When you’re ready to begin searching for a memory care community for a loved one, the process can sometimes be overwhelming. There’s a lot of pressure to find the right place for your loved one.
Being prepared with a list of questions to ask and things to look for will help you make a more informed, confident decision. Explore your memory care options and find tips on navigating your memory care search in this blog curated by Sonrisa Assisted Living and Memory Care.
Memory Care Community Options
It’s important to understand the two primary memory care community options as you start your search. You’ll typically find memory care within an assisted living or as a stand-alone community.
Here are some similarities and differences between these two options:
Memory Care Within Assisted Living
Memory care within an assisted living or continuing care retirement community will offer similar living options and services as stand-alone memory care. Residents will have access to medical care, activities, three daily meals, and a specially trained team in a safe, secure environment.
Differences may include:
- A way for couples to live close to each other if one spouse needs less care and wants to reside in independent living for convenience and proximity to the memory care area
- Access to more extensive on-campus community programs and special events, dining venues, and additional amenities
- Smaller memory care neighborhood with fewer residents
- Option to start in traditional assisted living and transition to memory care as needed
Stand-Alone Memory Care
A stand-alone community focuses solely on memory care and doesn’t typically offer other levels of care.
Differences may include:
- Easy-to-navigate layout with more safety and security features to prevent wandering
- Intentional color and lighting to create a more relaxed environment
- Familiar daily routine with a dedicated team of interdisciplinary caregivers
- Lower staff-to-resident ratio for more individualized care
Once you have a better idea of your community options, you can create a list of questions and things to look for during your visits.
Discover Sonrisa’s Memory Care community in Roseville >>
Questions to Ask and Things to Look for During Memory Care Tours
Write down questions and things to look for while you visit different memory care communities. Take notes during your tours so you can easily refer back to the details when weighing the pros and cons of each community.
Here is a list of questions to help you get started:
- Is there a waiting list for admission to the community?
- What personalized care services are available?
- Is the staff regularly trained in dementia care and life-enrichment programming?
- How many staff members work during each shift?
- What interdisciplinary staff work in the community?
- What are the monthly costs, and what is included?
- What floor plan options are offered?
- Can the community accommodate special diets?
- What activities are offered?
- Is the community equipped to handle behavior challenges or special medical needs?
- Do the residents have a safe place to go outdoors?
- Are off-campus outings planned for residents?
- What is the visitation policy?
Here is a list of things to look for during your visit:
- How does the staff interact with the residents?
- Were you greeted by staff members in a friendly manner?
- Is the community clean? Landscaped grounds? Tidy common areas?
- Do the residents seem happy and engaged with each other and the staff?
- Is the layout easy to follow?
- Does the environment feel calm and comfortable?
- Do the resident suites feel spacious and home-like?
- Do you notice activities happening?
- Are there families visiting their loved ones?
Take some time to review your notes after you visit each community. When determining which community is best, consider your loved one’s interests, needs, and wants. Talking to other family members, your loved one’s physician, or other trusted advisors can also help.
Ultimately, you want to choose a community that improves the quality of life and well-being of your loved one. The right community will give you and your loved one peace of mind that all their current and future needs will be met.
Life at Sonrisa Assisted Living
If you’re looking at options for senior living, we invite your family to visit Sonrisa Assisted Living, designed to support your loved ones to live their highest quality of life.
We offer studio and one-bedroom private apartments for our assisted living residents as well as private or shared memory care suites for those living with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.
Our memory care residents are cared for by our compassionate and specially trained team — who meet them wherever they are in their journey with patience and kindness. The residents also have access to customized activities, programs, and an elevated secured courtyard.
Our amenities and services encourage our residents in assisted living to engage with others, remain as independent as possible, and be reassured that help is available whenever needed.
In addition to our personalized services, we offer:
- Assisted Living dining room, bistro and two sitting lounge/living room areas
- Memory Care living and dining room
- Elegantly designed common areas
- Fitness and wellness center with physical and occupational therapy room
- A commercial kitchen
- Barber and beauty salon in both assisted living and memory care areas
- 24-hour on-duty care staff
- Secured community
- Art room
- Multipurpose room
- Large state‐of‐the‐art theater
- A large secured Assisted Living and separate Memory Care courtyard with walking paths
- On‐grade parking for immediate use of visitors and staff
- Dog Park
If your family is considering retirement living, we hope you will visit Sonrisa Assisted Living. We are a trusted resource and are here to answer any questions. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a tour.
You may also download our complimentary brochure to get additional details about Sonrisa Assisted Living.
