When your loved one is diagnosed with dementia, it can be challenging to navigate through the tough emotional stress and working on a treatment plan to ensure that your loved one receives the best dementia care and stays safe for as long as possible. The reasons why sometimes people are faced with the dilemma of seeking the services of a dementia care facility is because they are not sure what kind of care their loved ones will get. There are a lot of unknowns and this could further escalate the stress levels as one grapples with the decision to seek help. Amidst all the indecisiveness, dementia care facilities can be great places for your loved one suffering from any diseases that causes memory loss. Such diseases include dementia, alzheimers and parkinsons disease. The first option that comes to mind when searching for a dementia care facility is dementia home care. Since you are not sure about the facilities around your area, you will probably consider home care which can be quite expensive. Fortunately, there are a few factors that can give some pointers on what make a great dementia care facility.
Search for a Facility that has a Safe yet Comfortable Environment
When searching for the perfect dementia care facility, you are supposed to be very hands-on about the process. Remember, you are looking for assurances that your loved one will get the best care even in your absence. Search your local directory on dementia care facilities around your area and schedule a physical visit to a few facilities. One thing you should understand during the visit is that the dementia care facilities are supposed to feel homelike and not as if you are in a hospital environment. Pay close attention to the amenities that each of the facilities provides and the overall design of the facility. The structural appearance of the facility should be one that makes you feel like you are at home and not characterized by long hallways synonymous with hospitals. You should also look at how much space is available for dementia patients to interact. Social interaction is actually very important for patients suffering from loss of memory which is why every facility should have a social interaction hall with all kinds of entertainment devices, board games and music equipment.
Purposeful and Engaging Activities
Simply put, there are certain activities that your loved ones likes to engage in. Any dementia care treatment plan will therefore peg its success on purposeful and engaging activities that should be implemented as outlined in the official manual. Ask to have a look at the daily program at the facility and pay special attention to the activities outlined as being part of the routine activities. Make sure that there are at least a few activities that your loved one likes to engage in. If you find that there is absolutely no activity that would tickle the fancy of your loved one, you are better off looking for a different facility. The whole point of a memory loss care facility is that residents still get the feeling that they are still loved and are part of the community. They should never feel isolated or kept in isolation but rather should be accorded as much time as possible to interact. These are some of the things you should look out for in a dementia care center.
