The decision to move a parent from assisted living to memory care can be a difficult and confusing process. It requires careful evaluation and the ability to understand when more specialized care is needed.
This article breaks down the signs that a move to memory care is necessary, while providing tips for a smooth transition.
Understanding the Difference Between Assisted Living and Memory Care
Assisted living and memory care are fundamentally different in care level, staffing, and structure.
- Assisted Living: A community offering care for seniors who need physical assistance, but are cognitively independent. These facilities have an open, residential environment and staff members who are trained to assist with activities of daily living (ADLs).
- Memory Care: A community that provides secure environments for seniors with cognitive impairment and offers 24/7 specialized support.
Memory care communities need to supply additional safety measures when compared to assisted living facilities. This is to prevent wandering or falls and allow residents 24/7 access to help.
Staff members in memory care are trained in dementia care and use structured, cognitive-enhancing activities to support residents in ways that assisted living facilities cannot. Understanding the difference between these levels of care is important when considering a transition to memory care.
Signs It May Be Time to Transition From Assisted Living to Memory Care
Deciding whether or not to move your loved one to memory care can be a confusing decision, especially if you aren’t sure what signs to look for. Consulting a doctor is the best way to evaluate your loved one’s condition, but there are a few things to watch for that may indicate the need to move.
Signs include:
- Increased confusion or wandering
- Difficulty recognizing familiar people or places
- Escalating behavioral changes or agitation
- Greater supervision requirements
- Medication management needs
If you notice any of these changes, consult a doctor for a second evaluation. Transitioning into memory care can offer your family member a safe environment with 24/7 staff who are trained in dementia care.
How to Know If Assisted Living Is No Longer Enough
An assisted living community can offer help with basic tasks of daily life. However, these facilities may no longer offer enough support for your loved one as their dementia progresses. It’s important to understand the limitations of assisted living and how memory care can offer better support for older adults with dementia.
Assisted living is not the right fit for:
- Worsened memory issues
- Increased agitation or behavioral changes
- Constant need for assistance
- Mobility issues and increased fall risks
Delaying this transition could put your loved one at a greater risk of injury and may further escalate the dementia. Memory care staff are trained to support older adults with dementia and create routines that help preserve cognitive function.
How to Talk to a Parent About Moving to Memory Care
If an evaluation confirms the need for memory care, you will need to have a thoughtful conversation with your loved one about the upcoming move. This may be an emotional conversation for everyone involved, so it’s important to have a plan before you initiate the conversation.
Helpful reminders:
- Have the conversation in person
- Speak with empathy and patience
- Focus on safety, comfort, and familiarity
- Avoid arguments
- Repeat things as needed and reassure
- Choose a calm environment
- Confirm your ongoing presence
No matter how you choose to have the conversation, it’s important to involve them in the decision and acknowledge their feelings.
How to Prepare for a Move From Assisted Living to Memory Care
The right planning and communication can ease the transition into memory care and offer peace of mind for everyone involved.
Before the move:
- Coordinate with care staff to create a care plan
- Gather necessary medical and personal information
- Help your loved one downsize and bring familiar belongings
- Schedule the move and prepare your loved one ahead of time
During the move:
- Recreate the old layout to make the new room familiar
- Ensure there are no trip hazards or safety concerns
- Keep move-in day simple
- Bring a positive attitude and reassure if needed
After the move:
- Work with staff to establish routines
- Plan short but frequent visits with your loved one
- Acknowledge your feelings in a support group
Though moving your loved one to memory care is a difficult transition, it’s important to trust the professionals with the care and support your loved one receives. They are trained for dementia care and understand what each resident will need.
What to Expect During the Memory Care Transition Process
Familiarizing yourself with the memory care transition process will help you plan for the upcoming move and ensure everything runs smoothly.
After your loved one moves into a memory care facility, they will experience an adjustment period. This stage can last anywhere between 3 and 30 days. During this period, your loved one may show an increase in agitation and disrupted sleep and eating routines as they adjust to the new environment. Emotional highs and lows are normal during this stage, and staff members understand how to respond to these shifts.
As your loved one rebuilds their routines and becomes familiar with the facility, they will begin to rebalance. Family members can still visit their loved one during the adjustment stage, but should coordinate with care staff to understand the right frequency for visits. This is where families can work with the staff to share preferences and familiar routines that may help their loved one adjust.
How Memory Care Communities Support New Residents
The staff at memory care communities understand how to help your loved one adjust to their new surroundings. They will ensure your loved one grows familiar with their new living space and can provide soothing activities as they navigate the emotional highs and lows of the move.
Structured daily schedules help memory care residents find comfort in their routines and are often filled with cognitive-enhancing activities. The familiarity in layout and activities helps residents feel secure and reduces confusion and anxiety.
Most memory care communities offer:
- Music therapy
- Art therapy
- Reminiscence exercises
- Yoga and guided exercise
- 24/7 staffing
Helping Your Parent Adjust After the Move to Memory Care
You can still care for your loved one after their move to memory care. Many communities encourage family involvement and help educate on how they can help their loved one adjust.
Strategies include:
- Visit when your loved one is most alert
- Work with caregivers and provide preferences and daily routines
- Allow time for your loved one to settle in
- Validate emotions and avoid arguing
- Monitor emotional and behavioral changes
Understand that in the initial adjustment period, your loved one will experience difficult mood shifts. This is normal and will stabilize as your loved one grows familiar with their new environment.
Common Mistakes Families Make When Transitioning to Memory Care
Moving a parent or loved one to memory care can be a stressful and confusing time for families. However, there are a few common mistakes that families make that negatively impact the transition process.
Common mistakes include:
- Waiting too long to move
- Over-explaining or over-negotiating
- Bringing too many unfamiliar items
- Not visiting after the move
- Comparing adjustment timelines to others
- Taking emotional reactions personally
- Bringing too many people on move-in day
How Memory Care Can Improve Quality of Life for Seniors With Dementia
Memory care communities are designed to improve the quality of life for residents. Through person-centered care and thoughtful routines, residents can feel secure in their environment and enjoy stress-free activities.
Memory care communities offer:
- Safety and 24/7 staffing
- Reduced anxiety through routines
- Social connection and engagement
- Relief for family caregivers
- Therapeutic activities
All of these benefits, combined with specialized dementia care from staff, allow memory care residents to live in security and dignity.
Memory Care Made Easy at The Manor Village
At The Manor Village, we take a person-centered approach to memory care. Cognitive-enhancing activities and 24/7 skilled nursing care allow our residents to live with dignity and preserve their independence.
If you are considering moving your loved one into memory care, contact us today!
