As a family caregiver, you’ve been on a long journey with your loved one. We understand that searching for the right long-term care option for a person with dementia can feel overwhelming. There’s a significant difference between New Orleans nursing homes and Alzheimer’s residential care facilities.
At Laketown Village, we’re here to help guide you through this process by offering support and understanding. You want what’s best for your loved one, and we want to help you find it. Use this guide to explore the various options for long-term care in New Orleans.
Exploring Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults with Dementia in New Orleans
When evaluating long-term care solutions for a person with dementia, it’s important to consider their required level of care and support. Let’s look at the different types of senior care available and assess their suitability for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Independent Living and Assisted Living: Not Suitable for Dementia Care
Independent living and assisted living communities provide a level of support that is insufficient for the unique needs of someone with dementia.
These communities typically offer assistance with daily activities and some healthcare services but do not have the specialized staff or programs necessary for managing the cognitive and behavioral symptoms of dementia.
A third of assisted living residents in Louisiana have some form of dementia. Assisted living communities that also feature a memory care unit are recommended for these types of older adults.
Nursing Homes or Skilled Nursing Care: Not Ideal for Dementia Care
Nursing homes in New Orleans, or skilled nursing care facilities, are designed to provide a higher level of medical care than what a senior living community typically offers.
However, unless the person with dementia also has a chronic illness or injury that requires this level of care, these facilities may not be the best fit. Nursing homes often lack the specialized staff and programming necessary to effectively manage dementia symptoms and enhance the quality of life for residents with dementia.
Dedicated dementia care programs are generally fairly active and social. Due to the nature of people in recovery centers, they may not have the strength to participate in such activities.
Memory Care Units or Dementia Care Communities: The Best Choice for Alzheimer’s Care
Memory care units or dementia care communities are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
The benefits of memory care:
- Specialized and personalized care and services
- Highly trained staff
- Engaging activities tailored to an individual’s cognitive abilities
- A secure environment
- Chef-prepared meals and nutrition services
- Housekeeping and maintenance services
- Private or shared living spaces
These communities create an environment that promotes overall well-being and quality of life for residents with dementia. Staff members receive ongoing training to facilitate the best outcomes for each person. No one form of care is a fit for everyone. Caregivers in memory care facilities are very adaptable to dynamic needs.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities: A Costly Alternative
Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) offer a range of care levels, including memory care. While they can be a suitable option for people with dementia, CCRCs are typically quite expensive to move into and better suited for individuals who want to start aging in place earlier.
A more cost-effective and specialized solution is an assisted living and memory care community like Laketown Village.
Introducing the Data-Based Connections Memory Care Program at Laketown Village
Laketown Village offers the Connections memory care program, designed specifically for seniors in the New Orleans area living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. This innovative program was developed on the latest research by Dr. Sandra Petersen and evidence-based best practices in dementia care.
Our compassionate team of memory care specialists and senior living professionals work together to create personalized care plans that address each resident’s unique needs.
The Connections program promotes mental, physical, and emotional well-being through engaging activities and therapies tailored to each individual’s cognitive abilities and interests. By fostering a sense of purpose and accomplishment, our program helps residents maintain their dignity and independence while receiving the specialized care they need.
Residents’ daily activities follow a pattern of:
- Connect
- Move
- Learn
Making emotional connections, engaging in physical activity, and challenging the brain aid in neuroplasticity. It’s how the brain can overcome damaging limitations. It can help slow memory loss and contribute to overall well-being.
We also encourage family members to be a part of their loved ones’ care and develop a deeper understanding of what their loved one is experiencing.
Loved ones’ deserve a program and community with their best interests in mind. Our data-based Connections memory care program strives to provide the highest quality of Alzheimer’s residential care in the New Orleans area. Trust in our expertise and dedication to make a positive difference in the lives of our residents and their families.
Compare Long-Term Care in New Orleans in Person
Contact us to arrange a tour of our dedicated community for Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Our team would love to show you our memory care program’s calming design and personalized activities.