As a family caregiver for someone who has Alzheimer’s, you should know that even the most dedicated families often need to enlist outside memory care help, especially during the latter stages of the disease. Two of the best options for memory care services are in-home care and residential care in a specialized memory care community.

In-Home Care

In-home memory care, often called home care or home health care, can be used to support your loved one while also giving you and your family a much-needed break from your caregiving duties.

In-home care services are provided on a one-on-one basis. A home care provider who specializes in working with individuals who have Alzheimer’s disease can be hired on an hourly or live-in basis. These professionals can help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing and grooming, that your loved one might not want a family member helping them with.

Home care providers can also assist with light housekeeping and laundry, meal prep and in some cases, pet care. This type of care may be ideal if you’re looking for someone who can supervise your loved one while you attend to your own health and well-being or on a respite basis.

Memory Care Communities

Memory care communities are specially designed senior living communities that provide around-the-clock nonmedical care to those with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. These communities look and feel much like assisted living facilities but have added security features to help keep residents safe, such as delayed-egress exit doors, tastefully enclosed outdoor areas and location monitoring systems.

Memory care communities are staffed by professional caregivers who have completed specialized memory care training. These caregivers are experienced in safely and respectfully managing the behaviors exhibited by individuals with memory loss, and these facilities have more direct care staff available than you’ll find in an assisted living facility.

In addition to being staffed by specialized caregivers, memory care communities provide residents with a highly structured and predictable environment. Daily individual and small group activities are designed to delay the further onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms while enhancing residents’ strengths and supporting overall health and wellness. Many memory care communities offer respite services, so your family can try out the placement on a short-term basis before deciding whether or not the community is a good fit for your loved one.

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