Autumn View Gardens offers memory care provided by a highly trained, compassionate team. In any memory care community, the staff plays an integral role in caring for your loved one, so you want to find a team you can trust. If you're new to memory care, understanding the roles of different members of the care team helps you feel comfortable with the care your loved one will receive.
When your loved one becomes a resident of Autumn View Gardens, the Health Services Director creates a personalized care plan with the help of your loved one and their family. This includes an assessment of all their needs to put together the plan, which is based on physical and psychological needs. Because memory loss can affect everyone differently, having this tailored care plan is essential. It allows your loved one to have their individual needs met so they receive the best care possible. The community caregivers carry out the plan and might offer input when changes need to be made to it.
Resident safety is one of the top responsibilities of a memory care community. The physical environment should promote safety with things like alarmed doors, keypad entry points and secured outdoor spaces. However, the staff is also a key part of resident safety. They follow safety protocols to keep the facility secure. Checking in on patients regularly and accompanying them to various activities helps keep them safe. Memory care facilities typically provide 24-hour monitoring and supervision so residents can quickly get the help they need. This typically involves having staff members monitor a 24-hour emergency alert system and responding to calls.
The care team should have specialized training in memory care to understand the unique needs of individuals with memory disorders. This enables them to interact positively with your loved one. They learn how to handle unique situations that come up with memory loss, such as how to communicate with people who have dementia and how to handle challenging or aggressive residents. Caregivers learn how to keep residents calm and redirect them when necessary.
Structure and routines are often important for people with memory disorders. They give residents a sense of familiarity, which can help keep them calm and lower their stress levels. They're less likely to feel agitated or be aggressive. Structure can also help residents maintain independence because they know what to expect. When they're calm, they're better able to perform different tasks and processes. The care staff helps create this structure in the way they interact with residents and establish routines.
Memory care staff members provide varying levels of support for routine care tasks based on each resident's needs. These typically include things like eating, going to the bathroom, getting dressed and grooming. Residents might forget how to do some of these routine tasks, so the staff can help them complete those things. The routine tasks can also be challenging for residents with mobility issues. Caregivers support residents through these tasks as much or as little as they need.
Many memory care communities can also provide some medical care for residents. The levels of care vary by community. Medication management is a common service offered by the memory care staff. This can be especially important for memory care residents, who might forget to take medications or take too much. Caregivers often perform regular health assessments to look for issues. The staff can often monitor chronic health conditions to watch for worsening symptoms. It's also common to have on-site therapy, such as speech, physical and occupational therapy services. Some communities bring in medical specialists to see patients on-site.
The memory care staff incorporates meaningful activities throughout the day. These programs are designed specifically for people with memory disorders. They often involve incorporating the senses with things like pet therapy, music and rhythm and scents, such as flowers. Residents have access to a variety of activities, including baking and making memory books, that keep them engaged and offer socialization opportunities. Staff members plan and lead these activities, and they support residents who need extra help to complete the activities. Memory care team members also accompany residents on planned outings.
Another role the care team fills is communicating with families. Quality memory care communities keep loved ones in the loop regarding resident care. They update families on changes, concerns or incidents with residents. The staff might ask for input when the care plan needs to be changed. Caregivers in memory care facilities typically have training on supporting family members who might experience grief or loss during the process. Moving your loved one to a memory care facility might cause you to feel guilty, especially if you previously served as the person's caregiver. The staff learns about those feelings and how they could impact the situation.
If your loved one needs memory care, Autumn View Gardens offers a safe, homelike environment to provide the support they require. The caregivers are highly trained to help give residents the highest quality of life possible.
