Q and A: Memory Care in Assisted Living

Q and A: Memory Care in Assisted Living

Question: My Mom is acting differently than she ever has. She’s forgetful, becomes easily flustered and, sometimes doesn’t seem to know what’s going on around her. I’m afraid she might have Alzheimer’s disease. What can you tell me about it? Where can I turn for help?

Answer: The American Heritage Dictionary defines the term “dementia” as the “deterioration of intellectual faculties, such as memory, concentration and judgment, resulting from an organic disease or a disorder of the brain. It is sometimes accompanied by emotional disturbance and personality change.”

What that means is people with dementia may forget things more often and they experience something new and not remember it later. They may have difficulty performing multi-step tasks or forget simple words and substitute incorrect ones. They may become disoriented to time or place and wander off or misplace things, like putting their hair dryer in the refrigerator. Their judgment may decrease so they wear several shirts at the same time. Their moods, behaviors and personality can change rapidly and drastically.

Dementia is caused by a variety of diseases or conditions, including Parkinson’s and heart attacks, but Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause. Some dementia is related to depression, drug interaction, thyroid and other problems and may be reversible if detected early. So, identifying the cause is an important step in receiving proper care.

Your family physician may be able to recommend a neurologist or other medical specialist who focuses on memory impairment. With a proper diagnosis, you’ll be better able to seek out the care and assistance your mother needs and wants.

Luckily there are a lot more dementia care resources available today. The Alzheimer’s Association is one of the best known and you can find a local chapter by calling 1-800-272-3900 or visiting www.alz.org. The National Family Caregivers Association, at 800-896-3650 or www.nfcacares.org, also provides information for family members who are caring for their loved ones. And doctors, hospital discharge planners and case managers often are able to provide recommendations.

Many assisted living communities provide dementia or memory care in these residences. They may offer family support groups, respite care and other resources in addition to becoming home for someone with dementia. If you decide a dementia care community is best for you, look for one with lots of on-going activities and special safety features, like alarmed entrances and exists.

The best communities have caring and competent staff who understand dementing illnesses. They’ll use a wide variety of methods to communicate with residents and easily handle challenging behaviors, like agitation, repetitive questions or pacing. They’ll respond to residents’ emotional and physical needs and, most importantly, they will consistently treat them with dignity and respect.

Hank Fisher Properties offers memory care at The Garden at both the Chateau at River’s Edge and the Chateau at Carmichael Park. The latter community also offers a memory day program.