Caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease, or any condition that causes dementia, can be a challenging journey that evolves over time. With the progression of dementia, families may need to explore dementia care options and how specialized memory care can enhance their loved one’s safety, well-being, and quality of life. Understanding the differences between Assisted Living/Personal Care and a Secure Dementia Unit can help families make informed decisions about when and where to transition care.
Why is dementia care important?
When we overlook signs of cognitive decline in ourselves or someone we love, we may unintentionally create bigger challenges for the future. Dementia is not just a medical condition — it affects the core of a person’s identity, altering their ability to remember, communicate, and navigate daily life. These challenges can make people more prone to feeling lonely, anxious, or insecure about their self-worth.
In contrast, pursuing proper memory care ensures that people with dementia continue to feel valued, safe, and engaged, despite the challenges they face. Dementia care includes helping to control some of the risk factors associated with dementia. Research shows that behavioral changes such as increasing physical activity, controlling blood pressure, and exercising the brain may help to prevent or delay cognitive decline. Engaging in familiar activities, offering structured routines, and providing emotional support can significantly enhance well-being and slow the progression of dementia symptoms.
This thoughtful, person-centered care — whether from family members, professional caregivers, or community programs — can create an environment where individuals with dementia have their needs met in a way that builds self-esteem, prioritizes connections, and enhances safety.
At What Point Do People With Dementia Need 24-Hour Care?
Seniors may begin to require around-the-clock care sometime during the middle stages of dementia, or when the progression of dementia has reached a point at which safety becomes a concern. Some signs of mid-stage dementia include:
- Difficulty recalling key memories or recognizing people
- Shifts or changes in personality
- Obsessive routines or behaviors (which a person may follow even when it’s not safe)
- Confusion or difficulty concentrating
- Forgetting to complete essential tasks (like taking medications)
- Frequently misplacing important possessions (or believing items were stolen)
- Depression and isolation
Any of the above could pose a safety hazard. In general, if the person’s medical, wellness, or safety needs exceed those that can reasonably be provided at home by a loved one — or if a family caregiver is experiencing burnout — it may be time to consider Assisted Living/Personal Care or a Secured Dementia Unit.
When Should We Consider Personal Care or Assisted Living?
Many people in the early to mid-stages of dementia live in Personal Care and Assisted Living communities, which provide a structured and supportive environment. These settings offer assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as:
Residents in these communities benefit from social engagement and activities that promote cognitive stimulation and emotional well-being. While staff members may not specialize in dementia-specific techniques, they are trained to assist residents with memory loss and cognitive challenges.
You may want to consider a Personal Care or Assisted Living community if your loved one with dementia:
- Needs reminders or supervision to complete daily tasks.
- Experiences occasional confusion but can still recognize familiar people and places.
- Requires help managing medications or safety concerns, such as leaving the stove on.
- Has caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed, but the individual does not need constant supervision.
While Assisted Living and Personal Care can support individuals with mild to moderate dementia, there may come a time when the security of a secure dementia unit is necessary.
When Should We Consider a Secure Dementia Unit?
A Secure Dementia Unit, also known as Secure Memory Care, provides specialized memory care for individuals with mid-to-late-stage dementia. These units offer a higher level of supervision and security, specifically designed to address the needs of those experiencing significant memory loss or wandering tendencies. Key features of Secure Memory Care include:
- Assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLS), as previously outlined for Assisted Living or Personal Care settings.
- Secured environments, where entrances and exits are locked to prevent wandering and ensure safety.
- Dementia-trained staff use specialized techniques to ensure individuals have their daily needs met.
- Specialized activities stimulate memory, cognitive function, and social interactions, and offer therapeutic benefits, enhancing residents’ well-being.
- Personalized care plans ensure that staff tailor approaches to support the health and dignity of each individual and adapt as cognitive decline progresses.
- 24/7 oversight by trained staff doesn’t necessarily mean that someone is always next to your loved one, but it does mean that they’re checked on periodically and have access to help any time of day or night.
- Specialized facility design utilizing calming layouts and memory cues outside residents’ rooms to help with orientation.
You may want to consider Secure Memory Care if your loved one with dementia:
- Frequently wanders or becomes disoriented.
- Has increased agitation or anxiety.
- Sometimes does not recognize family members or their surroundings.
- Can no longer manage daily activities with reminders.
- Begins to experience repetitive behaviors or significant personality changes.
Recognizing when to transition to Secure Memory Care can be one of the most important decisions you make to ensure your loved one’s safety, dignity, and well-being. By choosing the right memory care community, you can provide the support they need to live their best possible life.
Get the Best Memory Care for Your Loved One at Chapel Pointe
If you or a loved one is affected by dementia, seek professional guidance at Chapel Pointe, a faith-based continuing care retirement community. We commit each day to serving and enhancing the quality of life for people aged 62 and over in Central Pennsylvania, offering amenities and services to boost our residents’ physical, mental, and spiritual health. We’re honored that our greater community sees the servant’s heart of our nonprofit organization and consistently selects Chapel Pointe as “The Best of Cumberland County.”
The Garden View Memory Support Household at Chapel Pointe accommodates and supports the needs of residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other memory-impairing conditions. We learn each resident’s unique needs and preferences and then create an individualized program of activities and care based on those preferences.
Garden View makes the world a little smaller and easier to comprehend. Up to twelve residents live in this home-like environment with a garden, professional caring staff, peers who relate, and opportunities to have a meaningful life. Contact us to learn more about our memory care offerings and how Chapel Pointe can help your loved one to live their best life!