Five Memory Loss Care Strategies for Assisted Living in Pascagoula, AL

August 5, 2014 by ·

Providing elderly care can be difficult but memory loss presents a whole new set of needs and challenges. There are assisted living facilities specifically designed for seniors suffering with memory loss. Assisted Living uses the following strategies to improve the quality of life in a person dealing with memory loss.Assisted Living Pascagoula AL

Areas of care that will have an impact on a person with memory loss are:

  1. Food and liquid consumption – Without the proper consumption of the right foods and fluid, a decline in a senior’s health is evident. An assisted livingfacility will do what is necessary to achieve the goal of providing the proper nutrition and hydration to those suffering with memory loss. The staff works hard to ensure that residents have a pleasant and enjoyable atmosphere during meal times.
  2. Social interaction – Engaging with others or in meaningful activities will help residents maintain a certain level of functionality. It also prevents an elder from becoming depressed due to feelings of loneliness or frustration.
  3. Wandering – Wandering is a common behavioral expression in memory loss or dementia patients to fulfill a desire for a social need or tend to some physical discomfort or psychological distress. In order to deal with this behavior, it is important to determine the root cause. The goal of an assisted living facility is to promote safety and encourage independence through mobility and choices.
  4. Pain management – Often times, pain goes untreated in patients who are suffering with memory loss because of the inability to communicate effectively. If pain goes undetected or is poorly managed, behavioral problems can occur. That is why pain is considered a fifth vital sign in memory care assisted living.
  5. Restraint-free care – Physical restraints are sometimes used as a way to ensure safety but in reality, they do more harm to residents than good. It is more effective to determine the underlying problems that warrant the use of restraints. Then work on a solution that involves using restraint-free methods.

The quality of life for a person suffering with memory loss will depend on the quality of the relationships they have with staff members and other residents within their assistedliving community. If assisted living is something you are looking into for a loved one, inquire about their strategies and techniques for dealing with the elderly and memory loss.

If you or an aging loved one are considering Assisted Living, contact Ashbury Manor Specialty Care and Assisted Living near Pascagoula AL, 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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