Misconceptions about Memory Care

If you have ever known someone with dementia, then you understand just how challenging it can be. For the affected person, it can make life difficult, scary, or confusing. It can also affect the people around them who may not be equipped, prepared, or educated to handle the way dementia can affect interpersonal relationships.

While Alzheimer’s disease is generally considered the most common, dementia can come in many forms, including vascular, Lewy body and frontotemporal. Nearly 6 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, a number made even more staggering by the fact that it only includes this single form. Dementia tends to develop in stages; it can come on slowly and its symptoms can be easy to miss at first. However, if you have a loved one whom you know is suffering from dementia and lives on their own, it is important to help them find a safe and comfortable living situation.

Memory care is a level of senior living designed to accommodate people with dementia and provide them with a home where they can make the most out of each day with support from people who understand their challenges. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about what memory care entails. Below are a few of these misconceptions and the truths behind them.

Misconception: Memory Care Only Helps with Memory Issues

Reality: Memory care is suited to support people suffering varying symptoms of dementia. Memory-related challenges are only some of the symptoms that can arise. Dementia can cause confusion, behavioral changes, aggression, difficulty communicating, wandering and more. A memory care community will have aides who are trained in handling these issues. They will have the patience for conversations and the humility not to take things personally when interactions can get tense or unpleasant. Life in a memory care community will help your loved one feel more at ease living in a safe setting where people understand their needs.

Misconception: Memory Care is the same as a Nursing Home

Reality: These levels of care have distinctly different purposes. For one thing, “nursing home” is a broad and often inaccurate term often used in film or television to describe what is, in reality, a senior living community or retirement home. When the word “nursing” is used in the context of senior living, it is usually related to medical supervision for short-term care for an injury or long-term care for a chronic disease. A senior living community may offer multiple levels of care, including assisted living and memory care, but neither should necessarily be considered a nursing home.

If you have a loved one who is affected by dementia, finding the right memory care solution might be the best thing for them. You may be trying to take care of the person yourself, either by visiting them regularly or inviting them to live in your home. While this is noble, it may not be in their best interest. Memory care provides safety measures to prevent wandering and supervision from trained professionals around the clock, both of which can be difficult to achieve at home.

If you would like to learn more about memory care, call WinnPrairie today at 815-656-4800 or contact us online. We are Freeport assisted living and memory care community offering a joy-filled senior lifestyle.