In our experience, both in helping Southern California’s seniors and their family members as well as with our own family members, addressing cognitive decline with a loved one is among the most difficult, emotionally taxing aspects of caring for the aging seniors in our lives. Whether this is due to an injury or illness, chronic condition, reaction to a medical procedure or medication, or simply the slowing down of the neural functions in aging brains, cognitive decline is a challenge that roughly 22% of Americans have to contend with over the age of 65, according to a 2023 study by the National Institute on Aging. While there are ways to lower the risk of memory decline and dementia, it’s also important to find the best ways to help care for the seniors in your life that deal with dementia, most importantly where they will be living so they can receive the best level of care possible.

For those that have very mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with family in close proximity and the budget to do so, home health and home care services may be able to provide the necessary support these seniors need while allowing them to comfortably stay at home. Senior Living Specialists of California has had the pleasure of working with many incredible Los Angeles and Orange County home health and home care providers to serve some of the families we work with. With more acute cases of cognitive decline such as advanced dementia and Alzheimer’s, however, it may be in some older individual’s best interest to relocate to a memory care community where staff caregivers specialize in the needs of those suffering from dementia and other memory-related disorders.

Finding the right memory care community in Southern California for your family can be a daunting task for those unfamiliar with the process and will depend not only on the specific needs of your aging loved one but also budget, proximity to family members, access to primary physicians, and potential coverage through long term care (LTC) insurance policies. Senior Living Specialists of California began as a placement agency specializing in finding the best potential assisted living and memory care communities for families with all manner of needs and are here for you in finding those best options. Once you’ve chosen a few communities to tour, however, it’s important to have a plan in place for your community visits as well as a few things to keep in mind as you tour.

Preparation is Key

Just as there is no “one size fits all” solution to finding assisted living communities in Southern California, finding the right memory care community changes for every individual. The most important factor in starting to choose a memory care community is having a complete understanding of your loved one’s medical and physical needs. Safety is the paramount concern for those dealing with cognitive decline, and it’s important to communicate and work with their primary care physician to understand the full scope of the help seniors will need. Whether it’s assistance in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), reminders to eat or take medication, or ambulatory assistance, a physicians assessment is one of the best ways to cover their full scope of needs.

Noting their behavioral and emotional patterns in daily life is important as these actions can affect the best type of community for your loved one. Tendencies to wander or exit their property, have emotional or aggressive outbursts, or the necessity of round-the-clock supervision can all become factors with those suffering from memory loss, and some communities are more fit to handle these than others. Likewise, many communities have programs that are specifically designed for those who have only recently shown signs of cognitive decline and can help stave off worsening side-effects of memory-related conditions.

As with moving into any type of senior living community, a clear picture of your family’s budget and financial situation is key to finding a good long-term fit. Understanding your budget, including all sources of income and assets and factoring in potential LTCs and other benefits such as those for veterans, is every bit as important as assessing your loved one’s medical and mental health needs. While it’s common for families to have to move the seniors in their lives to other communities or skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) as their needs increase, it’s best to keep these disruptions to the daily routines of older adults with dementia to a minimum. Coping with change becomes more difficult as cognitive decline progresses, and finding a new home that they can comfortably age in for many years is always the best for both the individual as well as their loved ones.

Location and Timing

As with much of life, location and timing are highly important factors in choosing a memory care community. When at all possible, it’s always preferred that seniors move to communities that are near family, close friends, or other caretakers and loved ones, as well as their physicians and specialists. With over 250 memory care facilities in the greater Los Angeles area alone, SLSofCA is more than able to find the right fit for your family regardless of location. Timing the move itself is, again, based on individual circumstances, but factors such as weather, other life events, and potential medical procedures should all be taken into consideration when choosing this significant transition.

Once you have your chosen communities that you’re considering, whether through a referral service like Senior Living Specialists of California or your own research, you’ll be sure to want to tour the communities themselves to get a first-hand look at the physical state of each, as well as the difference in staff personalities, care services available, and flow of daily life.

