If your mother or father has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, you may be exploring the options to place them in a memory care facility. Often, neither individuals nor nursing homes can provide the specialized care and attention that these patients need, and a memory care facility can be the best place for them.
If you are looking at different facilities, there are some signs you should look for to assess whether they are safe for your loved one.
Essential features of memory care facilities
Because of the unique needs and limitations that people with memory loss experience, care facilities must have certain features that a personal home or nursing home may not. These can include:
- Locked and alarmed exit doors
- Security cameras
- Noninvasive anti-wandering devices
- Clearly defined common areas
- Color-coded walls
- Enclosed outside spaces
- Rooms without cooking appliances
- Personalized living spaces
- Community engagement opportunities
- Therapeutic amenities
These features and offerings can keep residents with memory loss safer while also promoting healthy, enjoyable lifestyles.
Red flags to watch for
Not all facilities will offer all these services and resources, and some will be nicer and cleaner than others. However, some red flags that you may want to steer clear of can include:
- Understaffing
- Poorly kept common areas
- Reports of wandering or lost patients
- Few or no social activities
- Poor lighting
These can indicate that these facilities lack necessary supervision and that they have inadequate resources to take care of patients.
Finding the right place for your parent
Memory loss is devastating for victims and their loved ones, and unfortunately, it can make patients incredibly vulnerable to neglect and abuse. Thus, getting proper care from qualified, trained parties in safe facilities is crucial.
Should care providers or other individuals fail to act responsibly and compassionately when treating your loved one, you can take action on their behalf by filing a complaint and seeking legal remedies, if appropriate.
