need to be on the lookout for symptoms of disease advancement. One of the many benefits of assisted living is the trained, on-site staff who can notice symptoms like:
- Changes in mood, such as aggression or anxiety
- Depression, withdrawal
- Increased confusion and disassociation
- Poor hygiene
- Wandering and elopement
To make the transition easier, some facilities offer memory care that is on-site or nearby to assisted living. This allows patients to maintain routines and prevent confusion or disruption from the move.
Assisted Living for Dementia Patients: FAQs
Can Assisted Living Delay the Need for Memory Care?
Potentially. Seniors with mild or well-managed dementia may benefit from assisted living. These residents often struggle with maintaining medical schedules, and assisted living facilities ensure that all medications are taken on time, improving overall health.
Do Assisted Living Facilities Provide Dementia-Trained Staff?
Dementia training for staff members varies from facility to facility. When touring and reviewing facilities, be sure to ask questions about the dementia training the staff receives, as well as staff-to-patient ratios, and the staff procedures for dementia-related issues like wandering and behavioral challenges.
How Can Families Decide if Assisted Living Is the Right Choice for Their Loved One?
When considering if assisted living is right for your loved one with dementia, there are three main things to consider: their safety, their abilities, and the realistic future progression of their disease.
It’s important to have meaningful talks with your loved one about this. Consult healthcare professionals, tour facilities, and take the time to make the right choice. Not all assisted living facilities are created equal, and you want the best for your beloved family member.
Find the Right Care for Your Loved One
Your loved one deserves to live out their final days in peace, comfort, and dignity. At Senior Services of America communities, our teams work with you to help you make the right choice for your loved one. We proudly operate communities throughout the Pacific Northwest offering a range care level types from independent living to assisted living and memory care.
Our teams pride themselves on offering the best possible care for every resident, focusing on individual needs and helping residents with dementia transition to memory care when it is time. If you are looking for the best option for a loved one with dementia, find your nearest community today.
The content in this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
