Memory care provides compassionate, personalized care for people with dementia and other cognitive conditions. The comprehensive care and supervision provided in memory care programs can also provide some relief for the family and loved ones of people with dementia.
Memory care focuses on providing a structured environment and engaging activities to help stimulate cognitive abilities and enhance well-being in people with dementia. This specialized care can slow the progression of cognitive conditions like dementia.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care programs are designed specifically to care for people with impaired memory, reasoning, and other thinking skills. Like assisted living, memory care offers round-the-clock medical care from professional staff, exercise programs, and social activities.
However, memory care takes extra steps to care for people experiencing cognitive decline. For instance, memory care programs have higher security to prevent wandering and may offer more supervision for added safety. Additionally, the activities and exercise programs offered in memory care programs are personalized to people with dementia, offering support while helping them retain their independence.
The Teepa Snow’s GEMS® Model
At Kingston of Vermilion, we use Teepa Snow’s GEMS® Model to personalize our treatment plans according to each resident’s needs.
The GEMS® model focuses on preserving and uplifting the abilities that our residents possess and doesn’t linger on the skills and abilities they may have lost. This model allows us to train our staff to identify our residents’ strengths and abilities while providing customized support for our residents’ struggles.
The GEMS® model has six levels of care that we provide. These six “gems” are:
- At the sapphire state, people’s brains age normally. They are flexible, organized, have minimal memory issues, and work well with other gems.
- At the emerald state, people start to lose some clarity in their thoughts and communication. They may not realize they’re starting to have these problems and may blame others for the confusion.
- At the diamond state, people can still seem mentally sharp, but they become incredibly stubborn and inflexible. This can make it difficult for them to adapt to challenges.
- At the pearl state, people’s body systems may start to fail, and their gross motor skills may deteriorate.
- At the ruby state, people may experience a significant decline in their fine motor skills. This can affect their ability to see, communicate, and eat.
- At the amber state, people are often driven by sensations, often displaying a reduced awareness of safety. They follow positive emotions and curiosity, but they react strongly to things they don’t like.
We tailor our care to provide comprehensive support for your loved one. With the proper, personalized approach, we can help them maintain their independence and enhance their quality of life.
Who Needs Memory Care?
Memory care can be beneficial even for people in the early stages of dementia. The personalized programs can help slow the progression of cognitive decline and preserve their independence. However, when people with dementia begin to struggle to perform daily activities safely, memory care can help ensure their safety and well-being.
There are some common signs that it is time to consider memory care:
- Your loved one is beginning to put themselves in harm’s way.
- They neglect or struggle with daily self-care and hygiene.
- Your loved one showing uncharacteristic behaviors that are difficult to manage.
As memory issues progress, people may begin to become aggressive or incredibly hard to communicate with. These behavioural changes can be dangerous or overwhelming for caretakers to manage and may lead to memory care being a good option.
When to Consider Memory Care
If your loved one with dementia is unable to live safely in their own home, it may be time to consider memory care. At Kingston of Vermilion, we offer compassionate, comprehensive memory care.
Our team is prepared to offer personalized care to your loved one with dementia to help them live safely and comfortably. Let us help you and your loved one with the transition into memory care by contacting us or booking a tour today!
