Assisted living communities are terrific for giving seniors the ability to remain independent far longer than they may be able to do in a personal home setting. The time may come, however, when a greater level of care is necessary, whether it's because of physical ailments, the looming onset of Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. That’s where memory care comes into play.

Within the memory care community of The Gardens in Springfield, you’ll encounter highly skilled professionals trained to make the transition from independent or assisted living to a greater level of care easy. Here are four key things to know about memory care.

What Does Memory Care Do?

Memory care is designed for people with early to moderate dementia. These seniors are still highly active and interactive but may need to be engaged in different ways due to dementia.

The direct resident care offered by a loving care staff at The Gardens memory care ensures the resident's every medical need is attended to. Individuals who need memory care are often unable to safely self-administer medication or proactively address other medical needs on their own.

A special setting may also be beneficial during this time. Our memory care apartments are designed to be physically and visually comfortable, extending comfort for residents as their memory recedes.

What Advantages Does Memory Care Offer?

One of the biggest advantages memory care offers to residents and their loved ones is peace of mind through trained care staff and a secure environment.

Many dementia residents are prone to wander as their impairment advances. By providing a safe and secure environment, The Gardens of Springfield help prevent residents from wandering out and then being unable to remember how to get back. Professionals and loved ones can still take residents outside of the community, accompanying them to appointments or special events, but security and technology ensures the residents remain safely on-site at all other times.

When Does Memory Care Become Necessary?

It can be very hard to be objective in assessing when memory care becomes necessary for a senior and even harder for someone to admit they are impaired because of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

One indicator that a loved one may need to be transitioned to memory care is that they are no longer able to safely handle day-to-day self-care functions on their own without significant support. The medical professionals and other staff at The Gardens in Springfield work regularly with all residents, and they can provide recommendations on what accommodations may be best at any given time.

Moving to a memory care suite that’s already on-site can make that transition easier to accept for residents and family members alike.

What Should You Expect From Memory Care?

Memory care services cannot reverse the effects of dementia nor prevent the disease from progressing. However, the services provided through memory care, like daily programming to engage residents, daily nursing care and proactive health services, can prolong lifespan while enhancing quality of life during that time.

Memory care is a partnership between the community, the resident and the resident's loved ones. Conversations should be shared routinely so that expectations are met and comfort is always assured.

If you believe it may be time to investigate memory care suites for yourself or a loved one, begin by speaking with one of the on-site professionals at The Gardens in Springfield, and make sure to keep your family and doctors in the loop as you begin this transition.