Choosing a Dementia Care Facility

When choosing a dementia care facility, you have many options. Deciding who will care for your loved one can seem overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be.

Knowing what to look for and what questions to ask can give you confidence in making one of the most important decisions of your life.

Alzheimer’s disease and other related dementias can affect memory, judgment, language, motor skills, perception, thinking and/or behavior. These symptoms can become more challenging as the disease progresses, making it increasingly more difficult to care for a loved one at home.

Before starting your search for a dementia care facility, it is helpful to understand what makes dementia care different and the differences between assisted living and a nursing home.

Photo courtesy of James L. West Center for Dementia Care

How will I know when it’s time for memory care?

Safety is the reason most families decide it’s time to move their loved one into full-time dementia care. Both physical and emotional safety are important to consider when seeking full-time dementia care.

“It’s about the safety of the person living with dementia, and it’s about the safety of the caregiver,” said Hollie Glover, director of education and family support services for the James L. West Center for Dementia Care.

Caregiver health is the next most common reason families seek a full-time dementia care solution. Caregivers often sacrifice their health to care for their loved one and it takes a toll on their own physical and mental health.

Photo courtesy of James L. West Center for Dementia Care

What is memory care?

A memory care facility provides specialized care and support for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Staff receive training to develop an understanding of disease progression, the specialized care it requires and how to deal with challenging behaviors that may be present.

Dementia care may be provided in a community setting, at a day program or in the home. Which option is right for you depends on where your loved one is in the disease process and your ability to provide for their needs at home.

Photo courtesy of James L. West Center for Dementia Care

What is the difference between assisted living and a nursing home?

Residents in assisted living are generally active but need additional assistance with everyday tasks, such as bathing, toileting, dressing and completing other routine tasks.

Dementia-specialized assisted living will also provide additional cueing needed to help people with cognitive impairment. They do not provide nursing care as the disease progresses.

Nursing homes, or healthcare centers, provide long-term medical care for adults with serious health issues. Healthcare centers that specialize in dementia receive additional training to equip caregivers for the special challenges that come with providing dementia care.

In both settings, activities are geared toward the cognitive and physical abilities of the individual residents. Care and cost vary greatly between the two types of care.

Photo courtesy of James L. West Center for Dementia Care

Do your homework; narrow down your options

Contact your local Alzheimer’s Association and ask for a list of dementia care options in your area. Research your options by visiting their websites, checking out their social media presence, and talking to your friends to see if they have experiences with any of the options.

Make a list of the communities you want to learn more about. Contact each by phone or email to make an in-person or virtual appointment to get your initial questions answered. That initial response will be your first impression of the community.

When setting an initial appointment, you may also ask to meet with the executive director, director of nursing, medical director or social worker to get to know who will make the decisions that impact your loved one’s care.

Photo courtesy of James L. West Center for Dementia Care

Questions to ask a dementia care facility

When you’re considering a dementia care community, you’ll have lots of questions. It’s best to write down a list of the questions you want to ask so you don’t forget to ask any of them when you meet with the marketing and admissions counselor or other team members.

Here are some questions to consider putting on your list:

• Does your community have any special designations or certifications to care for people with dementia? What are the requirements to maintain that certification?
• What is your care approach? How are individual care plans developed?
• What specialized training does staff receive in dementia care?
• What are your staffing ratios?
• What are the procedures for medical emergencies? How do you determine if my loved one needs to be transferred to the ER?
• Can my loved one continue to see their physician? Do you have a designated physician?
• What are the costs associated with memory care?
• How are meals served?
• How do you determine placement in your community? For example, are residents grouped by cognitive abilities?
• How do you communicate with families? Can we expect regular communication about our loved one?
• What amenities and services are offered? Are there additional costs for these services?

Evaluating your dementia care facility tour

When considering a dementia care facility, always take a tour. What you experience with your five senses is as important as the answers the admissions director gives you during the inquiry process.

As you walk through the community, consider:

• Do the residents appear to be happy and engaged?
• Do the staff seem interested in caring for the residents?
• Are the staff friendly and acknowledge you as you walk through?
• What do you see? Are there aviaries, aquariums or other pets? Do you see secure and inviting outdoor spaces, comfortable sitting areas, and evidence of music and life?
• What do you smell? Are meals prepared near resident rooms so the enticing smells reach the residents?
• What do you hear? Is there laughter and joy? Is there music?
• Does it appear that care was taken in designing the space for people with cognitive and mobility issues?

What you learn and experience will help you determine the community that you are most comfortable entrusting to care for your loved one.

The James L. West Center for Dementia Care welcomes tours of the Senior Day Program and residential care. Fort Worth’s oldest and most comprehensive dementia care community, James L. West offers caregiver education, caregiver support groups, a senior day program, respite care, long-term residential care and overnight respite care.

For information about the James L. West Center for Dementia Care, visit our website at www.JamesLWest.org or call 877-817-1199.