A dementia diagnosis can feel devastating. For family members, it's often followed by the difficult decision of when to move your loved one to memory care. Remaining at home with a dementia diagnosis may not be possible because of the safety risks that come with memory issues. At Bethesda Gardens in Loveland, our memory care community offers many benefits for someone with a dementia diagnosis.
Living at home, a person with dementia could wander outside and could be in danger of serious injury. Someone with memory issues might also leave the stove on, leave doors unlocked or forget other things that put them at risk. Memory care communities are designed securely to create a safe, controlled environment where residents aren't in danger. Your loved one can move around within the community without wandering into unsafe areas.
Because of the security features in memory care communities, residents can enjoy maximum independence based on individual situations. They can do everyday activities within the community without the extra risks that come with living alone. For residents, this can help them feel at ease and help them live a more fulfilling life. For family members, it's often a relief to know your loved one can live a more independent life without you constantly worrying about them being safe.
Created to replicate a home environment, memory care communities often have a neighborhood ambiance to make residents feel at ease. They might have private accommodations so they can have their own space while being surrounded by others. Secure shared indoor and outdoor spaces add to residents' comfort. Memory care communities are typically designed to be easy for residents to navigate while minimizing confusion to add to the comfort level.
Memory care communities include daily group and individual activities tailored to people with memory loss. These activities are designed to be engaging and cognitively appropriate. They're often meant to support memory health while being fun and interactive. At Bethesda Gardens in Loveland, we create experiences that stimulate the senses with things like gardens, animals and music. All these experiences help residents feel connected and give them ways to stay active and engaged.
Dementia affects every person differently, which is why memory care offers personalized care based on each person's needs. Residents have memory care plans that address things like diet, hygiene and activities to ensure they get the specific attention and care they need. Staff members are highly trained and know how to adjust the care and interactions they have with each resident based on their situation. As a resident's situation changes, the staff members adjust the care plan to match their new needs. Memory care communities like Bethesda Gardens in Loveland are staffed 24 hours a day to ensure your loved one has constant, individualized care.
Residents receive various types of care in a memory community. They receive assistance with daily tasks like bathing and getting dressed based on the individualized care plan. Staff members also pay close attention to changes in residents, so they can identify when someone needs additional medical care. Bethesda Gardens in Loveland also offers medication management, chronic condition monitoring, on-site rehabilitation, on-site podiatry care and therapy services. Having these on-site options makes your loved one's overall care easier and keeps everything well-coordinated.
In a memory care community, your loved one is surrounded by others who are in similar situations. Social interactions are often limited when someone ages in place, with or without a dementia diagnosis, which can feel lonely and isolating. Memory care residents often participate in group activities and spend time together in common areas. Your loved one also has interactions with highly trained staff members who understand how to make these interactions meaningful. This can help combat loneliness and support cognitive health. Residents also have the option to spend time alone, so your loved one can control their interactions to meet their needs and preferences.
If you're caring for someone with a dementia diagnosis, you often carry a lot of the weight from the situation. Being a caregiver is often challenging, especially if your loved one is aggressive or uncooperative, and you're constantly worried about their safety. Coordinating things like home care and doctor's appointments can be time-consuming and stressful.
When your loved one moves to memory care, those stressful responsibilities transfer to the care team there. You get to go back to your previous role as a family member and not a caregiver. You'll still have worries about your loved one's health and future, but you can focus your time on loving and supporting that person without the stressful duties. It can often help improve those family relationships.
Memory care can be beneficial financially as well. Bethesda Gardens in Loveland is an all-inclusive community, so you don't have additional fees for care. That predictable cost can make it easier to budget for your loved one's care. To keep a loved one with dementia at home, you'll likely need to make expensive modifications, and you might need to hire home health care professionals. Missing work to care for your loved one can also add to the financial burden.
