If you are a north Texas caregiver for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s disease, the day might come when you need to find a Memory Care assisted living community for them. Knowing what to ask, what look for and how to compare one dementia care provider with another can be tough to do.
We’ve pulled together a few tips we think will help you get started.
5 Tips for Evaluating North Texas Memory Care Communities
Asking these questions as you visit each community on your senior loved one’s behalf will help you assess if it is a good fit:
- What is the community’s philosophy of care? There are a variety of approaches dementia care providers utilize. Some that are industry standards and others are approaches the company has developed on their own. Does the community use a resident-centered approach? Do they follow the Montessori Method or the Greenhouse model? Learning more about each one can help you decide which is best for your senior loved one.
- How does the community help residents with Alzheimer’s maintain their independence? Research shows that allowing people who have Alzheimer’s disease to do as much as they can safely do for themselves may help slow the progression of the disease. Having life enrichment activities and a physical plant that support memory loss are among the best ways to do that.
- How will the community honor your loved one’s life story? For many families, the loss of dignity and self-worth caused by Alzheimer’s disease is devastating. Most want to find a community that will honor all that their loved one is and has been. Families want a care provider that will see past the disease to the person struggling inside.
- How will the community get to know your family member? Because Alzheimer’s often robs seniors of their verbal communication skills, it can be difficult for them to share information or answer questions. This can be troubling for families who will be leaving their loved one in a new environment filled with strangers. How does the community gather important personal information and preferences (i.e. food choices, interests, sleeping times) and share it with caregiving team members?
- How does the community staff help residents make a smooth transition? A change in environment can be extremely difficult for people with memory loss. It makes moving very stressful. How does each community help new residents safely adjust to the change?
Our final tip is to seek expert advice. If you live in the Dallas or Fort Worth areas, we can help. We can share our insider knowledge of the local memory care communities and help you make an informed choice. Call us at 214-929-5055 to get started.
Senior Living Specialists is a free service for seniors and their families. We are compensated by a referral fee when a senior moves into a community or care home.
