Monarch Pavilion—home to residential care and all our health services.
A loved one’s memory- or dementia-related diagnosis opens the door to a world of unknowns. Although more is known about memory loss now than ever before, there are still many unanswered questions and a great deal to learn.
One of the biggest questions families grapple with after a dementia diagnosis is timing. Yet that remains one of the greatest unknowns because it varies so greatly from one person to the next. At the same time, misconceptions and confusion about the role of memory care can further muddy the timeline.
In the early stages, you may not even notice too many changes, and your loved one may continue to live perfectly safely and contentedly in their familiar surroundings for some time. However, generally speaking, memory or dementia symptoms do progress with time.
As a caregiver or concerned child of a parent with memory loss, it’s wise to start planning ahead for what the future may bring. As you enter the New Year with care-focused goals, it’s important to know from the outset that support is available — and that you’re not alone.
Embrace Knowledge as Power
When you start exploring options for memory care in Atlanta, you’re likely to find yourself in unfamiliar territory, learning how the various levels of senior care support residents with specific needs and wading through information that, unfortunately, isn’t always rooted in truth.
The misinformation isn’t likely to be intentionally misleading; in fact, in large part it’s the result of rapid changes and improvements in the world of senior living. Outdated views and assumptions about safety or quality of life are common.
However, today’s dedicated memory care is a drastic improvement since just a generation ago, and grounding yourself with facts will allow you to feel more empowered about making decisions in your loved one’s best interest.
Differentiating Between Memory Care and Assisted Living
Communities that offer a continuum of care are often the best suited to provide specialized care for residents based on their unique needs. While there are some similarities among different levels of care, the residents they serve best actually differ quite a bit.
Two types of care that get easily confused are assisted living and memory care. Understanding the key distinctions of memory care vs. assisted living will guide you toward the best partner in supporting your parent or loved one.
Assisted Living
Residents of an assisted living community are often mostly self-sufficient, but they need a degree of support to live safely and with a better quality of life than they could achieve alone.
That might mean a little assistance with activities like bathing, grooming and dressing. Or a helping hand when it’s time to transfer from one place to another. Residents might get support with managing their medications, or they may rely on the community for most (if not all) of their meals.
Or it could be all of the above, or none. A resident’s care plan in assisted living is tailored to the individual’s needs, and the goal is to ensure that the resident is as independent as they want to be for as long as possible.
In fact, everyday life is similar to independent living residents; they participate in community activities, social events and outings, and they have ample autonomy and freedom.
Memory Care
Residents in a memory care community may receive many of the same supportive services as residents of assisted living, but they’re delivered through the specialized lens of memory loss. To put it simply, assisted living supports physical needs, while memory care supports cognitive needs.
Staff in a memory care community are trained for the nuances of memory and dementia care, from the importance of familiar routines to delivering programming tailored to the needs of individuals experiencing cognitive decline.
Supervision is around the clock, and the living environment is secure to protect the safety of potential wanderers.
Common Memory Care Myths
Deciding when it’s time for memory care is a personal decision that only you and your family can make. But if you’re considering options for memory, dementia or Alzheimer’s care in Atlanta, you’ll be better equipped to make a sound choice when you understand the truth behind these myths.
Memory care is the same thing as skilled nursing.
Skilled nursing is a level of care reserved for those who need ongoing care from a trained medical professional. Memory care is also delivered by trained professionals, but their specialized training emphasizes cognitive needs over medical needs like wound dressing or chronic disease management.
Caring for someone with memory loss or dementia isn’t just about forgotten words or foggy memories. As symptoms progress, memory loss and dementia can affect other aspects of life, including communication, motor movement and emotional regulation — all of which require unique skills and training.
In fact, knowing how seriously a community takes specialized memory care training may help you narrow your options. For example, at Canterbury Court, staff receive ongoing training and certifications in the field of dementia care to ensure they are delivering impactful and compassionate support to residents.
Memory care is just for seniors whose kids can’t or won’t take care of them.
This myth is especially troublesome because it plays on the guilt that many adult children feel when they begin to consider supportive care for a loved one.
The reality is that some older adults navigating memory loss or dementia do have needs that can’t reasonably or safely be met at home for one reason or another. For example, if a parent has forgotten how to properly see to their toileting needs, an adult child may not physically be able to provide that care. Or if a loved one with memory loss becomes increasingly agitated and there are children in the home, a caregiver may have to make a decision that protects the safety of everyone involved.
However, memory care isn’t always a last resort — or at least it shouldn’t be. With the support of specially trained staff, proper medication and enriching programming that meets residents where they are, it’s possible to slow the progression of memory loss symptoms. With that possibility in mind, memory care may actually become a front-runner option when it comes to quality of life.
Residents lose their independence when they live in a memory care neighborhood.
While it’s true that memory care neighborhoods are fairly restrictive about who comes and goes, that’s by design to protect residents’ safety. Residents experiencing memory loss or dementia can become confused or disoriented, so ensuring the living environment is secure prevents them from wandering away from safety.
Beyond the contained physical living space, memory care residents’ individuality is celebrated. Programming and activities are tailored to their personal interests, abilities and areas where additional focus can help them achieve the greatest quality of life possible. A safe, supportive environment — autonomy within structure — does more to preserve a resident’s dignity and independence than restrict it.
I’ll get pushed to the side once my parent moves into memory care.
On the contrary, many communities — including Canterbury Court — welcome and even encourage family involvement. Not only do family members have an active voice in care planning for their loved one, but they also have access to dementia support for families, including a Caregiver Support Group where family members share experiences, gain advice and connect with others who understand what they’re experiencing.
Exceptional Memory Care in Atlanta
Finding a place you trust to care for your parent as much as you do is a big responsibility and one we know you don’t take lightly. Meeting with different communities is the best way to start the new year well-informed about your options for memory and dementia care in Atlanta, and it will help you select a trusted partner for the journey ahead.
We invite you to meet with our compassionate team, ask as many questions as you like and take a closer look at Wisteria Park, the community at Canterbury Court dedicated to our Memory Support residents. It’s also home to our 10,000-square-foot Memory Support Garden, a stunning outdoor space designed to be safely enjoyed by residents and their families alike.