Memories are a big part of who we are. Memories provide us with true connections to our past and to each other.
The opening notes of a favorite childhood melody… French toast in the kitchen… your first car trip into DC to see all the Christmas lights… the familiar faces of longtime friends… just how much the grandkids resemble the kids around the same age… saying “I do.” Memories, and memory-making, is one of the most wonderful parts of life. Memories set the cadence for our experiences in life, both unique and shared.
So What Happens When Memory Loss Strikes a Loved One?
Naturally, If a loved one ever experiences memory issues – progressive memory loss, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or other chronic memory disorders – you know how extraordinarily difficult it can make life for them. And naturally, you want them to receive the best memory care possible. But how do you know where to go, or even what questions to ask? What factors should you and your family consider when choosing a memory care community for your loved one(s)? Not surprisingly, that’s not the kind of decision you can base on just one thing. When assessing memory care facilities for your loved one, there are many questions you’ll need to hear good answers to.
At Cadence Living, we’re here to help.
What Does Memory Care Mean? Ten Things to Check When Looking for the Right Memory Care Community.
Of course, there are many (more than 10!) critical things to look at when looking at a candidate Memory Care Neighborhood for your loved one. And of course, what’s most important varies from family to family. If you’re facing this decision, it’s a good time for you, your family, and your loved one to start an earnest, loving conversation together about Residential Memory Care Communities.
This month, Cadence Living offers some of the best questions families could ask in order to determine the right place for their loved one’s Assisted Living with Memory Care:
1. Convenience and Accessibility.
Is the Memory Care Community convenient and accessible, inside and outside, to both your loved one(s) and their visitors?
2. Location.
Can you drive to the Memory Care Center fairly quickly, even during rush hour? How close is the center located to other members of the family?
3. Security and Navigability.
Are the rooms and halls easy to navigate? Are the exits monitored? What security protocols are in place?
4. Access to Medical Professionals.
How is the residents’ standard medical care attended to within the Memory Care Neighborhood? Are your loved one’s regular doctors nearby? Where is the nearest hospital? How would they get there?
5. Professional Qualifications for Memory Care.
What are the qualifications of the staff at every level of the organization, from Memory Care doctors to the Memory Care director and onward? Do personnel go through continuing education to stay up-to-date on Memory Care services, techniques, and science?
6. Equipment and Amenities.
Is the Memory Care Community equipped and updated with modern amenities to provide for a good, comfortable life for your loved one(s)? Will your resident have secure Internet connectivity? Will cell phone calls drop while they’re in their room? Is the TV sleek and new, or is the net on the ping-pong table fraying? Are there sensory care options available?
7. Therapies and Activities for Memory Care.
Mental stimulation is key to memory care – and having fun is key to mental stimulation! Does the neighborhood offer residents the best exercises for seniors, a diverse array of Memory Care activities for seniors with dementia? Game nights? Sing-alongs? Cinnamon roll bake-offs?
8. Research and Knowledge.
Does the community take part in cutting-edge research and make use of the latest scholarly data on Memory Care science and techniques?
9. Empathy and Atmosphere.
Does the Memory Care Neighborhood have a reputation for empathy and compassion? Do you sense any “red flags” that signify a potential problem, or do you get a “good vibe” about the place and the people? What do reviews from other residents and their family say, both online and word-of-mouth?
10. Taking Care of the Whole Family.
Do the personnel at the Memory Care living community look after the whole family? Is there open communication and trust between you and the people helping your loved one? How well does the staff treat the resident’s family? Use these helpful hints and in-the-industry tips from Cadence Living to guide your family’s selection process and place your loved one in the Memory Care Community that’s right for them.
Memory Care Help: Memories Are Made By Connections
What is memory? And what is it that helps memory? From a neurological viewpoint, memory is a fascinating subject. Constantly, all over our brains, neurons are firing electrical impulses across synapses enough to develop common pathways. Connections, you might call them. The more tightly bonded the connections, the stronger the memories. Connections that are special, unique, and meaningful create especially strong memories. Essentially, memory is all about connections. Connections are meaningful to memory. Connections are especially meaningful to us here at Cadence Living.
Introducing Cadence CONNECTIONS, A Program For Residents With Early Onset Cognitive Impairment
Weigh the pros and cons when looking for a high-quality, leading-edge Memory Care Community for your loved one. Some facilities will offer more of what you’re looking for… some may offer things you didn’t even expect. Cadence Living offers residents living with a recent diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s a groundbreaking new customized level of care that really sets us apart.
The Cadence CONNECTIONS program is new for 2021 and ready for residents at Cadence Living’s four DMV-area communities. The program provides the support needed for individuals with a low impairment dementia diagnosis to remain in their current Assisted Living apartment, with their friends and neighbors as long as possible. A full-time Cadence CONNECTIONS Lifestyle Director will be in place in each of the Tribute communities to help our residents and their families every step of the way.
Get to know Cadence CONNECTIONS, a customized, progressive, holistic cognitive program that uses an array of enrichment programs, social interactions, physical activity, diet, exercise, and healthy sleep patterns to provide customized care that meets each resident’s unique needs. Cadence CONNECTIONS offers help to residents when help is the most effective – when your loved one first becomes aware of their difficulty recalling and retaining memories. The program is designed to mitigate symptoms of your loved one’s disease, allowing them to stay active and involved for longer in their preferred environment.
The goal of Cadence CONNECTIONS is for all residents to feel more engaged, empowered, and autonomous by maintaining high levels of function and boosting emotional well-being.
It’s part of how Cadence Living helps residents live Life In The Key Of Beautiful®.
Contact any of our Tribute Memory Care and Assisted Senior Living communities in Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland. Ask about our high-quality customized memory care program called Cadence CONNECTIONS:
Tribute At One Loudoun (Ashburn, Va.)
Address: 20335 Savin Hill Drive
Phone number: 571-252-8292
Email: Hello@TributeAtOneLoudoun.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TributeAtOneLoudoun
Website: One Loudoun
Tribute At Black Hill (Germantown, Md.)
Address: 312 Baltusrol Drive
Phone number: 410-401-5262
Email: Hello@TributeAtBlackHill.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TributeAtBlackHill
Website: Tribute at Black Hill
Tribute At Melford (Bowie, Md.)
Address: 17300 Melford Boulevard
Phone number: 301-329-5565
Email: Hello@TributeAtMelford.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TributeAtMelford
Website: Tribute at Melford
Tribute At The Glen (Woodbridge, Va.)
Address: 4151 Old Bridge Road
Phone number: 571-402-1870
Email: Hello@TributeAtTheGlen.com
Facebook: Facebook.com/TributeAtTheGlen
Website: Tribute at the Glen
