Senior Care Options

Numerous senior housing options for people with dementia or Alzheimer’s are available. With their memory impaired, it is important to have 24-hour support and structured activities to ensure their safety and quality of life. Many families try to care for their loved ones at home, which can be extremely difficult given the skill that is required to care for a person with memory problems.

If you need to consider a community, understand that Alzheimer’s care is delivered in the assisted living setting, as well as in nursing homes and occasionally in personal care homes. Generally, the residents live in semi-private apartments and have structured activities delivered by trained staff members. Most of these living environments have secured or locked areas to ensure no one wanders off. Many times, within the secured areas, residents have access to outdoor walking paths or gardens.

People who live in memory care communities are often diagnosed with Dementia and/or Alzheimer’s.

Dementia is not a specific disease. It’s an overall term that describes a wide range of symptoms associated with a decline in memory or other thinking skills severe enough to reduce a person’s ability to perform everyday activities.  Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases.  Vascular dementia, which occurs after a stroke, is the second most common dementia type.  But there are many other conditions that can cause symptoms of dementia, including some that are reversible, such as thyroid problems and vitamin deficiencies.

Dementia is often incorrectly referred to as “senility” or “senile dementia,” which reflects the formerly widespread but incorrect belief that serious mental decline is a normal part of aging.

Alzheimer’s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.  Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other intellectual abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life.  Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 50 to 80 percent of dementia cases.  Alzheimer’s is not a normal part of aging, although the greatest known risk factor is increasing age, and the majority of people with Alzheimer’s are 65 and older.  But Alzheimer’s is not just a disease of old age.  Up to 5 percent of people with the disease have early onset Alzheimer’s (also known as younger-onset), which often appears when someone is in their 40s or 50s.  Alzheimer’s worsens over time. Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, where dementia symptoms gradually worsen over a number of years. In its early stages, memory loss is mild, but with late-stage Alzheimer’s, individuals lose the ability to carry on a conversation and respond to their environment. Alzheimer’s is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. Those with Alzheimer’s live an average of eight years after their symptoms become noticeable to others, but survival can range from four to 20 years, depending on age and other health conditions.

For more information on memory care or dementia, call Senior Living Placement

Also Known As:

• Memory Care
• Dementia Care

Payment Sources:

• Private Pay
• Medicaid
• Long Term care Insurance
• VA Aide & Attendance Benefits

Price Range:

• $3,000-$7,000 per month

Alzheimer's Warning Signs

Some change in memory is normal as we grow older, but the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are more than simple lapses in memory.

People with Alzheimer’s experience difficulties communicating, learning, thinking and reasoning – problems severe enough to have an impact on an individual’s work, social activities and family life.

The Alzheimer’s Association has developed a checklist of common symptoms to help you recognize the difference between normal age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease.

There’s no clear-cut line between normal changes and warning signs. It’s always a good idea to check with a doctor if a person’s level of function seems to be changing. The Alzheimer’s Association believes that it is critical for people diagnosed with dementia and their families to receive information, care and support as early as possible.

