Dementia care offers more than just a safe place for your loved one to spend their senior years. It can change lives. In the right community, your loved one will get the support and compassion they need, plenty of activities, high-quality food, and a daily routine specifically tailored to the unique abilities and needs of people living with dementia. Yet many people still consider dementia care to be scary and mysterious. These dementia care FAQs help demystify dementia care communities so you and your loved one can both get the support you need.
Am I abandoning my loved one if I move them into dementia care?
There’s a huge stigma about senior living communities, due in large part to the nursing homes and institutions of the past. But today’s dementia care communities are nothing like those of the past. They're warm, inviting neighborhoods where your loved one can embrace their full potential and never feel alone or isolated. You’re not abandoning them; you’re opening them up to new options they could never get at home.
It can be helpful to compare life at home to life in dementia care communities. Even in the best-case scenario — which few families are able to make a reality — your loved one will be limited to a few caregivers and whatever activities they can dream up. In a dementia care community, your loved one has constant access to friends, support, and meaningful activities. You just can’t get the sort of quality care you get in senior living at home.
Can we afford dementia care?
Dementia care is the most comprehensive form of senior care you can get, and the price tag can be shocking — especially if you don’t think about the money you’re saving. The truth is that living at home is often more expensive, between the mortgage, home maintenance, and the cost of in-home care. Moreover, long-term care insurance, Medicaid, and other programs typically cover the cost of dementia care. Check out our free cost calculator to compare the price of various senior living options.Will my loved one be happy in dementia care?
Dementia can feel terrifying, especially as your loved one becomes more confused. People with dementia thrive on routine and consistency. It’s nearly impossible to get that level of consistency at home. In a dementia care community, your loved one will stick to a comfortable, safe routine, as well as fun activities to enjoy every day. You can visit as often as you like, and we’ll help you find new ways to connect. That’s a recipe for a better life, greater happiness, and less caregiver guilt.
Isn’t aging in place better?
Most seniors say they want to age in place, but the reality of aging in place with dementia can be quite ugly. It may mean exhausted family caregivers, endless family conflict, and lower-quality care than your loved one would get in senior care. It may mean your loved one spends time alone, has a high risk of falling, and feels isolated from the outside world. It almost certainly means your loved one will not have the benefit of skilled dementia care providers 24/7. When a person has a serious illness like dementia, home care just can’t compare to a great senior living community.How can dementia care support good health?
Dementia is more than just memory loss. Dementia is brain failure, and when the brain fails, so do other systems in the body. Your loved one may struggle with incontinence, swallowing, mobility, and most other physical functions. The right dementia care community supports your loved one’s efforts to remain as healthy as possible with:
- Exceptional nutrition and help eating when necessary
- Dementia-friendly exercises
- Activities to help reduce loneliness, which is linked to myriad bad health outcomes
- A safe environment that reduces the risk of falls and other accidents
Want to learn more about living well with dementia? Check out our free guide, “Comparing Dementia Care and Living Options.”
