The diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, dementia, or any other memory loss ailment is a difficult reality to face. As a caregiver, you will be faced with many new challenges around the type of care your loved one needs now and the care they will need in the future. Unfortunately, that reality is becoming more and more common for Texas residents with aging loved ones. In 2022, it is currently estimated that Texas has roughly 400,000 people diagnosed or dealing with the effects of Dementia.
We know that caregivers with loved ones suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s can be one of the most challenging roles you are forced to take on in life. The good news? San Antonio offers a large volume of memory care communities with a variety of services. The bad news? If this is the first time dealing with a loved one suffering from a memory-related illness, you might not know what kind of care services they need. We work with families that have loved ones suffering from those memory-related illnesses daily and know the memory care facilities that will best match with your loved one.
Types of Alzheimer’s Care Options in San Antonio
You will surprisingly find that there are several settings that memory care can take place in. We have highlighted a few types so you can fully understand the best short and long-term options for your loved one. The types of care include:
- Dementia Care in an Assisted Living Facility: There are options in San Antonio where an assisted living facility offers a memory care program also. Your loved one will get many of the benefits of an assisted living community but also have staff and services specifically needed for memory care residents. We have seen many families choose a facility like this if their loved one will need memory care in the future but can be successful in assisted living for the short-term. This option makes the transition to memory care easier and familiar to both the family and the resident.
- In-Home Memory Care: We have found this common type of memory care option is best for those in the very early stages of their memory-illness diagnosis. It can vary from provider to provider but many in-home care providers offer assistance with medication, meal prepping, and personal hygiene care (i.e., showering). Oftentimes, it’s best to stay at home to receive the care they need for as long as possible, if it’s manageable.
- Dementia Care in Nursing Homes: There are several nursing homes in San Antonio that will offer a memory care program for your loved one with specialized staff handling those residents. It is more common for those in the later stages of Alzheimer’s or dementia to look at this as an option.
The location and setting of your loved one’s memory care will be important for their emotional well-being along with maximizing their quality of life at every stage of their care.
Knowing the Benefits of Memory Care
San Antonio aging seniors and their loved ones can have comfort in knowing the abundance of quality memory care facilities throughout the city – and surrounding areas. We like to provide families with some of the benefits that they and their loved ones can expect to receive from an Alzheimer’s or memory care facility that include:
- Secure Environment: Many senior care communities that aren’t memory care specific will have multiple entrance and exit points. Memory care seniors can struggle with wandering which creates a non-secure environment for those residents. Memory care facilities will have the benefit of security around exits to prevent wandering.
- Memory Specialist Caregivers: As memory care residents can be prone to frustrations around confusion with their memory loss, it is important for the staff to be familiar with proper handling of those residents. Memory care facilities will have staff trained specifically to work with those suffering from memory-loss ailments to avoid conflict and aid them in daily activities.
- Stage-Spanning Nutritional Programs: Memory care will change dramatically based on what stage of memory loss your loved one is in. Early stages might have forgetfulness around what they had for earlier meals in the day and staff can make sure they get the proper meal to ensure proper nutrition is maintained.
- Socialization Activities: Isolation is a challenge for any senior care community and memory care residents are just as susceptible. One of the benefits of memory care services is that they offer socialization opportunities for your loved one in a safe manner. The activities they have can promote memory while encouraging interaction between residents.
Ready to Find Memory Care in San Antonio?
It can be a challenge to figure out where to start but know that you can trust Senior Living Specialists San Antonio to help you every step of the way. We can help you understand the current memory care stage your loved one is in and provide our recommendations of which 2-3 facilities would best meet those needs. Call us today at 972-743-6012 or fill out the form on our website to get a meeting scheduled today!
