Deciding which memory care community in your area is best suited for your loved one is a daunting task. After all, the transition from at-home care to living in a senior living community is a big move! With millions of Americans living with dementia and the numbers continuing to rise, there’s no surprise that demand, as well as supply for memory care, is growing. With so many memory care options available nowadays, it can be challenging to find the perfect choice for your loved one. Read on to learn how you can pick a memory care community in Lenoir, NC that’s perfect for your loved one!
Understand Your Loved One’s Priorities
Before you even get searching for a retirement community that can meet your loved one’s needs, you first need to understand what those needs are. Every older adult varies in what they prioritize in terms of care, including your loved one. For some, it may be something as simple as maintaining their diet, while for others, it could be as complex as caring for a chronic condition. When assessing your loved one’s needs and priorities, it’s useful to ask yourself the following questions:
- Does my loved one frequently exhibit uncooperative behavior such as aggression, agitation, and irritation?
- Does my loved one wander, seek exits, or get lost often?
- Does my loved one rely on a mobility aid such as a wheelchair or walker?
- Does my loved one need supervision round-the-clock?
- Does my loved one need help when using the restroom?
- Does my loved one have a chronic illness that requires ongoing, consistent medical attention?
Depending on your answers, a memory care community may or may not be well-equipped enough to care for your loved one sufficiently.
Research, Research, Research!
Memory care communities offer a wide range of amenities, programs, and services to help their residents maintain and even improve their quality of life. However, these aspects vary from community to community, so it’s important that you research every community heavily, rather than simply looking one up and calling it a day. Depending on your loved one’s priorities, certain features may be more important than others. For example, if your loved one is on a fitness journey, they may prefer a retirement community with good fitness and wellness programs on top of their memory care program.
Visit the Memory Care Community
We always recommend that prospective residents and their loved ones visit any memory care community they’re interested in. Most memory care communities offer guided tours, in which you and your loved one can experience the environment for yourselves. Don’t forget to ask your community guide as many questions as you want, so that you have a better point of reference for when you go back home and discuss the various community options available with your loved one. After researching, touring, and discussing every choice, you should be ready to decide on the best memory care community option for your loved one!
Looking for a memory care community in North Carolina? Consider our community’s unique Memory Care program!
