You have a lot of options when it comes to finding memory care and support for someone you love. With all of these options, it can be easy to get overwhelmed.
The key is to start with your family’s needs. Instead of looking at all of your choices, first, understand the type of care that is needed and what features or services would be beneficial for them. Once you know this, it becomes easier to narrow down your search to find a dementia care community that offers everything that’s important to you.
As a memory care provider in Alabama, Community Senior Life wants to help you find the right dementia care community for your family. This is why we are sharing some important questions to ask potential memory care communities to find out if they are the right fit.
1. Can You Describe Your Dementia Care Approach?
One of the first questions you ask should help you understand a community’s approach to dementia care. You want to feel confident that the community and care staff are well-educated in dementia care practices, understand the nuances of dementia, and can manage your family member’s symptoms, especially if they are living with advanced Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
2. What is the Staff to Resident Ratio?
Asking this question to a potential dementia care community will help you get an idea of the level of personalized care provided.
You do not want your loved one to be viewed as just a number. Memory care communities with a low caregiver to resident ratio have the capacity to provide more person-centered care and support to truly get to know each resident and their family.
3. What Programs & Activities Are Offered?
Socialization, connection, and engagement are essential aspects of promoting cognitive health. A dementia care community should offer a robust calendar of activities, programs, and therapies that promote overall health and wellness.
In addition, a dementia care community should offer activities and programs that not only add stimulation to residents’ lives but give them a sense of purpose.
4. What Are the Accommodations Like?
You want your loved one to feel as safe, comfortable, and at home as possible. A big part of ensuring this is to find out what accommodations a potential memory care community provides.
- Is the community purposefully designed to promote safety?
- What type of security features are in place?
- Does the community offer additional features that your loved one would enjoy, i.e., outdoor walking paths, water views, etc.?
Beyond the community’s common areas, you want to ensure that they offer private spaces/apartments that meet your family’s needs.
5. What’s Included in the Price?
When it comes to memory care options, we know that price is often a determining factor when choosing a community. With this being said, it is important to look deeper and ask what this price includes.
- Does the price include care?
- Does the price include all meals/dining services?
- Does the price include all community services, i.e., housekeeping, laundry, etc.?
- What additional services (if any) are offered for this rate?
It’s important to ask these questions to ensure you aren’t surprised by “add on” costs in the future. While the cost of a dementia care community can seem high, many communities include housing, care, amenities, therapies, and more into their price. When you think about how much these items would cost individually, community care often becomes an obvious choice.
Explore Memory Care in Alabama
At Community Senior Life, we offer a level of dementia care that is unsurpassed. Our compassionate team members work closely with each resident and their families to ensure their needs are met. Our safe and welcoming communities strive to provide residents with a true home that helps them maintain their independence as much as possible while offering 24/7 care and support.
Our memory care features and amenities include:
- 24/7 nurse calling systems
- Electronically secured buildings
- Daily meals and snacks
- Therapeutic activities
- Medication management
- Dressing assistance
- Personal appearance and hygiene assistance
- Housekeeping
- Mobility assistance
Finding the right memory care community starts with asking the right questions. Be thorough in your search to find the best care and support for your family. If you would like to learn more about our Community Senior Life memory care communities throughout Alabama, visit our website or contact a member of our team.