Memory care residents can experience a high quality of life among peers and spend their days engaging in meaningful activities led by a specialized team of caring staff. With trust, compassion, and dignity, the right memory care community can instill a sense of belonging and purpose for you and your loved one.
Frontida Assisted Living is here to outline a typical day in memory care communities like ours in Wisconsin.
What Is a Memory Care Community?
Memory care communities provide housing accommodations, meals, activity programming, and assistance with activities of daily living, including bathing, dressing, transferring, eating, and more for residents experiencing cognitive decline. Memory care must ensure a safe, secure, and comfortable environment for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.
You may find private or companion suites in a memory care community, where residents gather together for meals, activities, and socializing. Because residents experiencing cognitive decline may wander, memory care communities typically have secure doors requiring a code and enclosed outdoor spaces.
What Is a Typical Day Like in a Memory Care Community?
A typical day will vary for each resident depending upon their interests, level of care, and daily routine. A memory care resident will usually follow a similar routine each day. A consistent daily schedule can help lessen confusion, agitation, and other behaviors for individuals living with dementia.
Morning
Residents are encouraged to wake up on their own when they’re ready for the day. Team members may assist with grooming and dressing as needed. Assistance could involve laying out clothes or helping the resident put on the articles of clothing.
Breakfast is served in a home-like dining space where residents can sit together or separately if that’s their preference. Special diets are accommodated, as well as resident requests and favorite dishes. A team member can be available to assist with eating if the resident experiences challenges using utensils or maintaining focus on the meal.
Freshly prepared nutritious options are featured on the menus, and residents may choose to dine lightly or enjoy a bigger home-cooked meal with eggs, meat, and assorted baked goods.
Related: How memory care enriches the lives of its residents >>
Mid-Morning to Noon
After breakfast, residents may decide to attend morning exercises. Other residents may appreciate watching the news or a favorite show, reading a book, or listening to an audiobook.
Team members will personalize their approach and create customized activities for the residents under their care. Residents in the early stages of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia may be able to participate in more interactive programs like trivia or reminiscence groups.
Other residents with more advanced cognitive decline may be more engaged with musical concerts, sing-a-longs, or pet therapy visits. Memory care staff will adapt the activity options to meet the individual needs of the residents. This specialized care and compassion will help ensure a higher quality of life and independence.
When is the right time for memory care? Take this short quiz. >>
Afternoon
Residents can choose to dine together at lunch or sit by themselves. Emphasis is placed on healthy menus featuring fresh, locally grown ingredients when possible. Light music may be played in the background to help create a calm, soothing environment.
When the weather is warm, residents can sit outside on an enclosed outdoor patio to get some fresh air, enjoy the sounds of nature, and even tend to flower or vegetable gardens. An outing to a nearby park may be planned, with a stop at a favorite ice cream shop.
On cooler days, fun afternoon activities may include putt-putt, balloon volleyball, or bean bag toss. Residents may want to work on puzzles or crafts at their leisure or with a helping hand.
Residents who find a sense of purpose in helping others may assist staff with community tasks, like folding towels, cleaning off tables, or sharing a talent or hobby with others.
What does Frontida Assisted Living offer? >>
Evening
After a light dinner is served, a special evening program is typically held for any interested residents. Examples of these types of programs include musical concerts, travelogue presentations, dance performances, guest speakers, and more.
Evening meals and programs usually conclude early to help reduce the risk of sundowning, or a state of confusion commonly experienced as daylight fades. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, symptoms of sundowning may include pacing, confusion, agitation, and restlessness.
A routine, smaller evening meals, reduced stimuli close to bedtime, and well-lit rooms can help prevent sundowning. Memory care teams can also offer calming activities to soothe the residents later in the evening, including looking at photos or listening to soft music.
Find memory care at a Frontida location near you >>
In Summary
Overall, a memory care community can empower your loved one to maintain their independence in a safe, comforting environment where staff can help meet their changing needs. A specialized memory care team can foster connections and spark joy and laughter daily for the residents they serve.
Feel at Home at Frontida Assisted Living
Frontida Assisted Living values transparency and trust in each of our Wisconsin communities, and our team is ready to answer your questions, offer support, and provide resources to help you make a confident and informed decision for your loved one’s future care.
Our compassionate team strives to create a sense of community and purpose for each resident through personalized programming, life-enriching activities, and special events.
Each Frontida community maintains a garden to incorporate seasonal fresh fruit and vegetables into our menus. We encourage healthy choices and well-balanced meals.
Learn how we care for our residents:
- Private suites, bedrooms, and companion rooms
- Fully accessible, private bathrooms
- Spacious living rooms and engaging indoor recreation areas
- Cozy fireplaces and open-plan seating in living spaces
- Beautifully maintained outdoor areas
Access to a trusted network of physicians, nurses, podiatrists, and therapists - Delicious, home-cooked meals and snacks
24-hour personal care and supervision
Comfortable spa and salon (in specific locations) - Dedicated memory care communities
Specialized mental health care communities - Housekeeping and laundry services
Individualized care plans - Life Enrichment Coordinators to plan and schedule meaningful activities for all residents
- Registered Nurse to oversee the health and wellness of each resident
We value honesty, trust, and open communication to build relationships with our residents and their loved ones. Together, we form a partnership to ensure your loved one lives a fulfilling life, feeling a sense of belonging and purpose.
When you’re ready, contact any of our 11 Frontida assisted living and memory care communities to gather more information, or to set up a personalized tour. We’re here for you whenever you need us.