We recommend scheduling tours during mealtimes as they’re typically the busiest time of day when the most residents are active, and this can give you an up-close look into how staff members manage the bulk of their residents. It’s also best to bring the prospective resident with you on these tours so they’re able to not only become comfortable in their potential new surroundings, but also get used to the environment of memory care and assisted living communities.

What To Look For and What To Ask

Taking in multiple new communities and weighing the pros and cons of each can be a bit of an information overload, so having specific things to look out for as well as questions ready to ask each memory care director that you meet with. Contact us today for our free, full memory care checklist and questionnaire if you would like to see a more extensive list of questions to ask prospective memory care community representatives.

General Observations:

• Observe the cleanliness, organization, and general atmosphere. Are there any unpleasant odors?
• Look for safety features: secured exits, non-slip floors, handrails, good lighting, and clear signage.
• Pay attention to how staff members interact with residents. Do they seem engaged, patient, and caring? Do they call residents by name?
• Observe the residents themselves. Do they appear well-groomed, happy, and engaged in activities?

Staffing & Training:

• What is the director’s experience in memory care?
• How long has that director been at this community? The longer the better.
• What is the staff-to-resident ratio during the day and at night?
• Are there nurses or other licensed medical professionals on staff 24/7?
• What specific training do staff members receive for memory care and handling behaviors like agitation or wandering?
• What is the staff retention rate? (A lower turnover rate often indicates a healthier, more stable environment)
• How are staff background checks handled?

Safety & Security:

• How are visitors managed and are entrances monitored?
• Are memory care units and outdoor areas secured to prevent wandering?
• What is the community’s emergency plan, including for medical emergencies and evacuations?
• Is there an emergency call system for residents? And are family members contacted in emergencies?

Care Services:

• What is the community’s philosophy of care for residents with dementia?
• How are individualized care plans developed and how often are they updated?
• Can the community accommodate the resident as their condition progresses? What is the discharge policy?
• Are in-house services like physical therapy, hospice, or psychiatric services available?

Food & Dining:

• How many meals and snacks are provided daily?
• Are mealtimes flexible, or is there a set schedule?
• Does staff assist residents with eating if needed?
• Do they accommodate special dietary needs and preferences?
• Are meals served family-style?

Activities & Engagement:

• What kind of daily activities are offered, and are they tailored to different cognitive levels?
• Can you see a sample activities schedule?
• What specialized therapies are offered (e.g., music therapy, pet therapy, cognitive therapy, etc.)?
• Are there secure outdoor areas or walking paths for residents?

Living Spaces:

• How many beds is the community set up for, and in how many rooms?
• Are rooms private or semi-private? Are bathrooms shared or private?
• Can residents decorate their spaces with personal items to create a sense of familiarity?
• Is there an emergency call button or other safety features in the room or on residents’ person?
• Are hallways and common areas easy to navigate with visual cues?

Communication & Family Involvement:

• In what manner and how often will the community update you on your loved one’s wellbeing?
• Are regular calls from the family to staff welcomed and encouraged?
• Is the staff set up to communicate with residents’ physicians if necessary?
• What are the visitation policies?

Financial Considerations

• What is the baseline monthly rent, and what levels of care/services are included?
• Are there additional a la carte fees for other needed services such as medication management, laundry, etc.?
• Ask for a sample contract in advance to review all admission and discharge policies
• What is the policy if a resident’s financial situation changes?

Again, we understand that this is not only a large amount of information to process before an even heftier decision that families must make, but is also usually made during an emotional, highly stressful time in everyone’s lives. That’s where we come in. We’ve visited all manner of memory care communities throughout the Southern California area and are here to help guide you through this difficult time. If you or someone you know is anxious about how to best help their aging loved one dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or any other type of cognitive decline, please contact Senior Living Specialists of California today. We’ve been where you are now, and we’re here for you.