Taking care of a loved one with memory loss because of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia is rewarding, but exhausting, work. Between providing them with a high-quality life, worrying about their safety, and finding time for your career or other family members, there’s little room in your busy schedule to take care of yourself.
Memory care in communities like Westminster Village provides seniors with dementia everything they need to maintain a high quality of life, while you gain peace of mind they’re in a safe environment surrounded by compassionate caregivers.
From suites that feel like home to support for family caregivers, read these five benefits of memory care and learn how your loved one with dementia can thrive at our senior living community.
1. Safe environment that feels like home
Memory care provides older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia with a safe, secure environment that feels like home. Suites are comfortably appointed, and can be personalized with decorations and some furniture, like a favorite armchair or bedside table.
Memory care neighborhoods are easy for residents to navigate and designed to promote independence, encourage socialization, reduce confusion, and help prevent wandering.
Safety features in memory care include:
- In-suite emergency systems
- Railings in hallways and walking paths
- Non-slip floors and supportive railings in the bathroom
- Well-lit living spaces and common areas
- Secured entrances with keypad entry for staff and family members
At Westminster Village, memory care also features enclosed courtyards in our gorgeous community garden where residents can safely soak up sunshine and chat with their friends and caregivers.
2. Round-the-clock care
Caregivers and nurses with dementia-specific training are on hand to help residents 24/7 with activities of daily living (ADLs), which are essential tasks every adult needs to perform for a high-quality life.
Whether your loved one needs help day or night, there will always be someone to provide dignified and personalized help with:
- Bathing or showering
- Using the bathroom
- Personal grooming tasks
- Meal preparation and eating
- Safely moving around their suite or the community
In memory care at Westminster Village, we also provide meals that accommodate special diets, physical and occupational therapy, scheduled transportation to medical appointments, and point-of-care medication administration, which ensures your loved one is always taking their medications as prescribed.
3. Person-centered care
Not only can residents count on round-the-clock care, but they can also find comfort in person-centered care provided by a team of compassionate experts. Communities like Westminster have a low resident-to-staff ratio, which means residents and caregivers can truly take time to build meaningful relationships.
Caregivers get to know each resident’s unique interests and preferences based on their history, abilities and lifestyle. This allows them to meet their exact needs and improve their quality of life.
At our senior living community in Lafayette, IN, we know past and present relationships continue to shape the lives of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. That’s why we use customized reminiscence tools to help residents with memory loss capture a lasting legacy of details about their life, family, friends, career, hobbies, likes and dislikes.
4. Dementia-specific activities
Memory care offers customized activities for residents with all levels of memory loss. Through insights gained from person-centered care, senior living communities can structure each resident’s day with tailored activities that boost brain health, encourage social engagement, provide meaningful tasks and improve overall quality of life.
Activities in memory care can include:
- Calm and inviting social gatherings
- Group exercise
- Gardening
- Baking
- Letter writing
- Certified Art Therapy Program including the new OMA program
- Music therapy
- Spiritual enrichment (full-time Chaplain on staff)
We also offer a state of the art circadian light rhythm technology throughout the Memory Care unit- Magnolia Court- along with a dedicated sensory therapy room.
A routine filled with dementia-specific activities is one of the biggest benefits of memory care in a senior living community. Abundant social opportunities and programs that slow cognitive impairment scheduled throughout the day provide an extra level of enrichment that residents look forward to every day.
5. More time to be a family
With your loved one’s needs always being met in memory care, you can spend less time as a family caregiver and more time as a family. You can enjoy meals, take part in activities, celebrate milestones, and be in the moment with your loved one without worrying about caregiving.
However, if you feel your loved one is thriving at home, Westminster Village offers in-home companion care with Village Care. Whether it’s a reminder to take medication, planning and preparing a meal, or playing cards with your family member, our senior living community offers highly personalized and flexible home care services.
Learn More About Memory Care at Westminster Village
Westminster Village offers memory care services in Lafayette, IN, in a charming neighborhood just two miles from Purdue University. As a Life Care Services® community, we’re committed to strong financial stewardship, lifestyle-centered experiences and high-quality health services. Contact our team online, call us at 765-463-7546, or email us to learn more about the benefits of memory care services from Westminster Village.
