How Amenities Impact Memory Care Services

What's the number one amenity you look for when visiting a hotel -- quality toiletries or free breakfast? In 2022, most people favored the pool as their favorite amenity, so says NerdWallet.

Memory care services differ from what you'd get at a hotel. Most amenities at the latter aren't requirements for a nice, restful stay. Senior memory amenities; however, help keep residents safe and fulfilled.

The goal is to reduce confusion and agitation. Memory care communities focus on helping improve and stabilize residents' cognitive function, so there are certain things they must provide to accomplish this.

Are you unsure of the importance of memory care amenities? Keep reading to learn more about them and for helpful memory care tips when choosing a community for your loved ones.

Memory Care Services: What Are They?

Memory care communities offer many of the same services their assisted living counterparts do. For example, your grandparent may have a private or shared apartment with provided meals and snacks.

Laundry and housekeeping services are commonly provided. Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) is a given considering many people in these communities can't walk or get dressed too well.

For those who may not know, ADLs include:

• Mobility
  • Walking, getting in and out of beds and chairs
  • Transferring between places
• Eating
  • Meal prep and cleaning after meals
• Toileting
• Bathing
• Grooming
  • Brushing teeth and combing and brushing hair
• Shopping and transport
  • Getting groceries and other items
  • Navigating public transport or driving to and from places
• Medication management
  • Taking medicines on time and as prescribed

However, features of memory care include specialized care for people with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. Much of what memory care focuses on is helping people's physical and mental well-being.

For example, they may offer arts and crafts activities and a relaxation room. Common areas for residents to converse are a prominent feature. Outdoor spaces and fitness areas are also typical features at these centers.

Important Features of Memory Care

We've discussed memory care services, but what do they entail? What are the most important features -- amenities -- that one of these communities needs?

Perhaps one of the most important amenities is staffing, or rather, the number of staff members on hand at any given time. There are no nationally set guidelines for staffing numbers.

However, memory care typically has higher staff-to-patent ratios to ensure residents are being adequately cared for. The ideal resident-to-staff ratio for the former is one caregiver for every five or six patients.

Commons Areas

We've mentioned common and relaxation areas as features of memory care. However, you may not quite understand their importance. People with dementia and memory issues need socialization.

Talking to others keeps the brain active and can slow cognitive decline. Socializing can offer residents additional emotional support apart from what they receive from their families and staff.

The added support can reduce depression and anxiety. Speaking to others also helps foster feelings of belonging and community. Commons and relaxation areas help promote communication among residential peers.

Social and Recreational Events

We've discussed arts and crafts activities, which are offered to help memory retention. Other social and recreational events include:

• Games
  • Like memory games, board games, and puzzles
• Gardening
  
  • Can help reduce anxiety and keep residents engaged
• Animal-assisted therapy
  • Helps improve mood and keeps residents energized
• Exercise and fitness
  • Keeps the brain healthy and helps slow cognitive decline

Layout and Atmosphere

Amenities that can be easy to overlook are the community layout and atmosphere. It should go without saying that people in memory care are often easily confused.

The layout needs to be easily navigable. Clear signage and contrasting colors help people better identify where they are and where they're going.

Areas should be well-lit with as little distracting background noise as possible. There should be a "homey" vibe. The community should be comfortable and arranged to promote socialization.

Ideally, there are plenty of green outdoor spaces. These are called "therapy gardens" and they're supposed to help residents' general well-being.

Choosing Memory Care Services: Helpful Tips

As with selecting anything important, choosing memory case services should come with plenty of discernment. The first thing to check is whether the staff is specifically trained to handle people with dementia.

You can speak with workers within the community and check their website for confirmation. While on tour, look around and see if everything is clean and well-maintained.

You must consider the layout when choosing a community for your loved one. Accessibility is one of the greatest and most vital senior memory care amenities.

If the layout seems confusing and frustrating, your loved ones will not cope well. A poor layout indicates an unwillingness to accommodate the residents' needs.

How are the staff with the residents? Are the interactions warm and respectful? If the boarders seem uncomfortable with the workers, you may want to consider another community.

Here is a list of what you should consider when searching for memory care services:

• Are the staff qualified to work with dementia sufferers?
• How much does the community cost?
  • Is the community Medicare-certified
  • Do they offer payment plans or other programs to defray costs?
• Is the community accessible for those with disabilities?
• What does the menu look like?
  • Do they accommodate allergies and other medical needs?
• What types of activities do they offer and how often?
• Is the staff respectful to residents and visitors?
• Is the community clean, well-maintained, and comfortable?
• What security measures do they take for resident safety?

Understanding the Importance of Memory Care Amenities

Memory care services require specific amenities to help your loved ones. For example, you'll want a community offering plenty of social and cognitive activities.

Your chosen community should also have stringent security features like locked entries and exits and obscured exits. Choosing memory care services can be hard, but Addington Place of Des Moines can make it easier.

Our staff focuses on providing comfort and wellness to residents. We offer gardening, fitness classes, and game nights. Each resident gets individual care plans to ensure we can provide the best care.

Contact us today to arrange a tour. Don't hesitate to ask about our Military Veterans' program to receive half off the first month of each year.