If you have a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia, you may be looking at memory care in Dacula, GA. Memory care communities are designed specifically to care for those with memory-related diseases since they require a specific set of care needs.
Before deciding if memory care or at-home care is the best option for your loved one, you will want to understand the key differences when it comes to caregiver involvement for both options. So, keep reading to find out what caregivers provide at memory care communities vs at-home care.
24/7 Care
A memory care, Dacula, GA community provides 24/7 care for all the residents. This is something that you may not get if you choose an at-home care option for your loved one. A memory care community allows residents to live on the campus so that they have consistent access to 24/7 care from qualified caregivers. If they need anything at any time, there will always be someone available to provide assistance.
Having caregivers available constantly also helps to take the burden off your shoulders since this is no longer your job or the job of an at-home caregiver. Constant care and supervision ensure better safety and a higher level of care for those in various stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Additional Security
One of the top concerns when it comes to caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s or dementia is the level of security they need. Depending on how extensive the disease is, they may require 24/7 security to keep them safe and within the supervision of the caregivers.
When you choose at-home care, security can be difficult since your loved one is still living in their home. A residential home is not designed with the necessary security features and will always have some hazards, no matter what you do. On the other hand, at a memory care community, the campus is designed with security in mind so the residents are kept safe at all times.
Memory care communities have safety features such as secure doors, alarms, emergency call systems, etc.
Daily Enrichment
A very important part of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or dementia is helping to slow the progression of this disease. One way to do this is with daily enrichment, which helps to keep their mind engaged and active.
With at-home care options, this is usually more focused on the daily necessities your loved one needs for their quality of life. The care isn’t necessarily focused on keeping them engaged or entertained like it is at a memory care community.
At a memory care community, like Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill, the caregivers can provide things like meaningful connections and enriching activities. This ensures that residents get the socialization and individual attention that they need for an improved quality of life.
Caregiving Community
As beneficial as at-home care can be, it can also be quite limiting when it comes to the caregiver involvement your loved one receives. Most of the time, they will only have one or two caregivers who take care of them regularly.
In a memory care community, there is a team of caregivers on constant rotation who care for the residents. They are highly trained when it comes to memory-related diseases and have specific tasks regarding caring for the residents.
Your loved one will get to know their caregivers and form relationships with them, enriching their day-to-day life. This will also help you to maintain a stronger connection with the care your loved one is receiving since you can get to know the caregivers and better understand what your loved one needs.
When Is a Memory Care Community Necessary?
Caring for a loved one who has Alzheimer’s or dementia is a very unique challenge. One of the hardest parts of this process is recognizing when your loved one may need to live in a memory care community. Many times, this will become necessary as their disease progresses, causing more extensive memory loss and care needs. Here are some examples of when you may need to consider a community instead of care at home.
Extensive Care Needs
Those with memory-related diseases will often have different stages of progression, which causes their care needs to also progress. For instance, you may have started as your loved ones' main caregiver until what they required extended to beyond what you could provide.
In many instances, even hiring at-home caregivers has its limitations unless you can afford 24/7 care. Even then, the care that is provided has limitations since your loved one won’t have as many resources when they live at home.
If your loved one requires things like 24/7 care, constant security, or special medical care, you may want to consider a community.
Security Concerns
Some residents with memory-related diseases require extensive security measures to keep them safe. Some may try to leave their home or get access to hazardous items if they are left unsupervised.
If your loved one has started to show more security concerns, you may have to consider a move to a memory care community. In one of these communities, they will receive constant security and supervision with security features that a normal home cannot provide.
Staying at Home vs Senior Living Guide
Deciding to move your loved one to a memory care community is difficult, especially if you don’t know which option is the right one. At-home care has its place and can be very beneficial, but it does have limitations that you need to consider.
At Arbor Terrace Hamilton Mill, we go above and beyond when providing the best living arrangements and safety features for our residents. For more resources on stay-at-home vs senior care, check out this free guide.
