If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, there’s a good chance you have thought about care options that will be needed as the disease progresses. In many cases, individuals who are diagnosed with the disease want to remain at home for as long as possible. Hourly personal care can be used early in the disease’s progression, but more intensive care options will be necessary as cognitive ability declines.
Two of the most common care options families utilize are memory care and live-in care. While memory care is a sufficient long-term care option for people living with dementia, many freedoms can be taken away from these individuals. Oftentimes, those living in memory care facilities have to operate on fixed schedules and in group settings. On the other hand, live-in dementia care allows patients to keep their independence in the comfort of their own homes.
Memory Care
Memory care facilities provide specialized assistance to aging adults experiencing cognitive decline, often as a result of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. These facilities offer a competent staff, adequate nutrition, therapeutic activities, assistance with everyday tasks, medication management, and a structured schedule. In addition, unique features tailored to seniors with declining cognitive function are provided:
- Specially trained staff
- 24/7 supervision to prevent wandering
- Areas designated for easing anxiety and agitation
- Safety features, which may include alarmed doors and in-room emergency call systems
- Facilities designed to promote socialization and provide a safe environment
While some argue that memory care is essential for offering a suitable environment for individuals with dementia, others think these facilities lack personalization and fail to foster meaningful relationships due to minimal one-on-one interactions. Moreover, concerns over the total cost or potential isolation of their senior loved one may outweigh the potential benefits for many families.
Live-In Dementia Care
Live-in care allows individuals living with dementia to continue to live at home as the disease progresses, which most aging adults prefer. Rather than moving into an assisted living facility, memory care unit, or nursing home facility, the patient’s home is adapted to become more dementia-friendly.
Live-in caregivers can provide the following, all from the comfort of the patient’s home:
- One-on-one companionship
- Custom and individualized activities that are geared towards the indivdual
- Respite for family caregivers
- Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, grooming, and hygiene
- Medication reminders
- Safety supervision
- Transportation services
- Errands
- Chores
- Light housekeeping
These live-in caregivers also go through training to understand how to effectively communicate with individuals living with dementia, how to handle behavioral changes that commonly arise, and which care techniques allow patients to keep their independence.
Differences between Memory Care and Live-In Dementia Care
Location
For memory care, patients must move out of their homes into an unfamiliar facility, which can create many issues for people living with dementia.
In-home care, on the other hand, can provide many of the same services as a memory care facility within the comfort of a patient’s own home.
Care Schedule
Patients in memory care facilities commit to full-time care and supervision – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. While this is optimal for the later stages of dementia, your loved one may not be ready for or need a full transition.
Live-in care allows for a more flexible care schedule, which can be altered to fit the patient’s needs as the disease progresses.
Independence
Memory care facilities usually have patients do tasks/activities on a set schedule in a group environment, making it much harder to form connections with other individuals.
Live-in care allows patients to create a schedule based on their personal needs and what is important to them with the help of their aides. The caregiver can also apply techniques that allow the individual living with dementia to remain independent.
Cost
The cost of memory care is ambiguous and can become very pricey with additional charges for laundry, medications, etc. Additionally, should your loved one not conform to the schedule at the community – they may insist on you bringing in private care for your loved one.. They also have the right to ask you to leave if you do not comply.
Live-in dementia caregivers offer flat rates, only paying for additional care as needed. This gives families peace of mind regarding finances knowing exactly what their expenses are.
Privacy
In facilities, patients may find themselves sharing a room unlike at home (unless they pay for a private room, further adding to the financial burden of long-term care). Sharing a room with another patient adds even more unfamiliarity to the facility transition – not an optimal situation for those with dementia.
At home, it’s your space. Only welcomed people have access to patients’ belongings or common areas, protecting their privacy.
Home to Stay’s Live-In Dementia Care Services
When it comes to finding around-the-clock live-in home care services, no one has been doing it longer or better than us – especially when it comes to dementia care. For well over two decades, we have been South Jersey’s premier live-in service with Home Health Aides and companions at affordable prices.
Our live-in caregivers can provide respite for family caregivers as they take over all everyday care responsibilities and offer companionship for your senior loved one living with dementia. Contact us today for all your live-in dementia care needs in South and Central Jersey.
