Most families in Tinton Falls use a combination of dementia care options to meet the changing needs of a loved one as dementia progresses. Family members might provide the bulk of care early on. Later, as care needs become more advanced, family caregivers often look for a long-term dementia care provider.
Determining what level of care your loved one needs at any given time can be difficult. Then, finding a quality dementia care provider in Tinton Falls can be daunting. Undergoing a care needs assessment from a memory clinic or a memory care provider like Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury will help determine what level of care you or your loved one needs now, as well as in the future.
Is Dementia Care or Memory Care Right for You or Your Loved One?
There are many factors to consider when determining if memory care is the right option for you or your loved one. Individual care needs and the ability of family caregivers to meet those needs are two major factors.
Family caregivers might use a combination of dementia care options to meet their loved one’s care needs in a practical way. Early on, it’s usually safe for individuals in the early stages of dementia to remain in their homes so long as a family member checks in on a daily basis.
Experts warn that signs it might be time for more help include:
- Gazing in cupboards and refrigerators instead of preparing and eating meals
- Struggling to keep up with personal hygiene
- Not choosing weather-appropriate clothes, struggling to dress independently
As dementia care needs increase, family caregivers might need to supplement care with an in-home care provider or adult day programs. Eventually, 24-hour care and supervision will be required.
Three-quarters of people with dementia receive care from a family member or friend, studies show. Most family members find providing care to be an enriching experience, but providing care comes at a cost and grows increasingly difficult. AARP has found that family caregivers spend nearly $7,000 per year on out-of-pocket expenses, not including foregone career opportunities. Added strain also makes family caregivers more susceptible to emotional, mental, and physical health conditions over time.
When determining if dementia care or memory care is right for a loved one, the needs of family caregivers must be factored into the equation as well.
What to Look for
The benefits of memory care are becoming clearer. Finding quality dementia care in Tinton Falls can actually improve dementia treatment outcomes by enhancing quality of life; slowing cognitive decline; and reducing behavioral disturbances like anger, aggression, and wandering.
Dementia care or memory care is usually located within a larger assisted living community. Residents receive 24-hour supervision and care from staff with specialized dementia care training in a safe, secure, apartment-like setting. Here’s what you should look for in quality dementia care in Tinton Falls:
- Individual Care Plans: Nutritional Support: Eating becomes more and more challenging for people with dementia, and their health can deteriorate because of this. Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury in Tinton Falls, for example, offers a trademark Dining with Dignity® program that’s specifically designed to overcome food-related challenges.
- Specialized Training: Dementia care staff should have specialized training to administer cognitive care training programs, address and avoid behavioral disturbances, and promote social engagement.
- Community: Being part of a vibrant community is a key to fighting age-related decline; look for a dementia care community in Tinton Falls that recognizes the individuality of each resident while fostering a larger sense of community.
Get out there and visit a few dementia care providers in Tinton Falls. Take note of how staff members interact with residents, what type of events and programs are scheduled on a daily basis, and how mealtime is handled to help determine if it’s the right fit.
In Conclusion
Assessing your loved one’s unique needs is the first step toward finding quality care in Tinton Falls. Family caregivers often find that a loved one’s care needs eventually become too much to handle independently, which is usually when they begin considering a long-term dementia care provider. Once that search begins, look for dementia care providers in Tinton Falls that offer individualized care plans, nutritional support, staff with specialized dementia care training, and a community that looks and feels like home. Learn more by contacting Arbor Terrace Shrewsbury.
