Choosing the Right Long-Term Care Facilities for Dementia Patients

Understanding Long-Term Care Facilities for Dementia

There are times when a dementia patient needs to be in a more monitored environment when the family member can no longer take care of the patient at home. Different long-term dementia facilities are available for them, from which they can choose the best-suited option.

Types of Long-Term Care Options: Nursing Homes and CCRCs

Skilled Nursing Centers 

These types of setups are built to provide 24/7 care and long-term medical treatment. They have skilled nurses who take care of nutrition, care planning, recreation, and medical care.  

Assisted Living Facilities

In this living facility, the patient feels like living independently but with the amenities of a nursing home. These units are like rooms or apartments, with staff who help with daily tasks.

Personal Care Homes

A personal care home is a setup where a small group of adults with some cognitive impairment live under supervision. They don’t require nursing services but a visiting professional.

Home Care Agencies

These agencies provide dementia care at home. This allows individuals to receive one-on-one personalized support in the comfort of their homes.

Home Health Care Agencies

They provide both medical and non-medical care services like nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and other healthcare services that the patient requires at home.

Hospice

Hospice is a service that’s provided at home and in the nursing center during the final stage of dementia. Their ultimate goal is to provide comfort during the final few months of life. 

Key Services and Support in Long-Term Care

Around-the-clock support: staff at the facility assist the patients with daily living activities. 

Manage medication: dementia patients take multiple medications in a day, and long-term facilities ensure proper and timely medications.

Medical care: care facilities have nurses and medical professionals who can provide basic medical care by coordinating with other specialists.

Activities and socialization: they offer a range of programs and activities, such as music therapy, art therapy, etc., which can keep patients engaged and interact socially.

Secure environment: one of the common issues with dementia patients is wandering off and getting lost. Care facilities have various security measures in place to prevent such occurrences. 

Specialized Dementia Facilities: Focused Care for Patients

Specialized care facilities for dementia patients focus on improving the quality of life for people with memory loss. Unlike other care facilities, memory care or dementia care facilities only cater to people with cognitive impairment and provide them with a secure environment.

The Role of Specialized Dementia Care Programs

Care programs serve dementia patients in various ways. They have trained staff with specific expertise in dementia care. Staff provide care and supervision and tailor activities specific to patients’ needs, interests, abilities, and preferences. They also coordinate with the patient’s family to ensure routines and preferences are taken care of. Nurses help with daily activities, medication management, and other support services. Twenty-four hours of care, a safe environment with outdoor access, and walking paths to prevent wandering are provided. 

Evaluating Facilities: Quality of Care and Staff Expertise

Selecting a care facility for a family member is challenging, but choosing a community is even more important. Various factors need to be considered, such as staff, environment, programs, and the type of treatment provided. Asking questions about staffing, like their expertise and experience and how frequently a physician or nurse visits the patients, will provide a clear picture of their efficiency. Evaluate their programs and services, how they structure the activities, whether they include family in the process, and how they cater to individual needs and preferences. Clarify if they help with daily personal care and how they include nutrition in meals. 

Memory Care: Tailored Support for Patients with Memory Loss

When an individual with dementia develops more severe symptoms, it becomes difficult for the caregivers to manage on their own; they need professional caregivers like nurses. 

What is Memory Care?

Memory care helps people with various cognitive impairments. They cater to dementia patients throughout the day to manage and prevent various dementia symptoms. They offer trained staff, meal preparation, housekeeping, and laundry at the facilities. These facilities also structure social activities to stimulate their mental and physical health. Most importantly, they provide safety, like monitored and secured doors with security personnel to prevent wandering. 

How Does Memory Care Differ from Nursing Homes?

Memory care and nursing homes both provide twenty-four-hour care, supervision, and food. Staff also help with daily living activities. Memory care especially caters to people with dementia or other memory problems, while nursing homes provide care to whoever requires it Memory care facilities' sole focus is on improving the quality of life for memory care patients in a safe environment to avoid any confusion and dangers of taking off unannounced. Seniors in nursing homes can’t take care of themselves as they might be bedridden or in a wheelchair.

Signs That Suggest the Requirement for Memory Care

• Unable to keep up with rent and bills. Forgetting once in a while is normal, but if an individual forgets very frequently and still wonders why the cable or phone is turned off. 
• They fail to take care of their personal hygiene and housekeeping. 
• Frequently forget about medication and meals, don’t follow up with doctor’s appointments.
• They make their surroundings unsafe for themselves and others, like leaving the stove on, falling, or wandering off. 
• Losing track of time and date and forgetting the year or season are causes of concern.

