Are memory care units, in your opinion better for Alzheimer patients? I feel they should be, I have no personal experience. My DH is in nursing home ( for two weeks now) and he is so bored. Even the roommate doesn't say much to him. He got very irritated the other day when my DH had his glasses on. I am looking around for a different place, but there are no memory units in my town. I would consider moving if I found something that had more going on for dementia pts.
Memory care units SHOULD be better for dementia patients but that's not always the case. Much depends on the staff's training and familiarity with caring for those with dementia (believe it or not, they're not always well trained), the creativity of the activities director and probably most of all, what stage most of the residents are in with their dementia. The first memory care unit my husband was in (he had moderate dementia and was still quite physically active and mentally could follow conversations) all of the residents were in late/moderate to late stage dementia and basically sat around in disposable briefs in wheelchairs all day with virtually no activity. They sat with their heads slumped to their chests and basically slept all day. And they were significantly older than dh who Was 58 at the time.
The second unit was better with better trained staff and activities but many of the activities - songs, movie references, etc. were geared towards the residents who were probably a generation older than we are so at times my husband's participation was limited. But there was a wide range of people in various stages so my husband was able to converse and connect with many of the other people.
I would advise visiting and look around to gauge if there are other residents in a similar stage as your husband. I found age only mattered when he was earlier in his dementia and more physically/mentally active. Now that he's early stage 7, it doesn't matter if someone is close to his age (65).
The problem I found was that 99% of the Memory Care units were in Assisted Living facilities, NOT nursing homes. Sid was so physically disabled ,as well as diabetic, that he required a NH. As LFL said, not all staff is as well trained as they should be, even in the specific Memory Care units.
I was lucky to find a NH that had a specialized, locked Memory Care unit. My experience has been that every place puts on a good face and sales pitch. Word of mouth from someone who has had a loved one in the facility you are considering is your best bet.
To answer your original question as to whether a memory care unit is better for Alzheimer patients, my answer would be absolutely. Staff is generally trained how to deal with Alzheimer behaviors, and activities are geared to their level.
But, as always, it is up to you to be vigilant in seeing to it that the staff does the job they are supposed to be trained to do.
I actually threw the new director of nursing out of the dementia unit one time, because she was so untrained in AD that she ARGUED with Sid for over an hour, trying to get him to understand and accept why they changed his room. The more she ARGUED, the more agitated he got (DUH!). I told her 3 times to stop, and she told me that she had to try to make him understand. That's when I told her to get out and get away from my husband.
Ky caregiver, The term "memory care" is really an advertising term. (It is impossible to care for someone's memory.) My understanding is that it is a euphemism for a dementia unit. My husband is in a "secure dementia unit" in a state facility for veterans (not a VA facility). The dementia unit has 25 residents. There is has a large day room in the center, an activity/dining room off to one side, and large bedrooms that are like pods off the day room (there are no long corridors). The nurses' station looks out into the day room. The door to the unit is locked but the residents have the run of the entire unit. There is an activities director who organizes structured activities (simplified bingo, bowling, ball toss, ladder game, etc.) from 9-3 every weekday. Some days a musical performer will come in and some days a service dog visits. I don't know if private memory care units have this level of activity. I believe that if it were a private facility, the unit would be called "memory care." I think the care given in this unit is more like a nursing home than an ALF, although the facility also has units with skilled nursing care, hospice care, and even a dormitory for residents who are fairly independent.
I suggest that you go to visit some Memory Care places and see for yourself what they offer, what they cost, etc.
ALFs are regulated by the steps in the US and not by the federal govt, so the definition of ALF is different in every state. Memory Care is only one term used for dementia care. A placement company might be able to provide more guidance on an appropriate facility. Attend a caregivers meeting at the facility beforehand if you can, the complaints can be eye opening. At my wife's first facility I we were snowed about the level of service.
Myrtle, yes I know that "memory care" is a ridiculous name, also called, alzheimer units, or etc. I have visited one in a city 30 miles away but chose to place my husband in a nrs home here. He is doing well, after only 2 wks, and the care is good, I just hate that he has no one to interact with except the help. Joan I dont blame you, that woman would have been out the door if my husband was treated that way. There definetly needs to be more training about dementia. I put a sign up in my husbands room to please elevate his recliner, also to please put tv on channel 32 for westerns in daytime. These aids thinks he knows these things! He cant even turn on tv. So many little things like this they expect them to know. I am all for the alzheimer/dementia units,I just hate to have to sell my house and move to another town, ive had so many losses already. I want him where I can see him every day. He is 5 min away from me now.
