What is Memory Care Living?

Caring for a Loved one with Dementia

Dementia affects nearly 50 million people worldwide and is defined as a deterioration in memory, thinking, behavior, and the ability to perform everyday tasks. Here at Laurel Parc, we want to help you navigate one of the most difficult chapters in your life with us by your side. When facing a loved one’s dementia diagnosis, you are grieving for a person who still needs to be cared for. It may be time to ask, what is memory care living?

Located just 10 miles from downtown Portland, Laurel Parc at Bethany Village is a residential senior care community that offers independent living, assisted living, and memory care. Some of our features include a swimming pool and wellness center, three restaurants, a bar, and a spa. Older adults can enjoy an assisted living facility specifically designed with their needs in mind, with varying levels of care.

What is Memory Care?

Memory care is a higher level of care and supervision for seniors living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other memory problems. Our memory care unit, Brightway, features specialized care for our residents, including two different floor plan options that help minimize wandering and allow for easy navigation. Our rooms are specially designed to feel like home, and there are also communal areas for socializing.

We have a high caregiver-to-resident ratio and provide 24-hour care and security. This program offers everything you would find at a senior living facility, but with added supervision and the specific needs of dementia patients in mind. The safety of our memory impaired residents is our highest priority.

Why choose Memory Care Living?

As your loved one’s dementia progresses, they will need round-the-clock assistance with everyday tasks. We are here to help with eating, bathing, and dressing; however, our care does not stop there. Our staff are trained specifically to aid people with dementia, and we engage our residents in activities and programs that help make their day to day living more bearable and help to stimulate memory.

Our residents are important to us. We take the time to get to know each person’s preferences and personality to create care better suited to their needs. Our staff is trained on how to best respond to and communicate with people with dementia. It is this familiarity that helps our residents feel at home and at ease as they navigate the world of memory loss. Their interior life is changing in every way, and we strive to make their exterior life as peaceful and predictable as possible.

What do we do at Brightway?

Planned activities and socializing help your loved one feel like part of a like-minded community. Exercise, art, music, and games help our residents to maintain and use their abilities. However, we take care not to overwhelm our residents and to keep their schedules manageable. Relaxation is key in reducing stress and confusion.

We also handle all the tasks involved in daily life, including laundry, housekeeping, medications, meals, and more. Dementia is one of the hardest things a family can go through, allow us to take the burden of everyday care off your shoulders.

How do I know it’s time to choose Dementia Care?

Seniors living with dementia require constant supervision, which is often more than even the most dedicated family member can provide. Many patients with memory problems wander and then are unable to find their way back home. People with dementia and Alzheimer’s can also become increasingly agitated and may pose a danger to themselves or to others.

They also may forget to eat, drink, or take care of basic hygiene, and it in turn becomes progressively harder for you to get them to do so. If any of this sounds familiar, it may be time to consider if Brightway is the right choice for your family.

For quality care in Portland, consider Laurel Parc at Bethany Village. We have set ourselves apart by being committed to our residents’ quality of life and treating our seniors with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Leave a Reply