3 Tips to Finding the Ideal Assisted Living Community for Someone with Alzheimer’s

April 13, 2016 by ·

Assisted Living in Theodore AL

Your loved one was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s last year. You immediately started discussing the option of assisted living. The following 3 tips will help you when looking for an ideal assisted Assisted-Living-Theodore-ALliving community for someone with this progressive disease.

1. Determine what stage of Alzheimer’s your loved one is in.

There are 3 main stages to this progressive disease. When in the earlier stage, seniors will most likely still be able to function independently performing their every day basic tasks. Memory loss will be minimal. During the middle stage, your loved ones will start to require some assistance doing the very things they have always been able to do on their own. As they reach the later stages, they will need 24-hour care.

Most assisted living facilities are not staffed with full-time medical personnel. Therefore, it is important to know what stage your loved one is in because most facilities will only accept people who are in the earlier stage of Alzheimer’s.

2. Know what services the assisted living facility offers.

Assisted living facilities will offer a variety of different services. Once you determine what type of services your loved one will need, this will help you to know which facility will be ideal based on the services it offers.

It’s always best to call the facility you are considering and make an appointment to take a tour of the place. Visiting the facility will also allow you to find out how certain behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s, such as wandering, outbursts, and even how the routines are structured for the residents.

3. Know what questions to ask.

It’s important to ask the right questions when it comes to finding the ideal assisted living community for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. One of the most important questions would be regarding the training and experience of the staff members when it comes to dealing with forms of dementia.

Other questions can include:

  • What type of activities are there for seniors with Alzheimer’s?
  • How many staff members are scheduled at any given time?
  • Are there staff members available on weekends and holidays?
  • Does the facility provide transportation to doctor’s appointments or to stores for shopping errands?
  • How is aggressive behavior or outbursts handled?
  • Can a resident be asked to leave the facility because of aggressive or bad behavior?
  • How is medication management handled?
  • What safety measures are in place for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia?
  • Will a person with Alzheimer’s be required to move as the disease progresses?

Finding the ideal assisted living community for a loved one with Alzheimer’s is going to require research and can be time consuming on your part. However, these tips are a great way to help ensure your loved one is in a safe and comfortable living environment.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living near Theodore, AL, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living at 251-317-3017.

 

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About Cindy Johnson

Ashbury Manor’s Administrator since 2008, Cindy Johnson is a long-time expert in the assisted living field. Prior to her arrival at Ashbury Manor, Cindy managed acquisitions and crisis management for existing and new larger senior care project developments for eleven years. As regional manager for an Oregon-based assisted living management company, Cindy was directly responsible for operations for five 50-65 bed assisted living facilities. As manager during the transition to new ownership, Cindy reorganized internal operations and conducted leadership training for Executive Directors. As a result of her management and expertise, one of the company’s facilities (in Ocala, Florida) received a deficiency-free survey, resulting in the lifting of a moratorium on operation.

A nurse for 36 years, senior care has always been Cindy’s passion. Desiring to work more closely with residents, Cindy became a Category II Administrator in 2005. As Ashbury Manor’s Administrator, Cindy understands the complexities associated with dementia and cognitive impairment and she has fallen in love with seniors with dementia or cognitive impairment and their families.

Cindy is Treasurer of the local “Senior Coalition” chapter. She enjoys mentoring new candidates who want to become administrators.

As a 16-bed facility, with Cindy's training and experience, our residents and their families can be sure Ashbury Manor’s carefully selected staff provides the expertise of a larger facility while maintaining the individualized personal care of a small special needs home.
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