Memory Care - how to evaluate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom is middle of the road stage 6 dementia but is still pretty engaged even though her memory is shot. Her memory care residents range from people who are almost okay to people who are pretty much vegetative. Her place has lots of activities every day, and field trips once a week for those who are able. They get everyone out of their rooms to engage.

I toured every memory care in a 30 minute radius. I’ve learned that closer is better. Ignore online reviews, I found some places had staff reviewing them and my mom’s assisted living was the highest rated and just awful. The memory care place with the best reviews felt like a prison to me- it was dark and smelled like urine and everyone was completely disengaged.

I moved my mom from rehab directly to memory care after a fall (it was time anyway) so I needed a place that would put eyeballs on her because she was wheelchair bound initially and would never remember she couldn’t get up and use the restroom by herself. I picked a place where the staff physically puts eyeballs on the residents every hour, even throughout the night. One place used motion detectors at night and would respond to motion but I thought that might be too late.

Once I’d almost decided I went by several times to visit during different timeframes and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves doing some sort of activity or another. My mom's place has therapy dogs that come in about once a week and they have “live concerts” once or twice a week. Engagement is key.

Care to share which facility your mom is at now?

[Anonymous]

I agree that closet is better. Take a look at Olney Assisted Living. That is a large-ish memory care only facility and it will give you a baseline. It’s an no-frills but very hands on and solid place if that’s what you need. Across the street is Cadence, which is continuing care. Much newer and independent/assisted living is seamless (you don’t have to switch apartments to move from one to the other. Memory care is in its own wing and locked down.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom is middle of the road stage 6 dementia but is still pretty engaged even though her memory is shot. Her memory care residents range from people who are almost okay to people who are pretty much vegetative. Her place has lots of activities every day, and field trips once a week for those who are able. They get everyone out of their rooms to engage.

I toured every memory care in a 30 minute radius. I’ve learned that closer is better. Ignore online reviews, I found some places had staff reviewing them and my mom’s assisted living was the highest rated and just awful. The memory care place with the best reviews felt like a prison to me- it was dark and smelled like urine and everyone was completely disengaged.

I moved my mom from rehab directly to memory care after a fall (it was time anyway) so I needed a place that would put eyeballs on her because she was wheelchair bound initially and would never remember she couldn’t get up and use the restroom by herself. I picked a place where the staff physically puts eyeballs on the residents every hour, even throughout the night. One place used motion detectors at night and would respond to motion but I thought that might be too late.

Once I’d almost decided I went by several times to visit during different timeframes and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves doing some sort of activity or another. My mom's place has therapy dogs that come in about once a week and they have “live concerts” once or twice a week. Engagement is key.

Care to share which facility your mom is at now?

She’s at Waltonwood in Ashburn. We’ve been very pleased so far with her care. The staff is incredible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Allow yourself to trust. They are the professionals. They will tell you the appropriate level of care. You do not know. It's not your profession. Do the work, meaning spend the time with staff. Through personal connections you will trust what they say.

Are you kidding? Memory care and assisted living is big business in this area. And a mess. Do not trust. Go online to the state (or DC) and check safety and other violations. Install cameras. Take nothing of true value to the Memory Care - it will be stolen. Visit as much as possible at odd times. All the is said with HUGE amount of experience. The PP is obviously in the Memory Care business. Stay vigilant, be mindful, express gratitude and be present.

[Anonymous]

Thank you, PP. Can you tell me why a 3 year license is preferred?

Basically it means the facility has an established track record with few violations so they do not need reaccreditation every year. A new place or one with a lot of violations will have a shorter license. Also you can read what the violations are. Some are basically paperwork issues, others are much more severe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My mom is middle of the road stage 6 dementia but is still pretty engaged even though her memory is shot. Her memory care residents range from people who are almost okay to people who are pretty much vegetative. Her place has lots of activities every day, and field trips once a week for those who are able. They get everyone out of their rooms to engage.

I toured every memory care in a 30 minute radius. I’ve learned that closer is better. Ignore online reviews, I found some places had staff reviewing them and my mom’s assisted living was the highest rated and just awful. The memory care place with the best reviews felt like a prison to me- it was dark and smelled like urine and everyone was completely disengaged.

I moved my mom from rehab directly to memory care after a fall (it was time anyway) so I needed a place that would put eyeballs on her because she was wheelchair bound initially and would never remember she couldn’t get up and use the restroom by herself. I picked a place where the staff physically puts eyeballs on the residents every hour, even throughout the night. One place used motion detectors at night and would respond to motion but I thought that might be too late.

Once I’d almost decided I went by several times to visit during different timeframes and they all seemed to be enjoying themselves doing some sort of activity or another. My mom's place has therapy dogs that come in about once a week and they have “live concerts” once or twice a week. Engagement is key.

Care to share which facility your mom is at now?

She’s at Waltonwood in Ashburn. We’ve been very pleased so far with her care. The staff is incredible.

Thank you for sharing - I have heard that was a good place as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Allow yourself to trust. They are the professionals. They will tell you the appropriate level of care. You do not know. It's not your profession. Do the work, meaning spend the time with staff. Through personal connections you will trust what they say.

Are you kidding? Memory care and assisted living is big business in this area. And a mess. Do not trust. Go online to the state (or DC) and check safety and other violations. Install cameras. Take nothing of true value to the Memory Care - it will be stolen. Visit as much as possible at odd times. All the is said with HUGE amount of experience. The PP is obviously in the Memory Care business. Stay vigilant, be mindful, express gratitude and be present.

Agreed! The whole system needs to be overhauled.

[Anonymous]

Anyone have experience with Brightview facilities?

[Anonymous]

Allow yourself to trust. They are the professionals. They will tell you the appropriate level of care. You do not know. It's not your profession. Do the work, meaning spend the time with staff. Through personal connections you will trust what they say.

Do not trust anyone ever, about anything, ever, in your life. All are evil. Only think the worst of everyone and everything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone have experience with Brightview facilities?

My Dad was at one and really happy but they did not have memory care.