What is Memory Care?
Memory Care communities are long-term residential facilities that specialize in caring for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other cognitive decline issues. Like Assisted Living, these communities include general services like housekeeping, dining, activities, and transportation as well as nursing services to help with activities of daily living like bathing, hygiene, mobility, medication, and dressing. What differentiates Memory Care from general Assisted Living communities is the emphasis on providing structure and a safe environment for seniors struggling with cognitive decline.
Basic Services
- Housekeeping: Staff cleans rooms and facilities for residents
- Meal service: Options for both sit-in dining and room delivery, Assisted Living facilities are required to provide three meals a day to residents
- Transportation: Communities provide transportation for residents for things like groceries, medical check-ups, and community events
- Social activities: Assisted Living communities often direct a variety of activities like bingo, holiday events, church services, exercise, yoga, card games, invited speakers, and others
- Home Maintenance: Staff to help with appliances, plumbing, air conditioning, and other maintenance issues
Caregiving Services
- Mobility: help with getting in and out of bed, walking, and navigating the facility
- Dressing: simple help with buttoning to help with full dressing every day
- Medication: reminders for residents to take prescribed medications
- Grooming and hygiene: help with shaving, bathing, using the restroom, and other hygiene assistance
Each resident will have particular needs in each of these areas and a care plan is developed based on the level of care necessary for you.
Specifics of Memory Care
In addition to basic services and caregiving, Memory Care communities provide added structures to ensure the safety of their residents. While in Assisted Living, residents are generally expected to manage their own time, in Memory Care residents are guided throughout their day and are checked in on more regularly. This guidance gives routine to daily life that is necessary for managing stress for seniors with cognitive decline issues. Staff is specially trained to assist those suffering from dementia and facilities can be designed to prevent wandering by having lockable doors and frequent monitoring.
Memory care is more restrictive than regular Assisted Living and residents are not allowed to drive or leave the facility without a caregiver or family member.
Memory Care Regulations
Memory Care facilities require licensing from the state by fulfilling certain requirements, including medical care and checkups, maintenance of medical records, providing meals and general services, allowing resident privacy, and other requirements. Memory Care facilities are subject to state regulation and monitoring according to the guidelines for specialty care assisted living facilities.
Seniors who apply to Memory Care will undergo a physical examination and review of medical history to determine their care requirements and diagnose health problems. Prospective residents cannot have open wounds and will be tested for tuberculosis before admittance. Residents also can not have a chronic illness requiring skilled nursing care or need continuous medical care for a period longer than 90 days.
Cost of Memory Care
Memory Care facilities in Madison County typically range in price between $6,000 and $8,000 a month. The cost will vary depending on location, quality of the facility, and the level of care required by the resident. Memory care is not covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
What to Look for in a Memory Care Community
When deciding which community is best for you or a loved one, it is important to keep in mind what is most important in a living environment for you and what your level of need is.
Amenities vary between communities. Patio areas, indoor common areas, chapels for church services, dining rooms, libraries, recreational rooms, quality suites with comfortable living conditions, gardens, and exercise rooms are all things to look for when considering which facility is right for you.
Getting to know other residents and staff to make sure they’re a good fit for you can also ensure that you can find a community that you can engage with. Some communities offer temporary stays that can help you familiarize yourself with the community before committing to a long-term stay. The quality of services also varies, so it’s important to make sure of the quality of housekeeping, meals and meal service, and maintenance before committing to a community.
It’s a good idea to check out the activities offered as communities can have a wide range of options. Guided exercises, yoga, educational events, church services, games, holiday events, group trips, and other social activities may be available.
Memory Care Communities in Madison County
Brookdale Hampton Cove
Survey:
https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/brookdale%20%20hampton%20cove%203.13.19.pdf
Grandview at Redstone Village
Survey:
HarborChase
Survey:
Heritage
Survey:
https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/heritage%20memory%20care%204.10.19.pdf
Merrill Gardens of Madison
Survey:
Regency Retirement Village
Survey:
Madison At the Range
Survey:
Thrive at Jones Farm
Survey:
https://dph1.adph.state.al.us/DeficienciesReports/thrive%20at%20jones%20farm%20scalf%207.11.19.pdf