If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia, it is wise to begin looking at safe living options. While some adults with cognitive decline can live at home with support for some time, a specialized senior living community can often be the best solution when it comes to safety, quality of life and overall wellness.
But what happens in a memory care community on a daily basis, anyway? If you haven’t had the chance to experience personalized care offered in dementia care settings in the past 10 years, you haven’t had the chance to see all the wonderful changes to best care practices. Let us give you a glimpse into a day in the life of someone living in a memory care community!
Meet Rose
Rose isn’t a real resident at any Ciel communities, but she is a mix of the qualities of residents we serve. Rose is living in the middle stage of Alzheimer’s disease, which means she needs regular support from our specially trained caregivers throughout the day at a memory care community.
Get Started in the Morning
The caregivers who serve Rose know that she loves sleeping in, so they don’t rouse her until about 8am. This personalized approach means Rose gets to wake up when she is accustomed to doing so, and she is greeted by a friendly caregiver who sings a few of her favorite songs while she assists Rose with morning personal care tasks.
Rose strolls arm-in-arm with a caregiver to breakfast, where she helps herself to a cup of coffee at her table. Rose’s care team knows that Rose can do many things independently, and when she can pour her own cup of coffee, she feels empowered. Rose loves eating breakfast with a few ladies who live down the hall from them. They may not remember one another’s names, but they have fostered an important relationship with one another.
After breakfast, Rose’s caregivers remind her that it’s time to head out to the courtyard area for gardening club. When Rose moved into the community, she and her family completed a full history that included her past hobbies and interests. Rose has always had a green thumb and she puts it to good use here, watering all the plants in the courtyard before coming inside to participate in group exercise. Rose laughs and sings along to the songs as she gets her body moving with other residents.
Lunch and a Show
Today is an extra special day for Rose because she has signed up to attend the community outing for lunch. A group of residents and team members are headed out for burgers and fries at a favorite diner. They board the community bus and answer trivia questions on the way to the restaurant. After a delicious meal, it’s time for the bus to head to the next destination: the local plant store. Rose and the other residents participate in painting pots for the plant they picked out from the shop. Then it’s back to the community to show off their creations.
Rose’s granddaughter is in town from college and stops by in the afternoon to say hello. Rose is feeling a bit restless, so the caregivers invite Rose and her granddaughter to attend a concert together down the hall. It’s an Elvis impersonator and Rose can’t help but dance.
An Evening Well Spent
After Rose’s granddaughter says goodbye, Rose’s caregiver stops by to see if she wants to take a stroll outside. Her caregiver knows that the late afternoon can be challenging for Rose and a nice walk before dinner usually helps Rose have a more pleasant evening.
Dinner is delicious and everyone at Rose’s table is impressed when the Chef stops by to make bananas foster tableside. It’s quite the entertainment! While some residents prefer to begin winding down for the night after dinner, Rose likes to stay awake. She enjoys a hand massage and fresh coat of paint on her nails from a friendly caregiver before settling in to listen to classical music in her favorite chair. Her caregiver knows this part of Rose’s routine and makes sure the volume is where she wants it. Then she brings Rose a cup of chamomile tea because she knows Rose loves it.
Then, Rose is headed to bed feeling safe, comfortable, and happy. She’ll wake up and face tomorrow’s adventures with her friends and caregivers beside her.
See For Yourself
Every memory care community is uniquely different because they base their daily routines on the residents who live there. We would love to show you exceptional memory care in action. Contact a Ciel community near you to schedule a personalized tour so you can get a glimpse of daily life for yourself.
