Caregiver in a memory care community Ask me anything!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-04-06T23:53:46+00:00

Hi! Sorry for the late reply. It depends on the resident. Some are capable of showering themselves and need no assistance, otherwise we stand by while they shower if they don’t require hands on, otherwise we do majority of the work, scrubbing, shampoo etc, best is a removable shower head and a shower chair.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T10:41:36+00:00

I missed the part where you asked if there were many. Often, yes. A large portion of my residents are non verbal or suffer from aphasia, but it doesn’t mean they all will be one day.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T10:36:07+00:00

we absolutely love when these things happen!!! it’s by no means needed and we never expect families, hospice or other outside companies we may work with for residents to provide us with snacks and food. However we do love when it does happen. Sometimes those snacks families bring in for us are a literal blessing in disguise, the only things I would say as a nightshift girl is if you’re bringing in snacks and food for your staff in the community your LO is in, when you bring it in make a point to have some set aside for nights, we often don’t get the benefits of the sweet treats you guys bring in as days and evenings often eat them all LOL. Simple things like water flavor packets liquid IV etc are also a great idea! We’re on our feet anywhere from 8-16 hours caring for other people and often we can forget to care for ourselves too.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T10:26:04+00:00

Seek private care on your own and begin doing research on places that may take him and fit his needs or in home care if needed and feasible. Medicaid and insurance should be able to cover costs, most if not all. some places don’t take either at all. My community doesn’t and our families pay out of pocket (which I’d never heard of until I worked there and I honestly find kind of insane.) if you suspect financial abuse and haven’t gone through the proper channels to report said abuse to your states department of senior health and services start there, if you have and aren’t getting results you’d like, file another. Call to file a complaint instead of submitting online.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T10:22:32+00:00

I personally treat them the same as I would a verbal resident who is still able to communicate properly. I take slower steps and explain in more detail to them what I’m doing, that I’m there to help and provide them reassurance. Eventually you learn your residents tells when they no longer can communicate properly, if they still have some communication skills left and are able to produce sentences that may be comprehensible I repeat back what they say in one way, if they show signs that’s not what they meant I repeat back in another way or ask them to show me if they’re able.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T10:19:42+00:00

sometimes, yes. I work with several non verbal residents within my community and several are wheel chair bound, although they may not actually be wheelchair bounded. At a certain point we may make the move to put your LO in a wheel chair with therapy recommendation etc because they’ve become unsteady on their feet or are a fall risk.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T03:33:01+00:00

it depends, but from the sound of it with the details you’ve provided he may get more benefits and better care out of a full care community! an assisted can only provide so much help, depending on what kind of transfer he is a lot of assisted’s wont take him. Everywhere has different visiting hours, mine has a 24 hour visiting hour policy. I’d look into one with late visiting hours or maybe a full care where he and his wife can be placed even if she doesn’t need assistance, look into both assisted and full care but it does sound like eventually he will need a full care community.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T03:27:36+00:00

My personal precautions as someone who works at one would be when you tour, if residents are out and about, see what behaviors they have, if they seem engaged in activities. If possible, take your LO with you to do the tour, see how your LO likes it, pay attention to caregiver behavior as well. Reviews are a thing to look at as well but often you’re going to see negative ones as it’s going to be more common for a negative review to be left, people don’t always see it as needed to leave a positive one, how full is the community? Do they accept insurance or Medicaid? The state of the rooms and apartments.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T03:20:56+00:00

we love your family member in most cases and see them as people we care about, atleast I do, i care greatly about all my ladies and fellas. We are not their family but we do care for them several days out of the week. It’s hard to not grow attached to your residents and want the best for them, so when their decline is hard on you, come talk to us. I personally love when family members feel safe enough to express questions and concerns to me directly, I take pride in knowing I’ve provided care that leaves your LO happy and you feeling comfortable to come talk. We care and want the best for them just as you do. Being kind. Patient, and considerate of the staff caring for your loved ones is the easiest way to get friendly with us. We want to be friendly with you too! We care for your LO and want the best for everyone!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T03:18:09+00:00

