What to Look for During a Tour of a Memory Care Facility

The overall environment of a memory care community is important to your loved one’s well being and should be able to address their unique needs and personality. While in-person tours used to be the norm, during the pandemic, communities went to virtual tours and many still offer those along with regular onsite visits. 

A Place for Mom offers several tips on what to look for when you tour a dementia care facility. To start with, does the community address your loved one’s mobility issues? Relying on your senses, does the home appear clean without lingering bad odors? During a virtual or in-person tour, ask to see a room like the one your family member will occupy. Are you happy with the amount of windows, lighting and decor?

Your next concern should be about security and safety. Does the home have secure doors and rooms equipped with emergency alert systems, handicap-accessible bathrooms and color-coded hallways to make navigation easy? Is there adequate staffing during the day as well as nighttime, and what medical services are available? 

Ask questions regarding the training staff receive particularly in regards to dementia care. If possible, can you and your loved one join the community for a meal? Not only does that give you the chance to taste the food but to interact with other residents. Does the home have a weekly activities’ calendar, and can you both attend one of the activities or classes? Lastly, A Place for Mom recommends trusting your instincts as you know your loved one the best.   

MorningStar Memory Care at West Valley invites you to visit our website to learn more about our holistic memory care. As a resident, your loved one will receive 24/7 care from compassionate, trained care managers, daily health monitoring, access to licensed nurses and other supportive third-party service providers. They will also engage in daily, meaningful activities. Once you decide to entrust MorningStar with the care of your loved one, we encourage you to reserve a select suite. We open to residents in the third quarter of 2022.