Moving a loved one into a memory care environment can be a difficult decision for families who are faced with the many challenges inherent to dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss. Yet, understanding what makes a memory care community unique can make all the difference in a family’s search for specialized care and the right team of qualified nurses and trained caregivers.
First, memory care is different from regular assisted living. It constitutes more than simply assisting with the activities of day-to-day life. An excellent memory care provider delivers a higher level of care with compassion and dignity — one that offers seniors a remarkably improved quality of life that they are unlikely to experience by remaining at home.
At Silvergate Rancho Bernardo – San Diego’s newest luxury retirement community, residents in memory care are surrounded by:
- An industry leading caregiver-to-resident ratio
- A secure environment to reduce elopement, while permitting healthy wandering
- Sensory-based memory care programming to promote brain health
- A “Neighborhood” of suites clustered around open, shared living spaces
- Accommodations for the early, middle and late stages of the disease
An Improved Quality Of Life for Memory Care Residents
Secondly, with a greater understanding of why dementia patients exhibit problem behaviors, caregivers at Silvergate can deal more successfully with those behaviors and deliver more effective resident care. As each stage of the disease is addressed, care is personalized to the individual. Targeted care plans mean residents experience many improved quality-of-life factors, including:
- Increased nutrition and reduced vitamin deficiencies
- Increased independence and social interaction
- Increased happiness as residents function at a higher level
- Improved or maintained mental functioning over time
- Reduction in medication and negative side effects
- Decreased falls and injuries
- Fewer emergency room visits
- Fewer dementia-related behaviors
For Silvergate’s memory care team, the key to successful caregiving is not to focus on the losses of the disease, but rather on the individual’s remaining capabilities. Through use of the renowned “A Positive Approach To Care” program, championed by industry expert Teepa Snow, residents function at the highest possible level for as long as possible. By providing mental, physical and nutritional health at optimal levels, residents are more likely to experience improved mental acuity and a sense of enhanced well-being.
A Family’s Role in Memory Care
Families figure prominently into their loved one’s care at Silvergate. By including family members in developing the care plan, Silvergate’s team forges a strong partnership with the resident’s family — offering education, support and resources to family members while providing unsurpassed, high-touch care to the resident.
“We are committed to providing families with practical information to help them navigate the various challenges common to memory loss,” said Dennis Prejusa, Director of Resident Care for Silvergate Rancho Bernardo. “We want families to know we reach beyond leisure activities and socialization. We use a model of care that also infuses goals in a wide-range of programs that are measurable and trackable, resulting in an improved level of care.”
Once a family chooses Silvergate’s memory care solution, the care team works directly with family members to understand as much as possible about the new resident, including who they are as a person, what they’ve experienced in their life and what has brought them a sense of purpose over time. As family members share their stories, the team brings the resident’s interests, experiences and hobbies to life through unique care programs. This strong partnership with the family gives the team the ability to create days full of meaning and individual purpose for the resident.
Learn More About Silvergate’s Memory Care Suites
The dedicated Memory Care Suites building at Silvergate Rancho Bernardo features private accommodations, a secure terrace featuring outdoor activities, daily chef-crafted cuisine, a private family dining room, a community activity room, an exclusive beauty salon, and intimate spaces for quiet reflection. To learn more about the outstanding memory care services and available Suites at Silvergate, please call Pam Rundle at (858) 451-1100. Or, visit SilvergateRR.com/RB for more information and virtual tours.
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