Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care

Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be an exhausting and overwhelming labor of love. One of the most difficult aspects of Alzheimer’s and dementia are the behavioral changes that typically occur over time. Aggression, agitation, suspicion, wandering, incontinence, and inappropriate comments are common behavioral effects resulting from these cognitively debilitating conditions. 

If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s and needs more assistance than home caregivers can reasonably provide, then you should explore Alzheimer’s and dementia care communities. These communities, also known as Memory Care centers, have specially trained staff who provide care in a dedicated unit or in a separate section of a skilled nursing or assisted living residence. All such communities provide wander deterrents in a secure environment. Look for communities that follow what is known as a patient-centered philosophy, which emphasizes respect, support and positive choices for those with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Look for a Memory Care community if your loved one:

• Requires personal care services for most activities of daily living;
• Exhibits challenging behaviors such as confusion, forgetfulness, agitation, combativeness or aggression;
• Has accidents at home or forgets to use safety equipment (walkers, grab bars, etc.);
• Cannot use proper judgment in an emergency;
• Has difficulty recognizing loved ones and familiar faces or places;
• Wanders away from home and so needs a secure residence and/or
• Has a caregiver that can no longer cope with the challenges of Alzheimer’s disease.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Definitions

Dementia is a general term used to describe a decline in mental ability, usually associated with a brain injury or disease. Dementia is not a disease, but a non-specifc illness syndrome. Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, is a progressive degenerative disease that is the most common form of dementia. In 2012, an estimated 5.4 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease.  This figure includes 5.2 million people age 65 and older. Mild cognitive impairment, a decline in cognitive ability associated with the normal aging process, is less severe than dementia and should not be considered for memory care units.

COST:

The cost of Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care can vary greatly according to location, accommodations and amenities of the community.

Approximate Cost: $3,900 – $10,000/ per month. See cost comparison

For more information on Alzheimer’s Disease visit the Alzheimer’s Association