In choosing a memory care facility for your loved one, you’ll want to be sure you choose a place that will be able to meet all of their needs, especially given the specialized needs of dementia and Alzheimer’s patients. Use this checklist to help you make a wise decision for your family.
Memory care is a specialized form of assisted living in which residents with dementia-related conditions receive 24-hour support. These facilities offer secure, enclosed environments to prevent wandering as well as structured daily routines and trained staff able to manage cognitive decline and attend to personal care needs.
Whether this is your first time seeking a senior care community for your loved one or if you are looking to relocate them from their current facility, it can be an overwhelming process.
Choosing a memory care facility
As you make phone calls and take personal tours, use this checklist to compare memory care facilities to find the right one for your loved one.
Confirm the community can meet your loved one’s care needs
- Levels of care: Most memory care facilities offer three tiers of care based on each resident’s cognitive and physical abilities: basic, moderate, and advanced care.
- Care plans: Ask staff whether they create personalized care plans and how often they modify them as the resident’s needs change.
- Medical support: See if the community has on-site nurses, medication management services, or healthcare partnerships with local clinics or hospitals available on-site.
- Family communications: How and how often does the staff update families on their loved one’s condition?
Evaluate safety and the physical environment
- Comforting physical environment: Is the community set up to enhance the residents’ emotional health through lighting, homelike environments, access to safe outdoor areas, smaller living units, and easy navigation tools? Do they allow residents to bring in familiar, comforting items such as pictures and religious objects?
- Preventive measures: Memory care facilities should have safeguards and procedures in place to prevent residents from wandering.
- Accessibility and safety: Pay attention to the apartment floor plans, accessibility modifications (e.g., grab bars in showers, handrails, and bright lighting), and visible common areas that make it easier for residents to navigate daily routines.
- Response to resident safety incidents: Understand how staff respond to patient-related challenges such as falls, wandering, or aggressive behavior.
- Fire and emergency preparedness: How did the community do on its most recent fire safety inspection? (You can also check with the local fire department or state fire marshal’s office for the report.) What are their procedures for emergencies such as fires and natural disasters and how are staff prepared to implement the plans?
Look into staffing and training
Staff-to-patient ratio: Staffing rules for memory care facilities vary by state, but typically families look for 1 caregiver for every 5 to 8 patients during the day, and 1 caregiver for 8 to 12 residents at night. Of course, better ratios equate to higher costs.- Medical professionals: When are trained medical staff such as RNs on site?
- Staff training and education: Find out whether staff providing direct care to residents have received specialized training in Alzheimer’s and dementia-related care.
- Staff interactions and attitudes: Watch how the staff interacts with residents during tours. Do they seem friendly and patient?
- Staff availability: Find out what overnight support looks like at the community.
Explore activities and quality of life
- Activity calendar: See what opportunities encourage social connection, movement, and brain stimulation.
- Customized activities: Memory care facilities may offer programs tailored to residents with different cognitive abilities and interests.
- Resident preferences: Learn if your loved one can maintain their personal sleep and meal preferences as well as hobbies or routines.
Related: Is it time for memory care?
Review dining options and wellness support
- Dining programs: Some memory care facilities offer chef-prepared meals that are designed to support residents’ nutritional needs. They may also have a specialized dining environment, such as finger foods for residents with utensil fatigue, handheld menus, and tailored routines.
- Dietary accommodations: If your loved one has specific dietary needs due to allergies, medications, or swallowing difficulties, ask whether the menus are customizable.
- Wellness activities: Does the facility offer walking groups, movement classes, reminiscence therapy (old photos and music), or other activities to support physical and mental well-being?
Understand the costs and contracts before committing
Before you sign the paperwork, know what you’re getting into first. Memory care facilities can be pricey, especially if your loved one needs additional assistance beyond their standard of care, so you’ll want to ensure you’re investing in the right community.
Here are some tips to ensure you have all the details you need before committing to a memory care facility:
- Ask for an itemized list of costs, from room and board to specialized therapies and activities. Know what is included and what is offered at extra cost.
- See if they accept any financial aid, such as Medicaid or veterans’ benefits, long-term insurance, or bridge loans.
- Review contract details carefully to ensure you understand the deposit, monthly costs, cancellation policies, and potential fee increases.
- Don’t be “one-and-done.” Visit multiple communities, note pros and cons for each, and compare costs.
- Trust your instincts on whether the community feels supportive, safe, and comfortable for your loved one.
In choosing a memory care facility, you want to ensure the community is capable of caring for your loved one as they experience cognitive and physical decline. If one facility doesn’t feel right, move on to the next one. Remember, this will be a place your loved one will call home, so you want to make sure it feels as close to home as possible.
If you’re unsure about moving your loved one from their home to a facility, consider this article on home care versus assisted living or read one daughter’s account of her father’s story.
