4 Ways To Compare Dementia Care Near St. Louis
Your decision on your loved one’s memory care community is not one to be taken lightly. Be sure to keep their best interests in mind as you compare your options in the following ways.
Consider The Quality Of Care
Naturally, you only want the best for your loved one. That means you need to find a quality memory care option to support their needs. Unfortunately, not every dementia care community is the same. You’ll need to pour through the details of each community to gain a clear picture of their quality of care.
At the Aspen Creek of Troy, for instance, we take a highly personalized approach to each patient’s care plan. We understand that each case of dementia is very different, so we believe that each resident deserves to have their care personalized to their needs. Your ideal memory care community should personalize their care to residents in a multitude of ways, from health and wellness assessments to therapeutic assistant services for daily living activities.
To get an even better sense of a residence’s quality of care, you may want to view testimonials from past client family members. These profiles can provide even further insights into the type of care you can expect from that community.
Evaluate Their Features And Amenities
You don’t want your loved one to sit around all day, feeling bored and unattended in front of the TV. A memory care community should integrate a number of supportive features and amenities to keep residents happy, engaged, and active every day. Those kinds of daily activities and amenities can be incredibly important for your loved one’s battle with dementia.
For instance, at the Aspen Creek of Troy, we’ve specifically designed our community to benefit our residents with dementia. Everything from the wall colors and layout to our daily amenities and features is geared towards those who suffer from dementia. In our community, our amenities include:
- Private suites with full handicap-accessible bathrooms
- Full-service beauty and barbershop services on-site
- Daily activity programs, which include social outings and community events
- Supportive therapeutic activities, such as aromatherapy, music therapy, and pet therapy
Each dementia care facility will offer amenities and features that are unique to their locations. Be sure to carefully weigh the pros and cons of each amenity at each community.
Tour The Residence In-Person
Secondary research methods will only take you so far when researching memory care communities. If you really want to accurately compare your options for dementia care near St. Louis, you’ll need to tour the facilities in-person.
We know that tours can be very time-consuming, but they are well worth your time. After all, you’re making sure that a given community is the right option for your loved one with dementia. That means you need to check all the boxes and make sure no stone is left unturned during your search.
During a tour, you’ll have the perfect opportunity to not only view the community from a different perspective but to also ask all of your pressing questions. These could include questions about things like:
- Staffing - How many hours of training do your staff members receive? Does the staff-to-resident ratio ever change in a given day? Can outside or visiting care be arranged?
- Bathing and personal care - Will caregivers provide assistance for any and all daily living activities? How often are residents bathed? How do caregivers support the personal care needs of residents?
- Community policies - Is there a thorough assessment of each applicant before they are admitted? What is the discharge policy? How often do you update families about each resident’s well-being?
- Living costs - What exactly is included in the community’s living costs? Will you be charged an all-inclusive rate? Are there any additional fees for specific services?
You’ll also have the chance to try a meal during your tour (or at least see a menu). Does the food taste bland or boring? If so, you might want to reconsider your options. A top dementia care community will offer delicious home-cooked meals that are nutritionally balanced and easy to eat.
Listen To Your Gut Instinct
At the end of the day, you need to think about your loved one’s health, happiness, and future. We know it’s not easy to compare care homes for dementia. Even when you gather all the information you need and take the tours, you may still find it difficult to select a community for your loved one. That’s why it’s always a good idea to trust your instincts.
Take some time to reflect on your options and ask yourself critical questions about each provider. Did one philosophy of care resonate with you over the others? Would you feel comfortable housing your loved one lived in that community? These kinds of questions can help guide your instinct to land on the right choice for your loved one.
See Our Approach To Dementia Care In-Person
If you’re ready to start touring memory care communities near you, reach out to us at The Creeks. For over 10 years, we have strived to create the best home-like environment for people suffering from dementia. With highly experienced caregivers on staff and a wide range of supportive amenities, we know we’re thoroughly prepared to take on the memory care needs of your loved one.
Contact us today to schedule your tour of the Aspen Creek of Troy, one of the top options for dementia care near St. Louis.