Finding the right fit for memory and dementia care services can be a tough process and decision. When a loved one is diagnosed with dementia, you may feel like your world is falling apart along with theirs. At first, you and your family may try and care for them yourself, but you may find that they are not getting the proper care at home, or you and your family are burned out. Putting your loved one in a facility that provides dementia care services can be difficult because you feel guilty for putting your loved one in a ‘home,’ but dementia care services and facilities are very people-centered, and residents get the care that they need.
So how do you find the right Fit for Long-Term Care? Keep reading to see how you and your family can find the perfect facility for your loved one with dementia.
Step #1: Mentally Prepare for Dementia Care As soon as your loved one is diagnosed with dementia, you should be preparing for long-term care. Talk to your loved one about how they envision living out the rest of their lives and write down a plan together. Going through this process ensures that their wishes are taken into consideration in the later stages of dementia and that there is no guessing on what the right course of action should be.
You can also create an online album or physical memory box with photos and mementos that they can bring with them to long-term care. Step #2: Research Long-Term Care Try looking for residences and dementia care facilities that are person-centered. Person-centered care means that the staff is willing to be flexible to accommodate the needs of the resident as opposed to forcing them into a routine. The best long-term memory care facilities know that each patient is unique and in a different stage of dementia. Check to see that the staff at a long-term care facility is will to adjust to the needs of your loved one. For example, if they need to get up earlier than the rest of the residents or if they want to help set the table because they were a waitress in adulthood, they should be accommodated. Person-centered care is all about meeting the resident where they are in life and helping them get through this stage in their lives.
Step #3: Consult Outside Resources You can start with the government’s Eldercare Locator or Medicare’s Nursing Home Comparison. There are also many professionals that will help you find and evaluate the right dementia care facility. You must understand that memory care is different from a nursing home. Memory care usually has staff that is specialized in dementia training; however, these facilities may be part of a larger assisted living facility that includes independent living and nursing homes. Step #4: Ask Questions and Visit the Long-Term Facility Many families create a long list of facilities in an excel spreadsheet that includes commute time, cost, and amenities. When you are looking to place your loved one in a facility, make sure that you ask questions to staff and residents when they are alone. There can be peer pressure or fear of disciplinary actions if anything negative is said as a staff member. If no staff member will talk to you, cross that facility off your list.
Also, make sure that you visit the facility unannounced. This will show you how clean the facilities are regularly or how the staff to resident ratio is at any given time. Again, is the facility has an issue with unannounced visits, it is best to remove that dementia care facility from your short-list.
Other things to look for on the visit is the happiness levels of staff, cleanliness of the rooms, the happiness of residents, and the overall ‘feel’ of the place. Don’t be afraid to trust your gut instinct when choosing a facility. Make sure that a facility feels like a home and not a glorified hospital.
Check to see the type of activities that the long-term care facility has for residents. The calendar should be full when it comes to more extensive facilities. You should be able to find the list of activities on their website or social media account. Make sure that these activities match the interests of your loved one before committing.
Step #5: Remember that it is okay to Change Your mind Moving is challenging for a resident and their family, but if you find that you have made the wrong choice, don’t be afraid to move. It is better to make a mistake early in the process than to live with a bad mistake for years. Remember, you have a short-list of facilities, and you can choose the other ones that you passed over. Don’t be ashamed to move your loved one. It is likely for the best.
When you follow these steps for choosing long-term care, you will find the process is more natural than you thought it would be when your family first received a dementia diagnosis. For additional information on dementia care services visit Emerson House Boise, our staff is willing to help you through this process and help your loved one find the best care available.
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