How Family Members Can Stay Involved While a Loved One is in Memory Care

Having a loved one in memory care doesn’t mean you lose your connection with them. Your presence provides reassurance and maintains a close bond with your loved one.

This article examines how family members can maintain strong bonds with their loved ones in dementia care. This includes visiting often, helping with planning decisions, and using deliberate communication to support their relatives’ well-being. 

One of the best ways to stay involved is by making visits meaningful.

How to Make Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Visits More Meaningful

Regular visits give meaningful emotional benefits, bringing familiarity and comfort to those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

A study published on PubMed Central explains that continuous engagement from family members decreases emotional distress through social isolation and anxiety in residents of dementia care communities. Although your loved one may forget details, their emotional affection for you remains intact. 

To make your visits meaningful:

• Create a Routine: Visiting every day or every week can provide a comforting routine for your loved one. Familiarity with faces and schedules can help orient memory care residents.
• Engage in Activities: Do simple, familiar activities together, such as looking through old photos, listening to favorite music, or strolling around the community garden.
• Be Patient and Present: Sometimes, sitting quietly together can be as impactful as having a long conversation. Focus on the moment rather than correcting memory slips or lapses in recognition.

During your visit, observe how your loved one adjusts to life in dementia care. Pay close attention to your family member’s emotional state and note their relationships with the senior care community’s caregiver.

How to Stay Involved in Memory Care Planning

Moving a loved one into a dementia care community doesn’t mean families move away. Instead, your involvement remains just as important. Family members are strongly encouraged to participate in care planning and receive positive support for their involvement.

Most memory care communities prioritize personalized care plans designed with family members in mind. These plans usually include the health history and preferences to create appropriate care. The National Institute on Aging states that “Family members play a critical role in communicating resident’s information and in advocating for care”, which leads to better-quality care for those with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 

Here’s how you can stay involved in the care planning process:

• Attend Regular Meetings: Dementia care communities typically schedule routine care plan meetings. Make an effort to attend or arrange virtual participation.
• Communicate with Caregivers: Ask the caregivers questions and give feedback so you can share any changes or concerns during your visit.
• Advocate for Your Loved One: Talk to your loved one about their unusual eating habits, reactions to drugs, or changes in behavior.

Working with the care team can better meet your loved one’s needs.

Memory Care Activities That Help Families Stay Connected

Standard communication can become problematic, as memory loss makes it hard for your loved one to maintain typical conversations. However, because memory loss affects someone’s ability to use words, the connection between you and your loved one does not need to disappear.

According to the US Alzheimer’s Society, people with dementia react positively to nonverbal signals such as holding hands, smiling when talking about pleasant memories, and being at eye level. 

Here are a few creative ways to maintain a strong connection:

• Music Therapy: Playing your loved one’s favorite songs can trigger positive memories and emotions. Music often reaches parts of the brain unaffected by memory loss, creating a powerful means of connection.
• Art and Crafts: Simple art projects or coloring can be therapeutic and fun together, even without talking much.
• Reminiscence Therapy: Bring familiar items from home, like a cozy blanket or a favorite scarf, to stimulate comfort and recognition through touch and scent.

Limited verbal ability does not prevent you from improving your loved one’s quality of life by using nonverbal communication methods that create joyful connections.

Stay Involved With Your Loved One in Memory Care at Bristol Park at Conroe

Loving relationships continue even after a person joins a Alzheimer’s & dementia care community. At this critical moment, the most important parts of memory care are family members’ actual presence, active involvement, and nonverbal communication techniques.

At dementia care communities such as Bristol Park at Conroe, your loved one will receive love and support while understanding you better through consistent engagement in care planning and creative communication. Schedule a tour to see how expert care is provided, so your emotional ties with your loved one remain throughout their stay.

Being present isn’t only about showing up. It’s also about finding meaningful ways to spend time with your loved one, even when words fade.