Dementia care offers more than just a safe place for your loved one to spend their senior years. It can change lives. In the right community, your loved one will get the support and compassion they need, plenty of activities, high-quality food, and a daily routine specifically tailored to the unique abilities and needs of people living with dementia. Yet many people still consider dementia care to be scary and mysterious. These dementia care FAQs help demystify dementia care communities so you and your loved one can both get the support you need.
There’s a huge stigma about senior living communities, due in large part to the nursing homes and institutions of the past. But today’s dementia care communities are nothing like those of the past. They're warm, inviting neighborhoods where your loved one can embrace their full potential and never feel alone or isolated. You’re not abandoning them; you’re opening them up to new options they could never get at home.
It can be helpful to compare life at home to life in dementia care communities. Even in the best-case scenario — which few families are able to make a reality — your loved one will be limited to a few caregivers and whatever activities they can dream up. In a dementia care community, your loved one has constant access to friends, support, and meaningful activities. You just can’t get the sort of quality care you get in senior living at home.
Dementia can feel terrifying, especially as your loved one becomes more confused. People with dementia thrive on routine and consistency. It’s nearly impossible to get that level of consistency at home. In a dementia care community, your loved one will stick to a comfortable, safe routine, as well as fun activities to enjoy every day. You can visit as often as you like, and we’ll help you find new ways to connect. That’s a recipe for a better life, greater happiness, and less caregiver guilt.
Dementia is more than just memory loss. Dementia is brain failure, and when the brain fails, so do other systems in the body. Your loved one may struggle with incontinence, swallowing, mobility, and most other physical functions. The right dementia care community supports your loved one’s efforts to remain as healthy as possible with:
Want to learn more about living well with dementia? Check out our free guide, “Comparing Dementia Care and Living Options.”