Nearly 18% of Iowa's population is over the age of 65, so the need for quality senior living communities is very clear.
When you've got a close relative who's entering advanced age, senior living communities have to cross your mind. It can be extremely difficult to watch someone you love deal with the negative health effects of aging. All of this is made even more complicated when Alzheimer's and dementia enter the picture.
The right senior living community will provide memory care services that can help your loved one navigate the complexities of cognitive decline. To find assisted living in Clinton Iowa, you need to know what to prioritize.
In today's post, we'll explain memory support services and tell you some of the factors to consider when choosing dementia care in Iowa. Keep reading, and you'll get your loved one into the perfect Clinton, IA, assisted living community.
Senior living services come in many forms. Which one you choose will depend on your loved one's unique needs. The most basic form of senior care is independent senior living communities, which are best for healthy seniors who want a low-maintenance lifestyle around a group of their peers.
For those with age-related illnesses and mobility problems, assisted living is the right choice. These communities have staff available at all hours of the day to assist residents with things like bathing, dressing, and taking medications. Often, there will be a nurse on-site to help create care plans and respond to issues.
When dementia and Alzheimer's are involved, that's where memory care comes in. Memory care is often offered in assisted living communities where staff are specially trained in helping residents deal with the complex and evolving symptoms of cognitive decline.
At Addington Place of Clinton, all of our staff are highly experienced in managing Alzheimer's symptoms. All residents receive individual care plans to keep them cognitively stimulated.
When you know you need memory care, the search for assisted living communities becomes simpler because not every community offers this service. Still, you need to separate the best communities from the rest somehow. Use the following criteria to make the right choice for your loved one.
Finding elder care in Clinton is essential. The transition into assisted living isn't easy, and when Alzheimer's is involved, your loved one can feel like a fish out of water.
You can make the process less overwhelming by choosing a nearby community. Having a familiar environment, as well as family and friends around is essential in the first few months of memory care.
To find the best senior living in Clinton, you'll probably type "Clinton IA assisted living" into Google. You'll be given a list of everything available, so you need a quick way to separate the best from the rest. This is when you'll turn to reviews.
Nobody can give you more information about daily life in a memory care community than the family of former residents. If there are any major issues with how residents are treated or the state of the community, the reviews will let you know. Choose a few of the communities with the best reputations and schedule tours.
There's a lot to consider when touring memory care communities. One of the most important factors is the safety and security of the building and grounds.
Seniors are at much higher risk of injury, so you need the community to be accessible and safe. In addition, 60% of Alzheimer's patients wander at least once, so you need the community to be secure to prevent any mishaps. Ask about safety and security measures to ensure they're taking these things seriously.
The priority of any senior care community should be the health and wellness of residents. At the same time, residents need to enjoy themselves as much as possible.
A community's amenities can tell you a lot about how much they value the residents' lifestyles. Some communities have beautiful outdoor spaces, while others value things like entertainment and fitness. Your loved one's interests will determine which amenities are most important to them.
A good assisted living community will have a daily calendar of fun activities geared toward the physical, emotional, and cognitive health of residents. All seniors need roughly 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity to build strength and avoid injury.
Activities should encourage physical fitness in residents, whether it's walking or Tai Chi. They should also help residents get to know one another. Social isolation is a major problem for seniors, especially those dealing with dementia. Socialization can lower the risk of anxiety and depression that comes with isolation.
Memory-based activities are a huge part of memory care. Your loved one's daily activities should be heavily focused on keeping them as sharp as possible. Make sure to find out what kind of activities your loved one will take part in when they enter assisted living.
Nutrition is just as important to senior health as exercise. Seniors with cognitive problems can't always look after their diet, which is why it's so important that a memory care community offers in-house dining.
At Addington Place of Clinton, we've got an in-house restaurant that gives residents a rotating menu of delicious and nutritious meals. Your loved one will eat well each day with food that accounts for their dietary needs and restrictions.
Choosing assisted living in Clinton Iowa can be an overwhelming process for everyone involved, especially the person entering care. That said, with this guide, you'll be able to look at all of the most important factors and make the right decision for your loved one.
Addington Place of Clinton is one of Iowa's top assisted living and memory care communities. We've helped countless families navigate the complexities of Alzheimer's and dementia, so you can rely on us to get you through this difficult time.
To tour our amazing Clinton community with your loved one, don't hesitate to contact us today.