How to Choose Assisted Living for A Person with Dementia

The term ‘dementia’ can encompass a variety of symptoms like impaired memory and thinking. It is often associated with cognitive decline that occurs naturally as we age, but it can take on different forms, with Alzheimer’s being the most known. It may likewise be caused by other conditions, such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s. In any case, there are assisted living facilities that you can consider for a person with dementia. This type of arrangement may make sense if the condition has become difficult for you to deal with and if you find yourself incapable of providing sufficient care and supervision to your loved one who is affected by it. Here are some tips to help you choose the right assisted living facility:

• Verify the location – Ideally, you should prefer a facility that is within your city and close to home. That way, you and your family can easily visit your loved one as often as you can.

• Make sure it is a comfortable environment – Keep in mind that assisted living facilities are different from a regular senior or nursing home. It is designed to look and feel like a home for the elderly who has memory conditions. The environment should be conducive for comfort and enabling residents to live as fully as they can.

• Find out how they do things – A good assisted living facility will consider each resident as a unique individual. They customize the memory care plan for each person and they consider the individual’s lifestyle, the environment he or she used to live in, the music and hobbies the person enjoyed, and other factors that can help trigger happy memories. Daily activities must be tailored in ways that can make residents feel like they are home.

• Tour the facility – Arrange for a tour of the assisted living center to get an idea of its quality and the type of environment where your loved one will reside. Make sure there are comfortable semi-private and private rooms, state-of-the-art medical facilities and equipment, and spacious areas for socializing and dining.

• Determine the staffing ratio – There should be one caregiver for every five residents. That way, you can be sure that each elderly person will receive one-on-one care and attention they deserve.