Residential Care Facilities for Elders With Alzheimer's Disease
by
Attorney Joseph L. Matthews
Seniors with Alzheimer's disease have special care needs. Here are a few things to look for when choosing a long-term care facility.
Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition that slowly erodes an elder's ability to think clearly, take care of basic daily needs, and maintain emotional and psychological equilibrium. In its earlier stages, Alzheimer's may cause confusion about time and place, short-term memory loss, and minor mood swings. As the disease progresses, an elder with Alzheimer's may stop recognizing familiar faces, wander away from home, lose the ability to apply simply logic and language, and experience hallucinations or paranoia. Eventually, Alzheimer's will cause a complete deterioriation of cognitive functioning.
Given these symptoms, it's no surprise that elders with Alzheimer's have special care needs. When you are trying to find the right residential care facility for an Alzheimer's patient, consider the following factors.
Physical Space
For any senior, you'll want to find a facility that is roomy and comfortable. But for someone with Alzheimer's, the physical design and layout of a facility are also important. If the person is physically active, as so many with early and middle stage Alzheimer's are, the facility must provide enough space to move about freely, without a sense of confinement. But because Alzheimer's patients often wander and become disoriented, the space must also be safe and constraining. Some facilities combine space and constraint by using a circular design for hallways, which permits residents to walk about in any direction for as long as they want, without being stopped or confused by dead-ends, intersecting corridors, or locked doors.
Other Residents
Some facilities admit only residents with Alzheimer's, while others admit a mix of residents. Facilities that admit only Alzeimer's patients can provide some advantages. The staff can organize meals, activities, and care -- including the monitoring of wandering and disorientation -- solely with Alzheimer's residents in mind. The staff is likely to develop good skills in handling the particular difficulties Alzheimer's presents. And some Alzheimer's-only facilities have educational programs, family counseling, and support groups that might not be available at other facilities.
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