Memory Care Management: Patient Care and Needs Management

Residents at memory care facilities benefit from several memory care management techniques, including person-centered care and dementia care mapping (DCM) methods. These methods can be used by caregivers to get to know residents’ histories, personalities, and specific needs quickly and effectively. Memory care patients have different daily challenges than seniors who aren’t experiencing cognitive decline. This means a specialized approach to care and advanced training in observation are necessary for nurses and caregivers in these communities.

Person-centered care enhances quality of life

Person-centered care hinges on a personal relationship between the resident and their caregivers. Person-centered care makes time for caregivers to learn residents’ backstories, preferences, notable life experiences, and more. Both caregivers and residents thrive when personhood and individuality are centered — caregivers see their work having a greater impact, and residents feel safer, freer, and more respected.^[01]

Person-centered care is entirely customizable based on the preferences and individual needs of residents. For example, communities with person-centered programming may offer the following accommodations:

• Different meal times to accommodate individual schedules
• New memory care activities to accommodate different interests and hobbies

While scheduling extended meal times and more activities might challenge a community’s staff, a best-in-class memory care program will adequately train its staff for the challenges. Expect a top-quality community’s staff to be prepared and ready for the effort required.

Dementia care mapping improves care plans

Dementia care mapping is one of the primary techniques used to implement high-quality person-centered care in memory care facilities. DCM involves skilled observation of the person with dementia as they go about their daily life, all in an attempt to understand their experience, viewpoint, and specific needs.^[02] Memory care communities use DCM to help develop a senior care plan — a tool caregivers can use to ensure seniors receive the appropriate medical, social, and emotional care.

Memory care facilities and caregivers that practice person-centered care and dementia care mapping with their patients report lower levels of agitation and distress in residents with dementia.^[03] These psychology-based techniques are the building blocks of an effective care plan and can be used as the basis of many other care approaches.

Is memory care the right fit?

Memory care patient goals focus on promoting independence and life satisfaction. Patients, loved ones, and professional caregivers work together to outline realistic goals using proven personal intervention techniques cataloged in the patient’s individualized care plans. When met, these goals can improve physical and emotional well-being while slowing cognitive decline. Different memory care management strategies at the patient level help achieve desired results.

Person-centered intervention techniques give the caregiver individualized tools to help alleviate a patient’s stress, pain, depression, or other negative feelings. Effective interventions vary from person to person, and may include the following:

• Playing a patient’s favorite song to improve their mood
• Showing them a picture of something they enjoy, like a garden or beach scene
• Smelling a familiar perfume to reduce agitation

A resident care plan, sometimes referred to as a nursing care plan, is a set of guidelines and action items caregivers and medical professionals follow when providing care to a specific resident. This plan is uniquely designed to meet individual needs identified during the dementia care mapping process. Great memory care communities start their resident relationships with a personalized care plan, and it serves as a roadmap that all caregivers follow.

A care plan for a memory care resident typically includes details about:

• Meals, including the timing of meals and flavor preferences. Doctors may make certain dietary recommendations, depending on the needs of a resident.
• Medication, which may be necessary for some residents, but not all. Close monitoring of side effects and effectiveness is necessary for any resident on medication.
• Assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), which can vary greatly depending on the stage of dementia and the physical needs of residents. These needs are often specific: one resident may need help dressing, but be able to confidently brush their own teeth.
• Person-centered needs, like wanting a specific drink each afternoon, needing a certain TV show to fall asleep, or liking pink nail polish.

Some doctors may suggest medication as a supplemental way to treat dementia symptoms. However, medication is often a last resort in treating dementia. As a matter of fact, most dementia care experts caution against psychotropic medications.^[04]

While there are many medications available, each individual’s treatment plan will be unique. Make sure to speak with your loved one’s doctors and caregivers about medication management, side effects, and any possible questions or concerns.

Non-pharmaceutical memory care treatments

Memory care communities also offer a variety of non-pharmaceutical care treatments that can more safely ease some of the symptoms of dementia. These treatment options can be as simple as reminiscence therapies to help residents remember significant songs, events, or movies from their lives, or as complex as specific bathing or de-escalation therapies.

Some treatments may require extra training for caregivers, but many basic non-pharmaceutical treatments employ the foundations of person-centered care — which, at its core, simply requires empathy, a commitment to care, and an open mind.

Read more:Treatment for Dementia: What You Need to Know

Memory care questions? Get expert help

Memory care facilities are made up of many moving parts. When searching for a memory care facility, be sure to ask about their required training and classes for memory care caregivers. Regular training can help ensure that a facility continues to provide adequate care and stays up to date on dementia care practices.

If you have any questions regarding memory care or if you need help with choosing a memory care facility, reach out to a Senior Living Advisor. These local advisors are committed to being a resource for families through every step of the senior care process — all at no cost to you.