Millions of people across the country can begin to suffer from dementia as they age. Because memory loss can be a serious and potentially dangerous condition, making sure your loved one receives the proper care required is crucial for keeping them healthy and happy.

Learn everything you need to know about dementia, what it is, and how to care for those suffering from it. Take the time to understand how memory care centers can assist patients living with it, as well.

What Is Dementia?

While many people mistake dementia as its own disease, the term is actually used to describe the general loss of a person’s memory, judgment, and overall cognitive function. For example, Alzheimer’s is one of the most common forms of dementia, which occurs when there are changes in the brain’s makeup. Dementia symptoms can occur slowly over time and can take on many different forms. Getting lost in a neighborhood in which you have lived for years, forgetting or mistaking the names of close friends and family members, and forgetting memories are all dementia symptoms.

What Is Memory Care?

Memory care is a form of care centered around making the lives of those suffering from dementia as comfortable and easy as possible. Taking care of a loved one with a progressing form of dementia can be extremely difficult. Specialized assisted living facilities, like those at Rocky Mountain Assisted Living, are created to provide people with dementia the intricate care they deserve around the clock.

All patients are monitored constantly by caregivers who can assist them with their daily needs. Memory care centers are designed with simplicity in mind in order to avoid any additional confusion for patients. The ultimate goal is to help improve the quality of life for someone with dementia by providing them with a comfortable, non-confusing living space in which they are well taken care of.

How Long Does the Average Patient Live in Memory Care?

Unfortunately, people diagnosed with a progressing form of dementia can, in most cases, struggle further at home. This is because it’s easy for them to wander, get lost, or hurt themselves against any number of safety hazards. By making the decision to move your loved one to a memory care center, you can ensure they will be taken care of properly and that their quality of life will be as high as possible. The length of how long a patient continues to live at a facility depends greatly on their unique situation and the specific progression of their dementia but can range from only a couple of months to almost ten years. The average stay for most patients ranges from two to three years.

The Benefits of Memory Care for People With Dementia

While there is no cure for dementia, treatments such as memory care can provide a variety of benefits to those who are struggling. Some of the benefits that come along with having your loved one in memory care include:

  • Safe, Comfortable EnvironmentUnfortunately, it can be hard to create an environment a person with progressing dementia needs to stay safe at home. Wandering is one of the most common and dangerous symptoms of dementia in older people. Memory care centers help to create comfortable environments where people with dementia can easily get around while staying in a safe place where they are continually supervised. A memory care facility is designed with the ease of its patients in mind so that they can continue their daily routines with less confusion and the care they need.
  • 24/7 Care For All NeedsAnother benefit of memory care is that it provides 24/7 care for any of your loved one’s needs. While you may try your best to help your loved one, sometimes their illness can get to the point where specialized care is better for both them and you. Memory care centers can take care of your loved one’s basic needs, such as helping them eat and bathe, while also providing different treatments that can aid with memory loss and cognitive function.
  • Supportive TherapiesMemory care centers often offer different supportive therapies for patients battling progressive forms of dementia. One common treatment, known as cognitive stimulation therapy, is a form of therapy geared toward stimulating the brain’s memory in order to help battle symptoms of dementia. Common activities used in cognitive stimulation therapy for patients include puzzles, talking about old and current events, playing or listening to music, describing memories in detail, word games, and more. All of these activities stimulate parts of the brain that deal with memory retention and cognitive function.
  • Medication and Treatment ManagementThere are multiple different medications that can assist your loved one in dealing with dementia symptoms. When in a memory care facility, the specialized staff can determine what medication may be best for your loved one and their situation and can help manage and administer medication, as well. Memory care also involves treatment management, which allows your loved one to receive multiple different forms of beneficial treatment, all in the same place.
  • SocializationSocialization is a vital part of the treatment process for those with dementia symptoms. Being able to talk to close friends or make new ones with common interests can help stimulate the patient’s brain while also allowing them to socialize. Sometimes, when people get older, especially if they show signs of dementia symptoms, they can lose contact with those who were close to them and ultimately end up isolating. Memory care facilities promote socialization, prevent isolation, and help keep patients feeling happier.

Colorado Memory Care For Your Loved Ones

Making the decision to have your loved one move into memory care can be difficult, but it is often for the best. Here at Rocky Mountain Assisted Living, we know how important the health and proper care of your loved one is, which is why we have dedicated our practice to serving our patient’s unique needs. To learn more about memory care or any of our other services, reach out to our team today.