Also another thing I found about the alzheimer unit, is they are very very careful who they let in . They or no one else wants a patient that is a wonderer or combative inn any way. And my husband is not either. I did tour the home and the majority was females in their 80s. $10000 a month
Ky caregiver, That's a really tough decision. I would not even consider it unless I were certain that the activity schedule in the memory care place was enough to justify moving him. Also, do you think your husband would interact with the residents in the other place? I completely understand why you want to be close to him (I'm only 20 minutes away from my husband) if you have to move . . . . As you say, you have had so many losses already. Do you think there is another resident on your husband's floor now that he might want to interact with?
You might want to locate a Geriatric Care Manager in your area to discuss your options. Typically they are quite familiar with facilities and their capabilities. When choosing GCM, interview them first, make sure they don't get "referral fees" from facilities (conflict of interest and they will only recommend those facilities). They can be expensive ($199-$175/hr) but might be well worth the investment in helping you source a better unit for your husband. They were listed under www.caremanager.org but I'm not sure anymore.
The second facility my husband was in was a locked dementia unit in a nursing home. It was basically a wing of a nursing home with 30 rooms, an activity room/dining room and locked doors. As I said up thread, they were better trained to handle a person with dementia behaviors but as soon as he was agitated and a bit difficult they gave him more medication, called me to come in and calm him and threatened to send him to the local hospital which in turn would send him to a psychiatric hospital. Been down that route twice.
In the Northeast and Mid-atlantic states there is a "chain" of ALFs specifically designed and geared for people with dementia. They are Arden Courts and are typically very very good. I put my husband on the waiting list but never actually placed him, but if/when I have to I will seriously consider them again, although I think he will need more skilled nursing care by that time.
As myrtle says, perhaps if you speak with the DON or facility director perhaps they can find a more suitable roommate for your spouse. IMHO, I would not consider moving until I found a place for my spouse that I knew would take care of him through his illness. So many things change and facilities often change what they will or will not do. The local ALF here would force the patient to move to a NH if they required a 2 person transfer or were on Hospice . Now if you go in and then eventually require those services you can stay and they will provide care (for a price) rather than kick you out. Economics, I'm sure.
I am very limited in my area for what is available. small town in Ky. There are 3 nsg homes, One I wouldnt evev consider. In Paducah Ky, 30 min away there are 4 more. He is past ALF. I live in western Ky. Yes, so much to consider, it is pathetic that there is no peace for the caregiver. We are haunted by our decisions even after we make them. We are the ones who suffer all this doubt about our loved one even after making the hardest one, placing them. No way to go on , you are not a widow, you are still responsible, you are free from the physical part, but the emotional part is worse than ever!
Since I have made the decision that I must place my dw it has helped me, I think I am more at peace. I am still however dreading the actual process. I have started looking but so much to consider. we moved about 6 years ago to be close to my in-laws as they were both failing and needed help but at that time, unknown to us, dw was well into alz, so have not developed a large social group here. In other words not much for me here. So should I move? came to the conclusion that just too much at one time I will have enough on my plate just making the transition for my dw.
Have also come to the conclusion that bigger is better. We had both my in laws in an extended care facility about 35 minutes from our home and we were very happy with the care. Both ended up with dementia and both were treated with respect and dignity. Lots of activities everyday if they could not participate they could always watch. When dw got diagnosed she said put me there. So I have decided that is where it will be, I wanted it to be closer and I don't want to move to that coImmunity but right now I think it is best. Since dw is only 59 I feel she needs the stimulation of having people around and activities to occupy her time. Many she would not be capable of doing but she could still participate. When I have been looking I have found that the places that specialized in dementia care were far less active. the place has a dementia specific area but it is mainly for those that are a flight risk, we had to have my father in law there for a short period of time and I found it awful, people walking the halls In diapers, hardly any interaction. when visiting all I could think about was some day my dw may have to be there and I could not stand that.
The other consideration was private vs public care. Most of the private are more like boutique facilities some nice but once again feel larger with more going on better at this point. Live in BC and the policy here is to get a funded bed you have to accept the first available bed in your area, In other words you cannot pick the facility. The place I have decided on is mainly private with some publicly funded beds. The difference for us is $3000 a month as compared to $6000 a month. Also the wait can be about 8 months for a funded bed. Right now I think sometime in the next number of months it will have to happen I will place her in a private pay bed and hope that we can get a funded bed In the facility in the not so distant future we shall see. At least it is a plan and a feel better about knowing the facility and feeling comfortable about her placement. That is more important right now than any other considerations.