10 Early Warning Signs of Alzheimer's Disease

1. Memory Loss
   Forgetting new information is one of the most common early signs of dementia. Forgetting important events and asking for the same information over and over are also common symptoms of early stage Alzheimer’s disease. What’s typical? Forgetting names or appointments occasionally and remembering them later.
2. Difficulty Performing Familiar Tasks
   People with dementia often find it hard to plan or complete everyday tasks. Individuals may lose track of the steps involved in preparing a meal, placing a telephone call or playing a game. What’s typical? Occasionally forgetting why you came into a room or what you planned to say.
3. New Problems with Writing or Speaking
   People with Alzheimer’s disease often forget simple words or substitute unusual words, making their speech or writing hard to understand. They may be unable to find the toothbrush, for example, and instead ask for “that thing for my mouth.” What’s typical? Sometimes having trouble finding the right word.
4. Confusion with Time and Place
   People with Alzheimer’s disease can become lost in their own neighborhood, forget where they are and how they got there, and not know how to get back home. What’s typical? Forgetting the day of the week or where you were going.
5. Poor or Decreased Judgment
   Those with Alzheimer’s may dress inappropriately, wearing several layers on a warm day or little clothing in the cold. They may show poor judgment, like giving away large sums of money to telemarketers. What’s typical? Making a questionable or debatable decision from time to time.
6. Problems with Abstract ThinkingSomeone with Alzheimer’s disease may have unusual difficulty performing complex mental tasks, like forgetting what numbers are for and how they should be used. What’s typical? Finding it challenging to balance a checkbook.
7. Misplacing Things and Losing the Ability to Retrace Steps
   A person with Alzheimer’s disease may put things in unusual places: an iron in the freezer or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl. What’s typical? Misplacing keys or a wallet, but being able to retrace steps to find it later.
8. Changes in Mood or Behavior
   Someone with Alzheimer’s disease may show rapid mood swings – from calm to tears to anger and aggression – for no apparent reason. They may become extremely confused, anxious, suspicious or dependent on a family member. What’s typical? Occasionally feeling sad or moody.
9. Trouble Understanding Visual Images and Spatial Relationships
   For some people, a change in visual processing may be a sign of early Alzheimer’s disease. They may have difficulty reading, judging distance and determining color or contrast, which may cause problems with driving. What’s typical? Vision changes related to cataracts.
10. Withdrawing from Social Activities
    A person with early stage Alzheimer’s disease may avoid being social because of the changes they’ve experienced. They may remove themselves from sports, social events and hobbies. They may become passive, sitting in front of the TV for hours, sleeping more than usual or not want to perform daily living activities.  What’s typical? Sometimes feeling weary of work or social obligations.

The difference between Alzheimer's and normal age-related memory changes   

Someone with Alzheimer’s disease symptomsSomeone with Alzheimer’s disease symptoms

• Forgets entire experiences
• Rarely remembers later
• Gradually unable to follow written/spoken directions
• Is gradually unable to use notes as reminders
• Is gradually unable to care for self

Someone with normal age-related memory changes

• Forgets part of an experience
• Often remembers later
• Is usually able to follow written/spoken directions
• Is usually able to use notes as reminders
• Is usually able to care for self

Questions to Ask When Considering a Memory Care Community

When you are considering a memory care community for a parent or loved one, you should try to make sure that the care that’s provided is closely aligned with your parent’s needs.

You should find the answers to these questions before you make a final decision about memory care:

Questions to Ask Yourself About your Loved One's Needs

• What is your loved one’s level of mobility? Does she walk independently or require walker or wheelchair?
• Does your loved one show aggression or other behavior issues?
• Does your loved one wander or seek exits?
• Does your loved one need help eating?
• Does your loved one need help toileting or experience incontinence?
• Does your loved one require diabetic care?
• Does your loved one need 24/7 supervision?
• Does your loved one need any ongoing medical attention or treatments? (for example, dialysis or colostomy care)

Safety and Staffing

• How is the community secured? Secure buildings? Secure grounds?
• What type of training does the staff have?
• How many hours of training does the staff receive?
• What is the staffing ratio during the day? (number of residents per caregiver)
• What is the staffing ratio at night?
• Does each resident have an individual care plan?
• Is a nurse on duty 24 hours per day? If not, how many hours is a nurse on duty, and what are those hours?
• Is there a visiting physician?
• What medical services are available?
• Can you care for wheelchair bound or bedridden residents?
• Are you able to care for residents who are physically aggressive or who exhibit disruptive behaviors?
• Can outside (visiting) care be arranged? If so, who coordinates that care?

Community Policies

• Do they provide a thorough assessment before admission?
• What types of care are they not able to provide? How do they transition residents from memory care to skilled nursing?
• How often do they update families about resident well-being?
• What is the policy for handling a medical emergency?
• How does the fee structure work? Is there one flat fee, or separate fees for housing and care?
• What is the discharge policy?

Memory Care Features & Treatments

• What are the living arrangements? Memory care cottages? Neighborhood style?
• Do they have a special memory care dining program?
• Do they have walking paths or circular walking paths for residents?
• Do they group residents by cognitive level?
• Do they offer pet therapy?
• Music therapy?
• Reminiscence therapy?
• Parkinson’s care?
• Vascular dementia care?
• Snoozelen rooms? Or other light treatment?
• Do they have an assisted living to Alzheimer’s care bridge program for early stage patients?

Your Gut Check

• Does the staff appear to be knowledgeable and caring?
• Do residents have free access to outdoor areas?
• Is the community easy to navigate?
• Does their philosophy of care resonate with you?