Realizing that a loved one is dealing with a neurological disorder or cognitive impairment, such as Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, is a difficult situation. You may have known for a while that something was wrong, but you couldn’t quite put your finger on it. Now that you know what’s going on, you know the road ahead is going to be a tough one.
Some people try to care for their loved one alone or with the help of family members. It soon becomes obvious that your loved one needs more care than you can provide at home. But you want them to have a home-like environment where they can thrive.
Bel Air Assisted Living has a dedicated memory care program to ensure individuals who have Alzheimer’s and dementia-related conditions can receive the care they need. Learning a bit about why Bel Air Assisted Living is the premier option for memory care in Harford County may help you make the decision.
What Sets Bel Air Assisted Living Above Other Nursing Homes in the Area?
A loving family atmosphere is the top factor that sets Bel Air Assisted Living above other nursing homes in the area that offer memory care services. Our goal is to help each resident live a life that is full and meaningful. When families come to visit, they will find themselves spending time with their loved one in a comfortable living room, doing some of the same kinds of things they used to do in their own homes –eating communal meals, watching sports or movies together, or decorating cookies for the holidays. Our activities director and staff make sure that individuals with all different cognitive levels are included and engaged in ways that work for them. Our philosophy is to create an open, supportive and normalizing environment for individuals with cognitive challenges, rather than a restricted environment that focuses on deficits, and hides individuals away from participation in the regular activities of life. We don’t treat our residents like numbers that just need to be pushed through each day. Instead, our memory care staff gets to know the residents so we can nurture them and give them the support they need.
The staff members who work with our memory care patients are all trained and certified. They have decades of experience with a variety of conditions, including frontotemporal, vascular and semantic dementia. We also have experience with dementia with Lewy bodies and Alzheimer’s disease.
What Can Memory Care Patients Expect at Bel Air Assisted Living?
In addition to all the engagement and activities described above, we use cueing and coaching techniques to help residents remain as independent as possible, with staff ready to step in when needed. All of our memory care residents receive help with remembering when it’s time for meals, activities and bed. They also have assistance with eating and drinking. We work closely with them to ensure they’re taking their medications and getting all the help they need. Our staff members also watch for signs a resident is in pain to ensure they’re getting the proper pain management. We work closely with clinicians in the community at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Levindale, Upper Chesapeake Hospital, and Greater Baltimore Medical Center to make sure our residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia have state of the art treatment to continue to live their best lives.
Another benefit of our memory care program is that the residents are able to socialize with community members who are in other programs. They’ll be able to enjoy time with people who are here for respite stays, independent living and senior living.
What Kind of Security Measures Does Bel Air Assisted Living Use?
We know that keeping memory care residents safe is a priority. This is at the heart of our program. Our doors are secured to prevent residents from wandering outside alone. Our facility is a single-story building, so there’s no worry about anyone having to navigate stairs or elevators, or losing their way.
Our team works closely with the residents to enhance safety. We have specific techniques to help calm residents when they are distressed and redirect them toward positive thoughts and experiences..
Bel Air Assisted Living realizes that being able to see familiar faces is a huge benefit to our memory care residents. We have a consistent group of experienced caregivers, rather than changing groups of staff that come and go, so your family member will always see familiar faces. On top of that, you can visit whenever you want. Our doors are open to loved ones around the clock.
If you’re ready to explore Bel Air Assisted Living so you can see firsthand why we’re the best, give us a call at 410-893-9164 to schedule your tour. We’ll be happy to show you around and talk about how our amenities, including a personal chef and high staff-to-resident ratio, will benefit your loved one.