Key Factors to Consider in a Memory Care Facility

• Look for a facility that takes care of the patient’s needs and priorities, which will ensure they are taken care of. Identify the patient's needs and consider a facility accordingly. 
• Different care facilities offer different amenities; consider any specific requirements of the patient before finalizing. If a person has particular needs, then seek out a caring community capable of addressing those requirements.
• Trained and experienced staff with expertise in dementia care. They should be able to handle various dementia behaviors and ensure the patient doesn’t get distressed. 
• Monitored facility with 24x7 surveillance that can prevent wandering.

Deciding Factors: Considerations for Choosing a Facility

When searching for a facility, it’s crucial to take into account various key factors to ensure the patient's safety and well-being. Factors like specialized care, facilities’ track record and reputation, patient-to-staff ratio, treatment plan, and overall environment should be considered.

Safety, Comfort, and Community Engagement in Care Facilities

When choosing a facility, consider these factors:

Safety: ensure that the center has a secure environment, trained dementia care staff, emergency protocols in place, and proper medication management.

Comfort: this is the most important factor in a facility. Check if the facility has tailored plans, a home-like atmosphere, and personalized activities that align with individual needs and interests.

Community Engagement: properly evaluate how frequently the facility conducts social interactions, like group activities. Ask if they involve the family in the care plan. 

Financial Considerations and Insurance Coverage

Money should not become a barrier to the treatment and care of a patient, which is why choosing a facility that provides better financial aid and coverage is important. Find facilities that offer the best value for money without any compromise to the treatment. They should also have flexible financing options, which will help spread the cost over time and reduce the burden. Few insurances cover some medical tests, so check with the facility for the procedure; it can elevate some of the financial burden and minimize out-of-pocket costs. 

Supporting Families and Caregivers in the Transition

The transition is hard for both the patient and the family. It requires a great deal of assurance from both parties. Care facilities help make the transition easy by providing any aid required. 

Preparing for the Transition to a Care Facility

Moving to a care facility can make the patient confused and distressed; an open and honest conversation about the transition is required to ensure their comfort and well-being. Including them in the decision process and addressing any concerns and fears is crucial. Start by actively listening to the patient's thoughts and emotions about the transition and solve them with empathy. Educate them about the help they’ll get at the care facility, which will benefit them. 

Resources and Support for Caregivers

Taking care of a patient with dementia or other memory issues can be challenging. There are many resources and support groups available to help caregivers on the journey. Support groups are places where other caregivers share their experiences and advice. Taking help from such groups can provide some relief. Some institutions conduct educational programs, provide financial advice, and hold webinars to offer a wealth of information on dementia. 

Why Cadabams is the Best Choice for Long-Term Dementia Care

Cadabams is one of the leading names in dementia healthcare. Our numerous treatment facilities are spread across southern India. We also offer a service known as a memory clinic at the hospital, where individuals aged 45-50 can visit and get an assessment done for their cognitive abilities. This will help in getting an early diagnosis of any illness and starting treatment. Our rehabilitation has the best medical professionals, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and the latest technology, which will greatly benefit a dementia patient in long-term care. We have been helping thousands of people live healthier and happier lives for 30+ years. We leverage evidence-based approaches and holistic treatment methods to help individuals effectively manage dementia. Get in touch with us today. You can call us at +91 96111 94949.

FAQ

1. What facility is best for dementia patients?

There isn’t one best facility for dementia patients; the ideal setting depends on the individual’s needs and preferences. However, there are certain key factors that are crucial to consider before landing in a care facility, which are a secure environment, trained staff, comfort, community engagement, and emergency plans. 

2. How long can a dementia patient be cared for at home?

It depends on various factors, like the stage of dementia, physical and cognitive health, personality, and preferences. As the illness progresses, it becomes difficult for the patient as well as the caregiver to manage the symptoms. It also depends on the caregiver's availability, finances, and emotional well-being. Other factors, like home environment and resources, matter.

3. What support is available for dementia patients?

A wide range of support is available for dementia patients, depending on their specific needs and stage of the illness. The optimum support is medical support, which provides diagnosis, treatment, medication, and consultations. After diagnosis, there is home and community-based support where professionals provide care, conduct therapies, and help with daily living. 

4. When should a dementia patient be put in a home?

Early-stage dementia is easy to manage at home because of the patient's ability to conduct daily tasks. When health conditions worsen, the patient needs round-the-clock supervision, which influences the decision to receive home care. The environment at home and the availability of resources greatly benefit an individual in a home. The caregiver's emotional and financial availability is crucial to provide care. 

5. At what point do dementia patients need 24-hour care?

During the later stage of dementia, when the symptoms become unmanageable, they require 24-hour supervision. If their cognitive abilities decline, influencing daily living activities and other safety concerns, caregivers need to be around all the time. They need supervision to avoid wandering off or harming themselves or to control aggression and frustration.