We're here to answer the most common questions we hear at the Aspen Creek of Sullivan to help you research options for senior living in your area. If you can't find the answers you need on this page, we invite you to contact our team directly! We're always happy to talk about memory care and senior living communities and share key insights with anyone who asks.
Questions about Alzheimer's and Assisted Living in Decatur
Is There a Difference Between Alzheimer's Care and Assisted Living?
While there are many overlaps between these two senior support systems, there are differences between them. Assisted living is a type of residence for elder adults who need daily care services, like meal preparation, medication management, and personalized assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). In this type of facility, residents receive a broad range of support services, but not as much as nursing homes.
When it comes to Alzheimer's care in Decatur, IL, this is a unique service in which seniors with Alzheimer's disease benefit from targeted and personalized memory care services in addition to assisted living support. This means those seniors with Alzheimer's disease receive dedicated care to improve their cognitive capabilities and memory recall, while also getting assisted living services too.
What Services are Provided with Assisted Living?
Each assisted living community is different and may provide varying levels of care. However, you can generally expect assisted living facilities to provide services like:
- Daily meal preparation
- Transportation services
- Planned social activities and outings
- Medication management
- Help with ADLs (e.g., bathing, dressing, toileting, etc.)
- 24/7 emergency care
What Services are Provided with Alzheimer's Care?
There are multiple levels of Alzheimer's care which start with in-home care services by yourself or with a trained professional. In a professional community setting, Alzheimer's and dementia care professionals provide all the same services seen in assisted living communities and more. Their additional services include:
- 24/7 skilled nursing care services
- Memory-specific therapies (e.g., music therapy, aromatherapy, etc.)
- Treatments to slow symptoms
- Personalized care and more
What Kind of Training Do Staff Members Receive?
In assisted living communities, you will find many types of medical and healthcare professionals on-site at all hours of the day. In most cases, these are certified nursing assistants (CNA) and registered nurses (RN), who have likely completed an associate degree or bachelor's of science degree in nursing from an accredited nursing program. These medical professionals also undergo annual training and classes to keep their skills up to date.
When it comes to Alzheimer's care services, those nursing professionals are required to complete a set number of hours in dementia training or must complete some type of dementia care certification. Through training seminars and classes, these professionals become versed in dementia care techniques and gain specialized knowledge on the psychology of aging, de-escalation strategies, redirection, reminiscence therapy, and more.
How Are Safety and Security Managed?
In most memory care and assisted living communities, you'll find many security measures in place to keep residents safe and healthy all year round. For instance, at the Aspen Creek of Sullivan, all our exit doors are equipped with special locking devices and are actively monitored by our staff. In addition, each resident has a wearable device that alerts our team whenever help is needed. That wireless call system allows us to locate each resident in real time and keep a watchful eye on their health.
We also emphasize sunsetting techniques and therapies to reduce the likelihood of wandering behaviors in our residents after it's time for bed. With secure measures in place around our backyard and front porch, you can rest assured knowing your loved one is safe and sound with our team.
How Does the Admission Process Work?
Again, it's important to note that every assisted living community that specializes in Alzheimer's care in Decatur, IL is different. That means the application and admission processes may differ significantly from one community to the next. However, you can generally expect to encounter a handful of key steps:
- Submit an Initial Assessment Form – This document will help the community determine if their services are a good fit for your loved one's needs.
- Schedule a Tour of the Facility – Once the assessment form is reviewed, you may be asked to schedule a tour of the facility if you have not done so already. This will give you the opportunity to see the place in person and make sure it's suitable for your loved one.
- File Paperwork – To be admitted, you'll likely be asked to share important medical records and information on current medications. Your loved one may even need to complete additional medical evaluations.
If everything looks good, your facility will send over a contract for your loved one's admission. Closely review the details of this document to ensure that you understand the services they'll provide, the limitations of their care providers, and the costs you'll need to pay.
Start Comparing Your Options for Alzheimer's Assisted Living near Decatur, IL
At the Aspen Creek of Sullivan, you'll find a well-designed community for seniors with dementia that emphasizes a person-centered model for care. We've designed our environment to feel just like home for our residents and we always maintain a 1:5 staff-to-resident ratio 24/7. With individualized wellness plans and daily group activities to improve quality of life, you can rest easy knowing your loved one will be well cared for in our close-knit community.
Contact the Aspen Creek of Sullivan today to schedule your in-person tour and learn more about our home-like environment.