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Aging can be a difficult process for older adults and their families. There are a number of health conditions that become more common as we age, including diabetes, hearing loss, cardiovascular disease, and strokes. One of the most dreadful and debilitating diseases common in older adults, however, is dementia.
When we think about dementia, we immediately think of Alzheimer’s because it’s the most prevalent type of dementia. As many as 6.5 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s, and that number is expected to rise to 14 million by 2060. It affects around 10.7 percent of people aged 65 and up. That’s around one in every nine older adults.
This is why memory care must be a critical component of long-term care. It can be challenging finding the right skilled nursing facility for a loved one who requires memory care, but Bent Philipson, founder of Philosophy Care, believes this is why it’s even more important to look for a trusted community specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. This is a service every single one of Philosophy Care’s facilities offers to their residents, and Bent ensures each facility uses a combination of technology, socialization, and individualized therapies to provide life-changing care.
Memory care has evolved quite a bit over the last decade, and there are a few approaches that Bent Philipson believes every SNF and long-term care center should be following to enhance their memory care services. Below are the most significant in his opinion.
Focus on the Whole Person, Not Just the Disease
A person-centered approach to memory care is the only way to create a comprehensive care plan for an elderly resident. Bent Philipson explains that this is only possible when staff members get to know every single one of their residents. Understanding what makes them happy, what makes them sad, what stresses them out, and what their emotional needs are is how a facility can create personalized care plans that are extensive and effective.
Once you know the whole person, you can understand how to engage them. Residents who require memory care services need to have their minds, bodies, and emotions engaged just like other residents. However, some facilities haven’t adjusted their social calendars to offer activities, like craft sessions and walking clubs, to cater to memory care residents. Yet, this is necessary to truly provide person-centered care within an SNF and long-term center.
Design With Memory Care in Mind
Some healthcare executives don’t realize the significance of their building designs. As memory care remains a critical part of senior care, developers are identifying ways to accommodate Alzheimer’s and dementia residents through their designs. What does a building designed with memory care in mind look like? Bent Philipson offers these features to consider:
Adequate Outdoor Space. Giving memory care residents access to natural environments, like gardens and courtyards, and fresh air is crucial to their care. Even more profound, however, is that creating time for these residents to be outdoors is known to decrease their distress and agitation levels as well.
Appealing to the Senses. Residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia often struggle with depth perception. Painting walls and floors with contrasting colors, as well as adding intentional artwork to walls, can help residents navigate the building better, which grants them a sense of independence while also helping to alleviate anxiety.
Consider Natural Lighting. Residents with dementia struggle to sleep at night. Natural lighting can help improve their circadian rhythms, while also creating a more calming environment during the day.
Implement Helpful Technology
Bent Philipson believes we can’t talk about the future of healthcare, especially memory care, without also talking about technology. Technology exists to help improve our lives, and skilled nursing facilities are beginning to implement technology that deepens the level of care they provide to residents.
Augmented reality, for example, allows residents to engage in activities that would otherwise be inaccessible to them, like fishing or biking. This is a great way to help them reminisce, but also to relax and unwind. Then, you have technologies like robotic pets, that can be used as part of a resident’s therapy and social engagement. These pets are so real that it feels like having a real companion by your side. Another technology that facilities use to enhance memory care is wearable devices, which helps staff members monitor a person’s heart rate, sleep patterns, and fall risks without having to be in the room.
Memory care has become so much more complex over the years, and facilities must continue to transform their memory care services if they want to offer the most comprehensive, quality care to their residents.
