When your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia, it is essential to begin making plans for where they will live as their disease progresses. At first, you may want to decide to stay at home; however, as the disease progresses, their care needs to continue to increase. Memory care communities are designed to provide an exceptional level of care to those with varying degrees of dementia or Alzheimer’s. They create a unique environment where the lifestyles and routines are set in place to help create a stress-free lifestyle. They include a variety of safety features to ensure the well-being of their residents, and they provide programs that are specially designed to help with cognitive skills.

Seniors who have dementia or Alzheimer’s often require a special level of care that the layperson is unequipped for and simply unable to provide. Caretakers are likely not able to give needed care at all hours of the day and night. Also, most homes are not built with the necessary safety features to accommodate a person suffering from memory loss due to Alzheimer’s or dementia. For this reason, many families turn to memory care communities, which are set up expressly to care for these patients.

Another goal of memory care communities, aside from the safety and well-being of their residents, is to help to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s or dementia. As well as to help their residents feel a sense of purpose and satisfaction with their lives and enjoyment on a daily basis. The trained staff and top-of-the-line resources that memory care communities have help to accomplish this goal in a way that ensures their residents are safe and well looked after.

If your loved one has Alzheimer’s or dementia in Boise, you will likely want to look into a memory care Community as early as possible. The best way to ease the transition into a new home is to involve your loved one in the decision making process as much as possible. Narrow down your choices and take them to visit. Let them see and experience the community for themselves so that they can have a say. Allowing them to help with the decision can help them to feel a sense of purpose, as well as helping to give them a small amount of control in lives that they likely have very little control over.

When you are looking for a memory care community in Boise, there are a few things that you will want to consider:

• Safety – You want to look for a community that has an array of security measures in place. It should have a sound emergency response system, doors that are alarmed so that residents are unable to wander off into the community. It should have an environment that is handicap accessible. Another thing that may be important to you is determining if there is a fenced-in outdoor area where the residents can take in some fresh air without getting lost.
• Services – Memory care communities, like those in Boise, usually have a variety of services available. These can range from freshly prepared meals, housekeeping, laundry, transportation escort assistance, and many more. They also often include things like a library or game room. Some of these services will be included as standard, and some services may be add-on services, so be sure that you know what is available and what is included in your monthly fees.
• Staff members – Even more important than services to the running of a memory care community in Boise are the staff. The staff in a memory care community should be aware of and trained in the most up-to-date care practices for memory patients. As technology and science continue to develop at such a rapid pace, it’s important that the staff are receiving ongoing training on proper care techniques. You want to ensure that there is an appropriate level of staffing for both the daytime and the night. While you are visiting, you’ll also want to ensure that you like or can, at least, easily tolerate.
• Environment – Due to the nature of Alzheimer’s or dementia, memory care residents must live in an environment that is, at times, uncomfortable and unfamiliar. Many communities have residences that look similar to a private home, with areas where residents can participate in what seems to be normal, everyday activities. Memory care communities also have features like easy-to-navigate floor plans and soothing wall colors and floor patterns.
• Care – Just as each person is an individual, so too is each person’s experience with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Each disease progression is different, and hence, each resident needs to have their own care plan that will work for them. This is why it is essential to find a community that does not only an individual intake assessment, but that has options for targeted activities and techniques that will work for each individual.  
• Activities – In a memory care facility in Boise, you will likely find communities that plan fun and engaging activities such as social gatherings, fitness classes, live entertainment, and many others. All of these activities are designed with the patient’s health, safety and well-being in mind, and are geared to be especially beneficial for people who have Alzheimer’s or dementia. Many activities are designed with the goal of helping to maintain a resident’s current skills, as well as improving a patient’s cognitive functions.

These are simply a few of the things that you will find in a memory care community in Boise. If you are struggling with caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia, don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are many places you can reach out to that will give you support and advice as you travel through this long and challenging journey.

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