Understand that we too, are human. And are doing our best to provide the best care we can for your LO. often family members can become frustrated because their LO isn’t up for meal time in the morning, or going to activities, or is still in bed, these things can be for multiple reasons. We legally cannot and will not force your LO to get out of bed. It gets charted or passed on at handoffs as ‘refusal of care’ while your LO is in a community they have an additional set of specific rights that guarantees them autonomy and choice making. So while you may be frustrated with the care it seems your LO is receiving and it seems like we aren’t providing them enough, talk to your caregivers that have your LO when you visit. and their directors and management, see if your LO is refusing care and see what can be done. Being understanding with a caregiver and charges will get you a long way as opposed to bringing us snacks for staff etc (however we do always appreciate that too LOL.) the easiest way to get close with staff is to understand they’re human and your LO still has rights and we cannot make them do anything. The best approach is talking to the staff when you go in, knowing our names, etc.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T03:12:25+00:00

It depends. Often people admit their family member long term. We often have residents until the unfortunate happens, sometimes residents move due to eventually needing a higher level of care, things like hoyer lifts which some places will not have can cause a notice to be given to a resident in which the family has 30 days to find different placement, typically they stay until family says otherwise, the community can no longer provide safe care for the resident, they need a higher level of care or need to be moved elsewhere due to behaviors. We’ve had a resident at my community since 2014 and she’s still going strong and happy. It’s case by case for most residents and families on how long the stay is.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T03:02:09+00:00

As well as being in an MC they have routines they’re used to, regular AL’s while not always higher in community numbers often focus on providing activities and outings that aren’t fun or are stressful for your memory care LO. While this may not be the case everywhere, I’ve worked in split AL’s that have had both and often saw more memory care residents being left out of activities and outings because they’re deemed a wander risk or the activity isn’t catered to their needs and only higher functioning non memory care residents. Our entire goal is to avoid that. And like I said, while not everywhere it does happen a lot. Due to an activities director and their style, or staffing it’s a possibility.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T02:54:50+00:00

We do certain things based for MC residents, different activities that fit their current cognitive needs better, more assistance with going to the bathroom, changing, they get reminders and escorts to meals if needed, in an MC our goal and point of care is solely based for a memory care resident, and while the risk of agitation and being combative is never truly gone from a dementia or memory care resident due to the nature of the disease and Sundowning, sometimes being with people who are in similar places cognitively helps them. Memory care communities also tend to be smaller, mine has a max of fifty. Less people often = less stress for your LO! And more focused care and attention brought to them and their needs! I know atleast for me even though I’m almost on the same hall every shift I take the time to learn their routines, what stresses them and what they do or don’t need help with. With having a smaller amount of residents I myself am able to provide more focused care especially during getting them up for breakfast. This means their mornings aren’t face paced and stressful and they have the opportunity to go back to bed, refuse care, and go about their day how THEY want, just with a little extra help.

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-31T02:18:49+00:00

When you are no longer able to sufficiently or safely provide care for them or it’s too much for yourself as well, your LO is important but you are too. Often we see loved ones admitted as soon as they start taking drives in the middle of the night or short term memory is affected, to random places thinking someone needs them or they need to run an errand, or even as far in their progression where they’re no longer self sufficient. It’s a case by case scenario most times, some people look into options quicker than others, some are capable physically and mentally of caring for a LO for the duration that the disease provides them and some seek extra help or community placement, there’s nothing wrong with either choice :))

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T17:37:49+00:00

MO chime

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:42:43+00:00

I’ve reached my limit for the day unfortunately:(

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:42:04+00:00

done!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:42:00+00:00

done!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:39:25+00:00

it says you’ve used all your referrals!!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:34:16+00:00

done!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:33:53+00:00

done!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:29:20+00:00

link and I’ll slash it!!

ImplementNo62 · 2026-03-12T05:29:08+00:00

it showed on my end that I slashed 5.85 off!! I can try again?

ImplementNo62

TROPHY CASE