Dealing with memory loss at home vs. in assisted memory care.

Memory impairment increases over time with every human being who ages in life. But the risk of developing cognitive and memory impairments beyond the normal levels have increased over the past few decades. There have been many studies and research done on improving the quality of life of elderly experiencing memory disorders like Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Based on this knowledge, specialized care organizations have been established like senior living communities and assisted living facilities, and each are designed to care for elderly with specific needs. Memory care and assisted living facilities provide specialized and customized care for each individual with different memory and cognitive disabilities.

Even with such advanced care and comfort provided by assisted living facilities, families are often apprehensive when deciding if placing a family member is assisted living is the best option for their loved one.

Well meaning family members might insist on trying to care for their elderly parents on their own. This is a common emotional reaction to the effects of their family member’s needs. Extensive research has been done to compare the life quality of patients receiving home care and advanced assisted living based care. In one study where assisted living care and home care were compared it was found out that with home care the number of hospital visits and emergency visits are much higher (20 percent higher in average). There has been an increased number of falls reported with home care compared to assisted living. While nobody can replace your family, professional caretakers are trained to provide a high level of care and ensure the health and comfort of their residents.

In an assisted living community, specialized staff is present who have been trained to provide unique care plans based on the personal tendencies and the specific memory disorder of the individual.

Those who are having coordination and mobility disabilities due to Alzheimer’s and dementia will be provided safe rooms, walking and mobility aid and careful supervisions and this will reduce the risk of falls and injuries. Some of the most common symptoms of all memory disorders as a whole are depression, anxiety, agitation, paranoia, and frustration. Even though the people suffering from memory disorder has no control over this, you at home may not be well prepared to react and manage such a scenario. In assisted living care inviting, peaceful environments are maintained that are having no triggers for agitation, or anxiety. Assisted living and memory care staff are well trained to handle memory loss related depression, and they will be able to identify the early signs of depression and other mood changes in the elderly and will be able to provide early intervention not available at home. This will help the elderly to have a depression free, peaceful and a happy retirement. This kind of nuanced care is not something the average family member at home will be equipped to handle.

If you’re in Los Angeles and are seeking memory care or assisted living for a family member or loved one, Melrose Gardens can help ensure that they will be able to live a happy, stress-free, healthy retirement. Please contact us to schedule a tour or for more information.

References:

Blackburn, J., Locher, J., & Kilgore, M. (2014). Comparison of Long-term Care in Nursing Homes Versus Home Health: Costs and Outcomes in Alabama. The Gerontologist, 56(2), 215-221. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnu021

Families and assited living (2017). From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2609905/