By Sue Sveum
Senior living means something different to each of us. For some, it may be remaining at home alone — or with a caregiver (often a spouse, partner or adult child) — with or without additional care. It could mean downsizing to an independent senior apartment or assisted living community, where care can be added when needed.
But finding — or planning for — the right care solution is especially important when you or a loved one has memory loss. It’s crucial to find a memory care community designed specifically to care for and enrich the lives of those facing dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other memory issues – in a safe and secure environment. Here’s a look at some local options.
Making Every Day a Purposeful Day
Those with dementia enjoy the familiar — and tend to function better when kept to a routine schedule. With that in mind, Renaissance Senior Living of Hilldale utilizes a dementia- specific enrichment program called a Purposeful Day to enhance the daily lives of residents.
Memory Care Versus In-Home Options
Trying to decide whether to move your loved one to a memory care community is always a hard decision. There’s a lot to consider — including finances, mental and physical health, and how the decision will affect your relationship.
Catholic Charities’ CompanionCare Provides Assistance at Home
Many older adults prefer to stay in their own home as long as they can, but that isn’t always possible — especially for those with dementia. Enter Catholic Charities CompanionCare program.
Connecting When a Loved One Has Dementia
When someone has dementia, their ability to reason and present rational ideas starts to change. “When they’re less able to communicate, they may get frustrated and their behavior can become challenging or difficult to understand,” says Felicia Baccam, of Visiting Angels home care. “One day you go from being someone’s spouse or child to being their caregiver.”
