How to Create a Dementia Care Plan for Your Loved One

Residents enjoy the privacy of personal living spaces, engaging activities, and the assistance of a trained caregiver available at all times. We provide freedom within a safe community where neighbors become friends. Residents enjoy the privacy of personal living spaces, engaging activities, and the assistance of a trained caregiver available at all times. We provide freedom within a safe community where neighbors become friends.

A dementia care plan is a necessary tool for memory residencies caring for patients with dementia. If you have a loved one with dementia, we recommend compiling a binder or folder with the following information to prepare for a memory care residency or future medical care for your loved one.

1. Biography

Include a background of your loved one and as much information as you think is necessary for our staff to know. It will be helpful to have the names of your loved one’s family members, where they live, their occupation, etc. so that we can remind them if they forget and connect with them on a more personal level. It’s also important to know who has regular contact with your loved one and whom they socialize with the most.

2. Health History

The medical history of your loved ones is one of the most important things to include. Their safety is our priority. Make sure to detail their current condition, care needs, and medications they are taking. We also recommend including what time their medications should be taken at and who typically administers them at home.

3. Physical Activities

What types of physical exercise and other activities (games, books, gardening, crafts, movies, music, etc.) does your loved one enjoy? Physical exercise is important as people age but it is just as important that they enjoy the activities they are doing. Let us know if they have a history of sports or a particular liking for certain exercises. You may also want to consider the exercises and activities they dislike or those that cause anxiety.

4. Eating Patterns

Knowing your loved one’s favorite and least favorite foods will help us create a comfortable living space for them. We also recommend including details like what they eat, where they like to eat, and whether they have any nutritional needs or allergies.

5. Personal Care

Having a list of your loved one’s favorite clothing items, personal hygiene products, and other treasured items will ensure nothing is forgotten when they need to be moved to an assisted living facility. These personal items and care products will help them feel more at home in a care facility.

6. Cognitive Ability

Giving our staff a detailed overview of your loved one’s ability to reason, plan, problem-solve, and comprehend speech will help us know how to best communicate with them and create a welcoming, stress-free environment. We would also like to know about the activities they enjoy that help them maintain cognitive function. These could include puzzles, documentaries, reading, and painting.

7. Mobility

People with dementia may have difficulty using the stairs, getting in and out of chairs, beds, and bathtubs, dressing themselves, and other fine motor skills. Understanding your loved one’s mobility will help us help them to the best of our ability and provide a safe environment.

8. Personality

Our staff enjoys forming a personal, caring relationship with each of our patients. Make sure to include your loved one’s likes and dislikes, accomplishments, biggest dreams, fears, and character traits so that we can get to know them.

9. Highest and Lowest Functioning Times in the Day

Patients with dementia often have specific times of the day when they are the most confused. Similarly, other times of the day are when they are commonly more lucid. It helps us to know so that we can be aware and look out for the signs of confusion to keep your loved one safe.

10. Spirituality

Is your loved one religious or spiritual and do they practice religious traditions? We can make accommodations and recommend various activities depending on which type of religion they practice.

Memory Care at Care Cardinal

Our Memory Care neighborhood provides around-the-clock care for our patients with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Learn more about our comfortable care facilities by calling our office or contacting us online.