“If you’ve met one person with dementia, you’ve met one person with dementia. Everybody is absolutely different,” said Wendy, daughter of a resident in Naples, Florida. “You’ve got to meet that person where they are. Find out who they were and work with them where they are at right now.”
Just as every person with dementia is unique, not all memory care communities place their residents at the center of everything they do. It is important to take the time to visit communities and ask a lot of questions to find the best fit for your family member’s needs.
“What I would look for first are the interactions the staff has,” said Wendy. She also suggests that families visit communities unannounced without making an appointment. “See what’s happening when they’re not expecting you. See what the interactions are. Do the people look engaged? Do the people look happy? Are they well groomed? Do they have a high quality of life?”
Another important feature, Wendy explains, is the accessibility to the outdoors. “Make sure they can get out into the seasons and experience all the outdoors have to offer.”
