A dementia diagnosis is often incredibly difficult, not only for the person being diagnosed but for their spouse, children, and broader family. Finding the right residential senior care option when the time comes can be equally challenging.
Striking a balance between your loved one’s wishes and needs might feel like an impossible task. A home-like skilled nursing community with a specialist memory care program could offer the ideal compromise of 24/7 expert care and valuable home comforts.
Why Choose Skilled Nursing for A Loved One with Dementia?
Residential skilled nursing communities offer a unique combination of medical, emotional, and daily living support. With registered nurses on-site, swift senior care is available at all hours. Skilled nursing communities are equipped to deal with everything from emergency and planned medical care to essential activities of daily living (ADL) support. This is vitally important for seniors with dementia, who are at a higher risk of accidents and injuries.
A 2022 study1 found that people living with dementia had more falls than matched participants without dementia and that this elevated risk began as early as four years before diagnosis. Falls can have a significant impact on seniors’ physical and mental health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)2 explains that common consequences of falls among the elderly include hip, arm, and wrist fractures, head and brain injuries, and ongoing anxiety about falling again. Around-the-clock support can effectively prevent these debilitating falls and other accidents, leaving residents with a better quality of life.
The presence of skilled nurses can also help seniors avoid unnecessary trips to the doctor’s office or hospital. These trips can be particularly distressing for seniors with dementia, who might experience confusion or agitation in an unfamiliar environment. Skilled nursing communities are often able to manage things like complex medication administration, post-surgical support, plus wound and cardiac care, allowing seniors with dementia to receive the medical care they need within a comfortable and familiar environment.
5 Reasons to Choose Chapin Home for Your Loved One with Dementia
1. Over a century and a half of dedicated service.
In May, we will celebrate our 155th year of serving the seniors of NY. Chapin Home was born from Hannah and Edwin Chapin’s philosophy, “what is your need, not your creed” in 1869. As a proud not-for-profit community, we continue to live by their values, providing expert skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation services for short-term and long-term senior care residents.
2. No need to move for hospice care.
Many seniors with conditions like Alzheimer’s disease find change incredibly difficult. That’s why we’re proud to support our residents through every stage of their condition, offering compassionate hospice care on-site when needed. We partner with the Hospice Care Network and the Visiting Nurse Service of New York to provide holistic hospice care that centers on residents’ comfort, wishes, and spiritual beliefs.
3. Specialist facilities for memory care.
Recent research found that nursing home residents with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia-causing condition do better if they’re in a community specializing in dementia care.3 Chapin Home’s memory care program offers the whole package, including skilled nursing care, ADL assistance from caregivers trained in dementia care, plus nutritional, cognitive, and social support.
Our memory care residents live in a dedicated part of our broader community designed to meet their needs. With enhanced security and 24-hour supervision, residents can enjoy the freedom and independence they deserve without compromising their safety or well-being. We also have a range of facilities and activities to benefit seniors with dementia, including a sensory room, sensory cart, plus regular pet and music therapy sessions.
4. Partnerships with local hospitals.
Effectively caring for a person with Alzheimer’s requires careful thought, a holistic senior care plan, and excellent teamwork. We’re affiliated with several leading hospitals, medical centers, and home health agencies in and around New York. Our partnerships allow prompt care and smoother communication between skilled nurses, professional caregivers, physicians, specialists (e.g., psychiatrists), and family caregivers.
5. Compassionate support for family members.
Research shows that family caregivers of dementia patients experience high rates of psychological strain, social isolation, physical illness, and financial worry.4 As a skilled nursing community offering specialist memory care, we have a unique insight into families’ daily challenges. We see our residents’ loved ones as extensions of our family, a core part of the Chapin Home community. Our caregivers, nurses, and staff members are here to alleviate your worries, offering support, advice, or even a simple listening ear when needed.
Visit Chapin Home for the Aging Today
Get in touch today and organize a tour in the exciting build-up to our 155th year of serving the Queens community with senior living, skilled nursing, memory care, and rehabilitation. Find out how we can best support your loved one with dementia and speak to our experts for the advice and reassurance you need.
References
- Zhang L, Wang J, Dove A, Yang W, Qi X, Xu W. Injurious falls before, during and after dementia diagnosis: A population-based study. Age Ageing. 2022;51(12). doi:10.1093/ageing/afac299.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Facts about falls. Updated May 12, 2023. Accessed April 22, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/falls/facts.html.
- Mukamel DB, Saliba D, Ladd H, Konetzka RT. Dementia care is widespread In US nursing homes; facilities with the most dementia patients may offer better care. Health Aff (Millwood). 2023;42(6):795-803. doi:10.1377/hlthaff.2022.01263.
Brodaty H, Donkin M. Family caregivers of people with Dementia. Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2009;11(2):217-228. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2009.11.2/hbrodaty.