Is It Time for Specialized Assisted Living and Memory Support?

Are you at a point where you’re no longer sure it’s best for your senior loved one to live at home? For many people, it’s a hard decision to relocate a parent or other loved one into a senior living community in Connecticut. But, when this is the best place for their needs to be met, the decision is much easier.

Is making a change to a specialized assisted living and memory care community right for your senior loved one? Explore this article to learn a little bit more about specialized assisted living and memory support communities in CT.

What Does Specialized Assisted Living and Memory Support Entail?

Moving your loved one out of their home and into an assisted living facility is a hard transition. But, for many seniors, they come to a point where living alone or without regular supervision can be difficult, both physically and mentally. One option that is best for seniors with dementia or increased physical care needs would be a specialized assisted living community. These communities are a bit more advanced than your standard assisted living and have a strong focus on meeting individual physical and cognitive needs in a comfortable and safe environment. Unlike regular assisted living communities, specialized assisted living and memory support in CT can provide specialized care plans and a neighborhood setting to meet increased needs.

Similar to assisted living, specialized assisted living provides seniors with support during daily tasks  like getting dressed, bathing, preparing meals, driving, or any other task they need help with. However, it also offers around-the-clock care, caregivers specially trained in memory care, wander-protection systems and specialized activities.They also have unique recreational activities and outings such as cooking demonstrations, painting classes, volunteer opportunities, pet visits and backyard barbecues all tailored to resident interests and abilities.

If you're reading this and are concerned because your loved one doesn't have dementia, but you think they could use extra help, don't worry. As suggested, specialized assisted living also serves those with physical impairments or limitations as well. So, if your loved one has a chronic medical condition, say CDPD or PTSD, or another condition that limits mobility or activity, this type of senior living option may be best because it offers the added support they need in a welcoming and active setting. 

In specialized assisted living and memory support communities in CT, residents have a number of housing options to choose from, like private or shared rooms. They also benefit from scheduled, healthy meals and housekeeping services to keep their rooms clean and comfortable.

Are Your Loved One’s Needs Being Met?

Now that you have a better understanding of what specialized assisted living and memory support is, you can determine whether or not it’s time to move into one of these communities.

The first question to ask yourself and other involved family members is whether or not your loved one’s needs are currently being met.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself during this evaluation process.

• Is it becoming increasingly difficult for your loved one develop and maintain daily routines?
• Is it harder to meet their nutritional needs? Are they eating at least three meals a day?
• Is safety becoming more of a concern? Does their residence have door and window locks, motion detectors, monitoring systems, adequate lighting, no-slip flooring, etc.?
• Is your loved one becoming forgetful or beginning to wander?
• Does your loved one require more supervision while cooking or performing household tasks?
• Are they displaying forgetful tendencies or confusion?
• Does your loved one need a Wander-Protection System? (Many communities offer this an a protective memory care option.)
• Does your loved one struggle to manage their medication or remember to take it?

The answers to these questions should reveal whether or not it’s time for your loved one to seek out specialized assisted living and memory support in CT. You want to be sure that your loved one is getting a level of care that meets their needs, and when you answer these questions, you’ll be able to decide what right next step is.

Why is Individualized Care Important?

To provide your loved one the best quality of life in their later years, they need individualized care that meets their specific needs. Everyone has different medical and social needs that communities offering specialized assisted living and memory support in CT need to address. So, the next step in the process of determining what’s best for your loved one is to identify the needs you want a community to meet.

First and foremost, you want an environment where your loved one is comfortable and well cared for. The best communities offering specialized assisted living and memory support in CT focus on relationship-centered care. In these communities, the professionals on staff take the time to get to know the residents and learn how to meet their individual needs. Your loved one isn’t receiving care from an overworked, busy staff. They’re receiving care from familiar faces who are invested in their well-being.

Also, in addition to the type of care seniors receive, it’s important to get a feel the lifestyle of the communities you’re evaluating. Some seniors have an easier time socializing than others. With individualized care, the staff at the senior living community will pay attention to your senior’s needs and help them maintain a healthy lifestyle and encourage socialization with peers.

It’s also essential that staff members promote healthy living through individual physical, social, and cognitive activities. You might be surprised at the number of activities available in senior living communities, like music and memory therapy, cooking lessons, theme days, gardening club, pet visits, and more. Each of these activities plays a role in promoting individual cognitive and social health.

As you determine the next step for your loved one, it’s key that you keep their needs in mind. You want them to live in a safe, nurturing environment, where they receive care that’s aligned with their individual needs. This will make the transition easier for both your loved one and your family.

Learn more about the benefits of memory care for your senior loved one. Download this free guide The Next Generation of Memory Care at Lifestyle Transitions now.