For elderly patients suffering from dementia, assisted living (AL) is becoming an increasingly popular option for long-term care. Sacramento elderly care facilities like Jazba Care are among the leaders in holistic health practices for seniors, but not as many AL facilities across the world are as advanced. Recent studies suggest that as many as 68 percent of residents in AL have dementia and that the prevalence of both behavioral symptoms and the use of psychotropic drugs is high. This pilot project investigated whether or not certain research methods could be successfully implemented in AL facilities. According to the findings, the majority of Alzheimer’s disease sufferers living in Alabama have moderate to severe forms of the condition, and the vast majority of them take at least one psychotropic medication. The implications for psychiatric nursing practice and research are discussed, along with descriptive and qualitative findings relating to health records, caregiver perceptions of behavioral symptoms, and the practicality of assessment methods undertaken.
Concerns regarding the quality of care provided to dementia patients in assisted living facilities are becoming more prevalent as dementia and behavioral symptoms become more widespread in AL settings. An early report suggested that dementia-specific assisted living (AL) service areas were not providing more dementia-sensitive environments. This included the minimization of aversive stimuli as well as the provision of pleasant or engaging activities, orientation cues, and continuity with the past. Dementia patients and their families are increasingly opting for AL communities as a kind of permanent housing and care. The quality of dementia care in AL institutions and the viability of transferring effective dementia-related models of care from other contexts remain open concerns. The possibility for psychiatric nurse consultants and researchers is significant because many of the best models and theoretical approaches to dementia care reported in the literature have not been validated for application in AL.
Assisted Living, Dementia Care, Sacramento
Dementia slowly and relentlessly robs people of their minds, memories, and independence over the course of decades. As of now, at least 50 million people around the world are afflicted with this crippling condition, and every year brings an additional 10 new cases. The unfortunate truth is that people with dementia will require specialized care for the duration of their lives, and even more so as their disease worsens. As the primary caregiver for a person with dementia, you may be starting to consider memory care choices like memory assisted living. Nonetheless, does this hospital accept dementia patients?
Persons with mild to moderate forms of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can find assistance and support at a memory assisted living community. Most of these people need constant help with IADLs like bathing, dressing, and eating to have any chance at a decent quality of life. Some people with dementia also require assistance with ADLs (ADLs). Individual or shared apartments are available in memory assisted living facilities, and residents have access to a trained staff that is available around the clock. Patients who are still capable of living on their own but who require help with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as:
- Toilet use and cleaning oneself after
- Bathing
- Control of urine and bowels
- Moving
- Eating
- Grooming
Independent individuals benefit from assisted living facilities, but they may eventually require the specialized care offered by a memory care unit. Persons in need of 24-hour supervision and medical assistance, such as those with advanced dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, will find this institution to be a good fit. These communities, also known as Special Care Units (SCUs), may consist of a single building or be an expansion or addition to an existing memory care or nursing home. The amenities provided by memory care units are identical to those of assisted living communities. The only distinction is that memory-stimulating activities are provided by staff members, which may slow the disease’s progression. It may be necessary to move a patient to a skilled nursing facility, where more intensive medical care is available, in some cases. Nursing homes are highly recommended for patients who are in the latter stages of their condition or who have developed serious complications from their illness. It may be time to relocate your loved one to a nursing facility if he has a history of wandering out, is a danger to himself or others, struggles to keep himself healthy and hydrated, or can no longer perform even the most basic of ADLs.
Jazba Care; Sacramento Elderly Care
No family wants to make the tough choice to place a loved one in a memory care facility. Determining this for yourself isn’t easy, but if it means giving your loved one the best quality of life despite the challenges of dementia and Alzheimer’s, it’s unquestionably the right choice. Those interested in learning more can get in touch with us at Jazba Care in Sacramento, CA.
