Memory Care
Dementia is a term for loss of memory, language, problem-solving and other thinking abilities that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Your elder may be dealing with dementia if they are experiencing the following symptoms:
- Problems with short-term memory
- Keeping track of a purse or wallet
- Paying bills
- Planning and preparing meals
- Remembering appointments
- Traveling out of the neighborhood
If your elder has any of these symptoms, you might want to have them see their doctor to determine if they are dealing with dementia.
While there are many forms of dementia, the most well-known related disease is Alzheimers. About 60-80% of all dementia is caused by Alzheimer’s disease.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. It kills more than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined!
Memory Care at Joy Senior Center
It is heartbreaking to see our elders deal with dementia and Alzheimer’s. At Joy Senior Center, we empathize with families who have a loved one with these conditions. The owners have had close family members suffer from Alzheimer’s disease and decline over 10+ years. We know first hand how it feels to see your loved ones go through this disease, and the impact it can have on the entire family.
Caring for elders with dementia requires special training because caregivers need to understand the different kinds of behaviors and how to respond. Joy Senior Center works with some of the most experienced trainers in the area and continually retrains staff with the latest research findings and practices in the industry.
We are members of the Alzheimer’s Association, which is a National program.
Some residents decline slowly over years, and some take sudden dips declining very rapidly. We will work with you and your loved one’s health care team to devise a simple care plan. This plan will ensure your elder is safe and cared for. Once we agree upon a care plan with you, it is communicated to the team and implemented right away. Our highly trained and experienced staff are fully aware of signs to look for and report any unusual behavior. You’ll also be informed of any changes in your elders behavior if and when they occur. Even if there are no changes we require reassessment by their doctor at least once annually. That provides validation that the care plan in place is optimal for your loved one.
At Joy Senior Center, we strive to minimize unnecessary medication. We often communicate prescribed medications and discuss observed behaviors and symptoms with your loved one’s medical doctor to ensure they are getting the correct medication for their needs.
We want residents at Joy Senior Center to be as independent as possible and to live life to the fullest. Joy Senior Center includes residents with and without dementia all living together; we do not isolate our dementia residents into a separate “memory care” section.