06-21-2023 Primetime Living - Flipbook - Page 14
14 A Special Advertising Section of Baltimore Sun Media Group | Wednesday, June 21, 2023
MEMORY CARE
Managing
memory care
Individualized approach to
dementia and Alzheimer’s
By Margit B. Weisgal, Contributing Writer
I
t scares us, the possibility, the very thought of losing our memories, our ability to
reason. The smallest hiccup – a word or a name we can’t recall – causes palpitations
and anxiety. “Am I losing my mind?” “Am I getting dementia?” But it’s really about
what happens after that.
For reliable information on memory care, start with the Alzheimer’s
Association (https://www.alz.org) and look
at care options. Also visit the Maryland
Department of Aging’s Area Agencies on
Aging (https://aging.maryland.gov/Pages/
area-agencies-on-aging.aspx).
“Dementia,
and
specifically
Alzheimer’s, is a serious, growing problem. In fact, 1 out of every 10 adults over
the age of 65 has Alzheimer’s dementia.
As Baltimore’s senior population continues to grow (12.46% growth between
2014 and 2019), so does the concern
about aging and the risk of cognitive
impairment,” according to the Alzheimer’s
Association.
“Dementia is different for each person,” explains Steff Walker, Divisional
Director of Business Development for
ProMedica, a not-for-profit organization
that operates multiple skilled nursing
facilities in the Maryland region. “And lots
of problems may look like dementia but
are not. Some chronic illnesses mimic
dementia as does dehydration and urinary
tract infections, so don’t belittle what is
happening. Also, be aware that those who
are isolated have more health issues in
addition to not remembering.”
Twenty years ago, we used to think
there were around eight identified types
of dementia; today, however, we know
there are over 100 different versions,
some of which are due to other diseases
or traumatic brain injuries. The most
familiar are:
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Lewy Body Dementia
• Hippocampal Sclerosis
• Mixed Dementia/Mixed Pathologies
• Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
• Vascular Dementia
“Memory care issues come in all
shapes and sizes,” Walker says. “It can
be complicated and exacerbated when
families are not being honest. It requires
the family to understand that what they
think their loved one needs is not always
accurate. Don’t wait too long to put someone in the care of experts. When you do
this, you are not giving up; this is what real
caring looks like.”
There is more research today than
ever before on behaviors when you have
dementia and cognitive decline. This
information is changing constantly. One
behavior that is of special concern is
wandering, which refers to individuals
walking away from a particular location
and not being able to retrace their steps.
Individuals who wander may become lost,
putting them at risk of significant injury
and death. Newer facilities have paths
residents can take that are safe but also
allow them a changing vista, both indoors
and out. And there is new information and
new treatments all the time.
Walked adds, “You want them to have
a quality life. Tour places, see what they
are like. Are their people respectful? Is
the community meaningful? Early on, look
into day care places that help them retain
what they can. Whatever you do, don’t
keep them at home too long.”
Choosing a Memory Care Facility
When you choose a facility, make sure
they do these:
• Provide a safe and secure
environment.
• Maintain cognitive abilities.
• Manage behavioral problems.
• Facilitate the highest possible
quality of life.
Residences at Vantage Point
Patti Hutton, Director of Sales &
Marketing Communications, and Vivian
Smith, Fitness Manager, at Residences
at Vantage Point (www.vantagepointresidences.org) in Columbia, Maryland, spoke
about Monterey Place, its unique “neighborhood” that combines assisted living
with memory care and focuses on those
with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory impairments.
“Monterey Place is a secure neighborhood, necessary for the safety of the residents,” explains Hutton. “It still includes
