Considering memory care for a spouse or loved one can be confusing. You want to make the decision that feels right. It’s only natural to wrestle with feelings of guilt over whether you should try home care instead. But once you understand what is unique about memory care, and how it can benefit both your loved one and your family, you can have confidence that it is an excellent choice.
At Peregrine Senior Living, we realize that just because someone is in need of memory care, that doesn’t mean their personal growth and development has to end. The Peregrine Way™ is our unique approach that helps improve the quality of life for residents and their families through unsurpassed care.
Making The Right Choice: What Happens in Memory Care
Design reinforces care & safety.
A memory care setting is purpose-built for resident comfort and well-being. It is designed to prevent wandering in order to lessen confusion and prevent injury or harm. In contrast, positive wayfinding—successfully reaching a destination and having a sense of achievement—is encouraged by features such as prominent signage and familiar landmarks. Other safety measures include locking exterior doors and securing outdoor courtyard and garden areas.
Routine soothes and reinforces.
What happens in memory care is something that is very important for your loved one—and that is routine. Practicing an activity regularly, whether physical or mental, may increase the likelihood of that ability remaining. In addition, repeated activities with familiar caregivers can increase self-esteem and confidence. In The Peregrine Way™,caregivers build special bonds with each person, helping to reinforce each success.
Specially trained team around the clock.
Anyone who has cared for a loved one with memory issues at home knows that it is a 24-hour assignment, one that can feel overwhelming. In a memory care setting in senior living, your loved one has the advantage of professional caregivers on site around the clock, so that when needs occur, someone is always there. Trying to provide that level of care at home can be exhausting and frustrating.
Familiar setting eases agitation.
Helping a person with dementia or Alzheimer’s have a sense of familiarity is important for quality of life. The goal is to create a sense of home, but without the daily stresses and disruptions. What happens in memory care is a total focus on helping each resident feel safe and comfortable and at ease. This can include being sure spaces are clearly marked, proper lighting is used, noise is reduced, and resident rooms are comfortable, inviting, and identified by personalized items.
Good nutrition and a focus on wellness.
Dining can be a challenge for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Too many choices, changes in taste and smell, and distractions can be difficult to overcome. In a Peregrine senior living community, meals are served in a quiet, calm dining area with simple table settings and soothing colors. Caregivers are available to assist and residents have the advantage of dining with others, which can encourage eating. Everything is geared around wellness of mind, body, and spirit.
Specialized programming connects with the past.
In a memory care setting, residents regularly engage in social activities designed to stimulate their minds and help keep them connected. Examples can be music therapy, pet therapy, art therapy, reminiscence therapy, and more. The Peregrine Way™identifies opportunities to engage your loved one’s long-term memory on their own terms. It’s an innovative approach that uses their meaningful past to help forge a brighter present and future.
Personal assistance frees you to connect.
Trying to care for a loved one with memory issues at home is a 24-hour job that tests even the strongest and best-intentioned family members. Memory care offers the important advantage of a specially trained care team who knows how to interact with your loved one, both verbally and non-verbally, and can take care of treatment needs. So you can go back to being a spouse, son, daughter, or friend. At Peregrine senior living, we are interested in improving the quality of life for not only your loved one, but for your entire family.
At Peregrine Senior Living, we are here to help you.
If you are serving as the primary caregiver for your loved one, it can be a stressful and overwhelming role. If you find yourself seeking a better solution, it might be time to consider a memory care community.
Contact us today and download our free Motivated Living Blue Zones guide. Learn more about The Peregrine Way™. Contact us today. We are here to help you.
