3 Facts About Memory Care You Didn’t Know

 

What makes memory care different from assisted living? Both services are very similar in the sense that they are designed to enhance seniors’ quality of living in a community. There are, however, differences that are pretty significant as seniors with memory loss conditions require more comprehensive care. Our Tapestries® memory care team in Pitman, NJ has compiled the three major differences between the two senior care services. Read on and you may just be surprised to learn something new!

Fact #1: Memory care associates are specially trained.

Seniors struggling with dementia experience stress differently than those without dementia. This condition changes the brain’s ability to process everyday happenings, so it’s very important that seniors with dementia are able to relieve stress effectively each and every day. Caregivers to those with memory loss conditions have to familiarize themselves with effective stress-relievers, since they may differ greatly from what works for seniors without dementia.

In our Tapestries memory care neighborhood, Life Enrichment Team Specialists (LETS) are well versed in the latest dementia training, including many different methods that help residents alleviate stress. Some strategies may include having the resident listen to music from their era, engage in activities of movement that require their full attention, or put them in a social situation. Seniors with advanced dementia may become confused and disoriented, causing loud outbursts or inappropriate physical movement. These moments must be addressed but handled gently, and with infinite patience. In this way, our team prevents your loved ones from hurting themselves or others until they return to a calmer state.

Fact #2: Our Memory care apartments are dementia-safe.

Slightly different than our apartments in assisted living, apartments in the Tapestries Memory Care neighborhood are designed to be completely dementia-safe and easier for residents to navigate. Apartments do not have kitchens that could cause injury – for example, if your loved one was to leave the stove on. All memory care apartments are also located within the same wing of the building so that it is much easier for these residents to convene in safe, common areas and for specially trained staff to monitor them.

Fact #3: Care is dependent on the person – it’s not one-size-fits-all.

Understandably, seniors with dementia require more support than those who are more independent. While our community offers assisted living residents assistance with ADLs (activities of daily living), meal plans, and access to social activities, memory care is more intensive. Our specially trained memory care team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for those in the Tapestries neighborhood. They also fully understand the importance of having your loved one with dementia engage in a routine that makes sense to them. This core philosophy of our program encourages each resident to direct their own schedule. Since our team is always available, residents can eat when hungry, and sleep when tired – they don’t have to follow the assisted living dining schedule.

Dementia support for seniors in Gloucester County

At UMC at Pitman, our Tapestries® memory care neighborhood has a welcoming, dementia-safe apartments where seniors can enjoy their hobbies, release their tension, and have meaningful and engaging experiences every day. Residents make their own choices and are able to direct their schedule and life at Pitman. With our Life Enrichment Team Specialists on site 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we can ensure your loved one is safe, secure, and well taken care of in our specialty neighborhood.

If your loved one is showing early signs of dementia and you are having difficulty caring for them, please call us to find out whether a move to a dedicated memory care neighborhood is the right choice. To learn more about professional memory care in Gloucester County, please visit our website at: https://umcommunities.org/pitman/

This blog was originally published at https://umcommunities.org/pitman/blog/3-facts-about-memory-care-you-didnt-know/

The Difference Between Forgetfulness and Dementia

Forgetfulness and dementia reflect our cognitive health, which is the ability to think, learn, and remember clearly. It is normal to be a bit forgetful as we age. If you cannot immediately recall a word you want or mislaid the car keys, do not be concerned. Occasional forgetfulness doesn’t necessarily mean your cognitive health is at risk. Dementia, on the other hand, is not a normal part of aging.

Dementia is the loss of cognitive function to such an extent that it interferes with daily activities and life. The personalities of some people with dementia may change, or they have difficulty controlling their emotions. The most common forms of dementia are Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular dementia, and mixed dementia.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a milder form of cognitive function loss. People with MCI have more thinking or memory problems than the average person their age, but it does not affect their daily activities to the extent that dementia would.

Are you wondering what normal forgetfulness is, how to deal with it, and when you should visit the doctor? This guide might answer some of your questions.

What’s normal forgetfulness and what’s not?

As previously stated, it is normal to forget things at times. A serious memory problem, however, will affect your daily life, making it hard to perform activities such as using the phone, driving, and even finding the way home.

If you feel concerned about any changes in thinking or memory, either your own or that of a loved one, talk to your doctor. To prepare for your conversation, compare what is normal forgetfulness with what might be signs of dementia, and a condition like Alzheimer’s disease.

Normal forgetfulness	Alzheimer’s disease
Forgetting which day it is but remembering later	Losing track of the date or time of year
Losing belongings from time to time	Misplacing items often and being unable to find them
Making a bad decision once in a while	Making poor decisions and bad judgments a lot of the time
Missing one monthly payment	Struggling to take care of monthly bills
Sometimes forgetting which word to use	Trouble having a conversation

Tips for dealing with forgetfulness

When you are concerned about forgetfulness, there are many constructive steps you can take to manage it. Here are some tips for dealing with forgetfulness.

• Sleep at least seven to eight hours every night.
• Eat healthy foods and do moderate exercise.
• Enjoy lots of time with family and friends.
• Volunteer at a school, in your community, or a place of worship.
• Place your glasses, phone, keys, purse, or wallet in the same place every day.
• Make to-do lists and make notes on calendars as a reminder.
• Learn a new skill, especially if it is something you always dreamed of doing.

When to visit the doctor for memory loss

Memory loss can have many possible causes. It could be due to depression, a lack of vitamins from unhealthy eating, a stressful life event, or the side-effects of medication. When you are concerned about memory loss, talk to your doctor. They may suggest a thorough checkup, perform tests and assessments, and even recommend a visit to a neurologist, if necessary. 

When you or a loved one demonstrate certain behaviors, a doctor’s visit becomes essential. These behaviors include:

• Getting lost in familiar settings.
• Becoming more confused about people, time, and places.
• Not taking care of oneself by not bathing, eating poorly, or behaving unsafely. 
• Having trouble following directions, instructions, or recipes.
• Asking the same question repeatedly. 

The cause of dementia is often unknown, and there is no treatment. Early detection is valuable because an early diagnosis helps with managing the symptoms and planning for the future.

For more information, or if you have any questions about forgetfulness and dementia, please contact our team at UMC today. We look forward to hearing from you.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/forgetfulness-and-dementia/