At least half of older adults living in long-term care facilities suffer from cognitive impairment with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.
Memory care services, designed to meet the unique needs of residents with dementia, are often provided in dedicated care units or wings of a facility.
Some memory care units may be secured or provide restricted access (e.g., using a code) to control entry and exits, and have dedicated, specially trained staff or teams working with residents.
The first step in caring for people living with dementia in any setting is to understand that changes in behavior (e.g., increased agitation, confusion, sudden sadness) or worsening symptoms of dementia should be evaluated because they can be an indication of