When your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia would be best supported by memory care at this point, you may be wondering how to choose the community. Although memory care in Hillsborough Township is designed to nurture those with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia by providing specially-trained staff and a supportive, safe environment, not all communities are alike. That’s why it’s important to visit more than one community to compare. As you tour, here are the memory care questions to ask to find the best fit for your loved one.
What to Expect in a Memory Care Community
If you haven’t considered memory care in Hillsborough Township before, it’s helpful to know what to expect as a baseline when you compare communities. In fact, this is one of the top memory care questions asked. Memory care is a type of senior living that is designed just for those with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. In memory care communities like ours, you’ll find 24-hour supervised care, and our residents enjoy a safe, comforting environment plus opportunities to be active, have a purpose, and experience joy each day.
Typically, memory care communities feature:
- Private or semi-private accommodations
- An onsite registered nursing team
- Medication monitoring
- Support with daily tasks such as bathing, dressing, and eating
- Three daily meals
- Fitness programs and social activities
- Housekeeping and linen services
- Secured building access and personal emergency response alarms
Download our complimentary Just the Facts Guide to Memory Care today!
Memory Care Questions to Ask When Touring Communities
Ideally, when searching for memory care in Hillsborough Township, you’ll want to tour up to three communities. As you consider memory care questions to ask, it’s important to make sure you’re asking the same ones in each community, so it’s easier to compare them. These memory care questions are a good starting point to help you find the best fit for your loved one.
- What level of personal assistance can memory care residents expect?
- What are the qualification requirements for the staff?
- Are staff members offered additional or continuous training opportunities?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio in the memory care community both day and night?
- What are the monthly costs for housing and care, and what services are included in those costs?
- Are the rooms private or semi-private, and what are the differences in cost for each?
- How is the memory care community secured?
- What is the typical daily routine for residents?
- Can the memory care community accommodate special dietary restrictions or requests?
- Is dining assistance offered for memory care residents?
- What programs (exercise, physical therapy, social and other activities) are offered?
- Does the community accommodate special needs, such as diabetic care, mobility issues, aggressiveness, or wandering?
- How are residents with differing cognitive ailments grouped for activities?
- How does the memory care community handle medical emergencies?
- How often are housekeeping and laundry services provided?
- How often do residents leave the community for outside activities?
- How often can friends and family visit?
- What’s the best way for friends and family to receive updates on a loved one’s well-being?
- What is the policy for discharging a resident from the community?
Memory Care Questions to Ask Your Family
Determining the best memory care community for your loved one is a decision only your family can make. What works for someone else may not be the best fit for your family, and there is no right or wrong answer. However, we feel it ultimately comes down to where your loved one will be able to make the most of life. This goes beyond safety and care; to whether they have enough social stimulation as well as opportunities to stay active and to find purpose. When considering memory care questions to ask, as a family, you might want to ask yourselves a few things as well, like where you feel the most peace of mind for your loved one, where you think you can still be an active partner in their care, and where you all can spend enough quality time as their son, daughter, husband or wife versus their caregiver.
For more information on enriching the lives of memory care residents, download our Just the Facts Guide to Memory Care today! Or contact us today to schedule a tour.
