If you’re looking for nursing homes for dementia patients “near me,” you’re likely looking for quality care in the Sacramento area to tend to the senior in your life. But which kind of community is best for patients with dementia and their families?
There are many different types of care facilities for seniors who need assistance with their day-to-day lives. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between nursing homes and assisted living facilities, as well as what a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) is. It can be difficult to determine which type of community is best for a loved one who is experiencing dementia. We hope that this blog post will help make that decision easier, and offer some peace of mind when it comes time to transition your loved one!
What Is an Assisted Living Facility?
While some assisted living facilities can be nursing homes, not all qualify. Assisted living facilities are described as a senior community that offers not only apartment-style lodgings for its residents, but also assistance as well. This can include providing meal plans, housekeeping and laundry, overseeing medication, as well as helping with hygiene, mobility, and clothing. In essence, an Assisted Living Facility aims to help seniors with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) that might have become difficult for them as they age, like bathing or using the toilet. An additional benefit of assisted living is that they generally include community areas for seniors to gather, socialize, exercise, and eat.
What Is a Nursing Home Facility?
A nursing home is like an assisted living facility in that lodgings and ADL support are offered, but they are different in that their staffing is composed of nurses who operate 24 hours a day, keeping an eye on residents. These types of assisted living facilities are better equipped to care for patients who may have more complex medical needs that routinely require skilled nursing. Nursing homes typically provide meals for their residents as well as community activities for improving the patient’s quality of life.
What Is a Continuing Care Retirement Community?
While most seniors who opt for assisted living or nursing home facilities require medical attention in some capacity, another option for seniors is to enter a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC). While seniors in assisted living facilities on average make the transition between ages 75-84, CCRC participants can elect to make the swap as soon as they retire—in other words, generally before they require constant medical supervision.
The benefit of a CCRC is that it offers patients a tiered care system so that as the resident ages and their needs continue to develop, they are transitioned to new stages of medical attention and therefore different staffing and accommodations. Another benefit of Continuing Care Retirement Communities is that often, spouses can be moved in together—even if one is in worse health than the other, as is sometimes the case with dementia.
Which Senior Community Is Best for Dementia Patients?
Dementia affects everyone differently, as there are so many factors that can impact a patient’s cognition—from their environment to their physical health. As such, it can sometimes feel daunting to try to find the most appropriate community for your loved one who may be going through memory loss, trouble with decision making, or other cognitive problems. So, which type of senior community is best for patients with dementia?
The answer to this question depends largely on your loved one’s medical needs and how advanced their dementia is. Other factors that may influence this decision include proximity to a spouse or access to their spiritual practice. However, one of the key concepts in deciding where to transition the loved one in your life with dementia is the word “community.”
Placing your loved one in a community of peers and other seniors who may also be experiencing dementia can have a profound effect not only on their health but on their quality of life as well. The simple act of having a conversation with someone that they are likely to have something in common with can spark mental stimulation that helps keep them not only healthy as long as possible, but hopefully happier, too. So whether your loved one will require constant medical attention or is looking to slowly transition with their spouse in a CCRC, it’s key to have a strong support system in place when confronting a diagnosis like dementia. By choosing an assisted living facility with community areas for gathering, creativity, spiritual growth, and play, you can provide your loved one with dementia the best opportunity for a happy, healthy lifestyle for as long as possible.
Nursing Homes for Dementia Patients Near Me
Looking for nursing homes for dementia patients “near me” can be a daunting first step toward transitioning your loved one to what could potentially become the most important support network of their life. As such, you wouldn’t want to select just any nursing home for the job. At Jazba, we offer compassionate and attentive 24-hour staffing that is medically qualified to monitor and aid the seniors we serve. Residents can expect their meals and housekeeping to be taken care of, as well as enrichment activities such as flower arrangement, painting, gardening, and more. With our dedication to your loved one’s medication management comes a dedication to providing them with holistic wellness and the best possible quality of life for their golden years!
Jazba means “passion” in Hindi, to describe our founder’s outlook on caring for our venerated seniors. If you think Jazba Care might be a good fit for your loved one, contact us today or schedule a tour here!
