Choosing Housing for A Person With Dementia

When choosing a new home for a person with dementia, it is important to keep in mind some basic guidelines. While the decision to seek residential care may be difficult, the following tips are meant to help you stay focused on the task at hand.

Be clear about the particular special care needs of the person with dementia before beginning the process of selecting a residential setting. Keep those needs in mind as you review the literature for each facility and when you tour a facility. It's best to write them down and take them with you. Also, think about the special needs and preferences of your family. For example, do you need a residence that can provide kosher food? Is the facility located in an area that is accessible to family members who would like to visit your loved one on a regular basis? Your local Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) is an excellent resource for help in determining your family's needs and they can provide literature as well as guidance to help you to make the best possible choice for everyone involved.
Know your budget. It's easy to lose sight of what you can and can't afford when dealing with an emotionally charged issue. This is especially important when choosing an assisted living facility for which there are few or no outside sources of funding and private funds must cover the entire cost of care. In addition, residential care for people with dementia is more expensive than comparable care for those without this disease.

Take as much time as you can to learn about the different facilities. Alzheimer's experts believe that it is best to visit between three and five places before deciding on one. You may want to have a friend or another family member go with you when you make these visits. It can be helpful to have both the company and the observations of a person who is less emotionally involved with the process. The more you are able to see, the more comfortable you will be with your final choice.
Check whether the environment of the facility is specially designed to accommodate dementia behavior. A calm and pleasant setting contributes to the overall treatment for people with dementia. Many of the newer assisted living facilities have a "home-like" atmosphere with communal kitchens staffed and supervised 24 hours a day. These facilities often have communal lounges furnished like living rooms to encourage socialization among residents, staff, and visitors. The physical setting should provide cues for the residents that promote independence such as a color-coded path for finding the way back to a common area should a resident become confused. Some facilities hang a collage-type box containing personal mementos and photos on room doors to help residents recognize their rooms. Ask what safety systems are used to deal with wandering. For example, are the elevators and doors alarmed? Do the residents wear wrist or ankle bracelets that set off alarms if they accidentally leave the dementia unit?