Memory Care For Dementia Patients Improves Outcomes and Quality of Life

Those who suffer from dementia, Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive deficits, are at a disadvantage when it comes to quality care. Because each day may look and feel different and each patient is different, it can make it difficult to find the personalized care they need. Many people who suffer from long-term cognitive deficits are able to do things but may lose focus or sound judgment. In a typical healthcare setting, they may have their physical and medical needs met but fall short of meeting their emotional and cognitive needs. Specialized memory care delivered by trained professionals can significantly improve the quality of life for dementia patients as well as improve long-term outcomes.

At Serenity Gardens Assisted Living Facilities in Friendswood, Dickinson, and Deer Park, we are able to deliver high-quality memory care services in a small, home-like facility that maximizes individual attention. We offer plenty of appropriate activities and supervision to keep your loved ones safe, stimulated, and living their best life. To find the memory care you and your loved one deserve, contact us to schedule your tour.

Dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease

Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are progressive cognitive disorders that destroy the ability to form and process memories and can impair other important mental functions. Not only does Alzheimer’s disease prevent the formation of new memories, but destroys brain cell connections, making it difficult to recall previous memories and known information. Typically, patients experience progressive memory regression that makes communication and day-to-day tasks difficult. Some who suffer from dementia may notice symptoms seem to worsen as the day continues and symptoms such as mood changes, irritability, anger, and changes in speech patterns accompany symptoms of difficulty concentrating.

Some signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease include:

• Memory loss that complicates daily routine — May include altering the ability to remember simple tasks or to complete routine activities. Scheduling, list-making, and even recalling people and places may become difficult.
• Challenges in planning, problem-solving, critical thinking, and judgment — Even tasks that used to come easily, such as paying bills, keeping home, or engaging in hobbies may be increasingly difficult. They may need increased guidance and direction and may overlook seemingly obvious elements of situations.
• Loss of sense of time and direction — Recalling or planning things that are not happening at the moment may become difficult to process. Some people may forget where they are, how they got there, and what they are doing there. Time does not seem to make sense and there does not seem to be a logical order to events.
• Difficulty processing visual and spatial relationships — Damaged connections in the brain may make interpreting visual cues difficult, causing balance issues, difficulty reading or interpreting text or signs, and causing problems with contrast. Depth perception is often altered, making driving and walking more difficult.
• Speech changes — Changes in speech varies from words not making sense or not being able to find words, to using the wrong or made-up words. Some people may repeat themselves, have difficulty understanding what you have said to them, or forget what was being said in the conversation.
• Changes in mood or personality — Along with confusion comes increased changes in mood that include anxiety, depression, irritability, aggression, and suspicious. All of these mood and behavioral changes can be attributed to increased confusion and misunderstanding about the environment.

For more information about Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, visit our blog on the topic:

Facts and Statistics About Alzheimer’s Disease

It is estimated that nearly 5.8 million Americans are living with active Alzheimer’s disease. Due to advancements in medical care and a better understanding of the disease, the average age of the American population continues to get older and the number of Alzheimer’s disease patients is anticipated to skyrocket to nearly 14 million people. At this time, there is no known cure and the causes and risk factors remain the subject of heavy research.

Alzheimer’s disease remains the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and affects nearly 10% of the population over the age of 65. Alzheimer’s disease does not directly kill people; rather they die of complications related to the disease. Common complications of the disease include nourishment issues, aspiration caused by swallowing difficulties, infection, and blood clots. Alzheimer’s disease puts additional strain on the immune system, making patients at a higher risk for opportunistic infections. In the advanced stages of the disease, decreased mobility and swallowing ability puts patients at a higher risk of pneumonia, weight loss, bone breaks, skin breakdown, and blood clots. Effective dementia management focuses on cognitive support, mobility and physical activity, and patient health and safety.

The Difference Between Memory Care and Senior Care

The terms senior care and memory care are used without much clarification, leaving families confused about the services that would be best for their loved ones. Senior care, also referred to as elder care, is the helpful care that is afforded to seniors who need some extra help with day-to-day activities. This care can be provided in the home, in an assisted living facility, or in a nursing home. Typically, senior care includes assistance with mobility, grooming, bathing, dressing, chores, and some toileting. Memory care is an additional service offered by some senior care providers. Memory care includes 24-hour supervision for the safety of the dementia patient. Memory care includes active redirection, cognitive stimulation, and additional safety measures above and beyond what regular senior care provides. Senior care can be provided as needed and varies based on the person receiving the care, whereas memory care is much more comprehensive and involved.

To clarify, all memory care is senior care, but not all senior care includes memory care. In fact, only 16% of dementia patients received regular cognitive assessments in the medical and long-term care setting. For those seniors who require some support with activities of daily living, home health care, independent living centers, assisted living communities, and nursing homes are the appropriate care settings. However, if your loved one suffers from dementia or cognitive impairment, finding a care plan that emphasizes memory care is essential. Specialized memory care teams have special training, and memory care assisted living facilities, like Serenity Gardens, offer cognitive support and 24-hour supervision for the complete care of dementia patients.

Memory Care Option Comparisons

When it comes to finding senior care, there is no lack of options. With the aging population growing faster than the younger generations, it would seem there is some form of senior care center everywhere! We understand that the choice can be daunting if you aren’t sure what to look for and just because the option is available does not always mean that it is a good one.

Family care.

Those in their 30s through 50s are considered to be in the “sandwich generations,” where they are providing the primary care for both their children and their parents. Nearly 16 million Americans provide uncompensated care to those with dementia, including family and loved ones. With the average nuclear family size decreasing and a shift in family structure, this has the ability to put additional strain on families who depend on two incomes to make ends meet.
For families who can make it work, the benefits include living at home with family and quality, loving care. However, the disadvantages are that family is not generally trained in managing healthcare concerns or memory care management, and dementia support is not always the easiest to optimize. People with Alzheimer’s disease have twice as many hospital stays, skilled nursing stays, and home health care visits than any other population.

In-home care.

In-home care can be offered from just a few hours a week assisting with activities of daily living to full-time live-in care, and anything in between. Home health care agencies offer a variety of services and allow their patients to remain in the comfort of their own homes. The upside to in-home care is the care and services are brought to the patient’s home and can be structured to meet specific needs. The downsides to in-home care include more hospital admissions and a lack of social engagement.

Memory care assisted living centers.

Another option for memory care for seniors with dementia is memory care assisted living facilities. Assisted living communities offer residents everything they need to live a safe and productive life from day to day. Assisted living offers help with bathing, grooming, and other personal care needs, in addition to the basic needs of living, including laundry, housekeeping, meals and feeding, medication management, and medical attention. In addition to basic needs, memory care assisted living offers 24-hour supervision, social interaction, and stimulating activities.
Serenity Gardens memory care assisted living facilities in Friendswood, Dickinson, and Deer Park offer so much more than standard memory care and attentive supervision. We also offer family-style dining in a home-style setting with kids and pets on the property. Our facilities are small so we can provide the most comfortable setting and better one-on-one care. When your loved one is here, they are home.