Memory Care near Barrie, ON

Memory Care in Barrie, ON

If your loved one has started displaying symptoms of severe memory loss, then a memory care facility is the best place for them. As seniors age, it's reasonable to expect that things will slip their mind. This includes forgetting to mail things on occasion, forgetting to take the trash to the curb on trash night, and so on. More aggressive memory loss includes forgetting to take medication on a regular basis, severe weight loss or gain due to forgetting to eat, or that they've already eaten and eating again, or forgetting how to cook, clean, or do the laundry. These signs may mean that your loved one suffers from dementia or Alzheimer's disease, and they need more care than you can provide at home.

More about Barrie

Barrie is a town that offers a lot for its residents and visitors. There are swimmable beaches, ski options, and plenty of parkland, which makes it a vibrant community of activity. The city is a great place to raise a family, and what family is complete without grandparents? Seniors have plenty to do in the city, and the great outdoors offers a healing touch to those who need it. Retiring in Barrie gives you sunshine in the summer, mountainous views, and an arts and culture scene that attracts theater goers and music aficionados alike.

Memory Care Defined

Memory care is care provided to seniors with memory impairment. There are three typical ways this care is delivered: home health care, assisted living, and retirement homes. Assisted living and retirement homes are the most common because they are more cost effective for many families. However, there are some cases that are so extreme, that it's better for seniors not to be around other residents, in which case, home health care is a better option. If you're not sure which option might be the best for your loved one, talk with their doctor. Find out the level of care your loved one will need, and ask which option the doctor believes makes the most sense.

Facts about Memory Care

There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to memory care.

• Each community is unique
Whether you opt for assisted living or a retirement home, each community has its own personality and culture. The decorations, design, facilities, and activities will all be different within each community, as well. In most cases, the memory care residents are separated from the other residents, and there is more staff on hand to assist with memory care residents.
• It's not about curing memory impairment
You must understand that there is currently no cure for dementia or Alzheimer's disease. There are treatments that may temporarily improve the symptoms, and there are options that help your loved one live a relatively normal life, but once they develop memory impairment, there isn't a cure.
• It's about living a fulfilled life
Memory care helps aging seniors live a more fulfilled life. It brings structure and order to their lives so they can function normally, and it also provides a social setting to keep them active. Certain therapies such as art and music therapies have shown to improve the symptoms of dementia, which helps your loved one feel more like themselves. Memory care helps them feel normal.

Paying for Memory Care

Seniors in Barrie have several options when it comes to paying for memory care. The first option is private pay, although it's not the most effective way payment method. The next option is long-term care insurance, which covers the costs not covered by private medical insurance. The downside to long-term care insurance is that most companies won't insure anyone with preexisting conditions, so it's easier to secure the insurance before health issues arise. The next option is a reverse mortgage. Only seniors qualify for the reverse mortgage, and it essentially sells their house back to the bank for monthly income. This income can then be used toward the monthly payment for assisted living or retirement home care, whichever you choose for your loved one. The final option is government resources for which seniors qualify, including Canadian Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Memory impairment can be a scary situation for both seniors and their families. Forgetting people, places, and facts you've known your whole life is unsettling because you often don't feel quite right. It's also painful for those who've been forgotten. Memory care facilities help seniors live a fulfilled life by providing therapies that help manage the symptoms of memory loss. Although it doesn't cure memory loss, in some cases, it can at least slow the progression and offer families and their loved ones a little more time together.