Memory Help and Care

Memory Care

Describes the process of caring for people who are displaying cognitive impairment or cognitive loss. These people are most likely suffering from a type of Dementia.While Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, people with Huntington's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Pick's Disease, HIV and Progressive supranuclear palsy can also develop dementia.

The root cause of dementia does not change the primary symptoms- all show memory loss, cognitive impairment, paranoia, delusions and /or lack of insight and judgment. Most of the time, dementia shows itself as people age. With age-related dementia, diagnosing the primary cause can be challenging as seniors tend to have a mixed pathological picture. Young people presenting with dementia symptoms tend to have single type pathology.

In the past, type dementia with beta amyloid and plaques and tangles was considered to be the most common form of dementia. However, most of that data was created before the advent of MRI's and CT scans, which are used to diagnose cases of vascular dementia or small strokes.

At Coastal Care Homes, we focus entirely on providing the best therapy for the symptoms of Dementia. We are located in the retirement hub of Lincoln City on the beautiful Central Oregon Coast. Our staff and care team provides care through all stages of Dementia and has the well developed social and interpersonal skills necessary to provide the most effective care.

Memory Care Treatment

The most effective Memory Care methods revolve around behavioral therapy. Our staff carefully and caringly interact with each patient or resident with Memory Care needs to get the best outcome and cooperation from the patient. Memory Care patients often display bizarre behaviors, such as paranoia and a lack of insight as to what a patient can do and what they need. Many sufferers strongly believe they can live independently and manage their affairs when in fact they wouldn't be able to get to the store, use a shopping list, pay for their groceries and return safely home. Patients have poor judgment and a lack of insight, which causes them to get upset or agitated when you try to explain to them why their understanding might not be correct.

Coastal Care Homes offers consistent care for patients with Memory Care needs. Our resident doctor, administrators and staff specialize in dementia and its symptoms, and are aware of the many different behavioral therapies and medications to try. Not every behavioral therapy or medication works for each patient, and finding the medications that are most effective for the particular patient requires trial and error, as well as frequent communications between our professional staff. Open, clear and honest discussions between our care staff (who see our patients daily) and our resident doctors allow us to effectively adjust any medication we use and develop the best balance for the patient between behavior therapy and medication.

Cost of Memory Care

Memory Care generally is more expensive than care that does not involve dealing with a patient's memory needs. Most patients will require physical and cognitive assistance and care. The cost for an Assisted Living / Memory Care unit in the Lincoln City area runds between $ 4,000-$ 8,000/month. Coastal Care Homes charges a comparable rate for memory care.

A critical aspect of successful Memory Care is Continuity of Care, which is created by frequent verbal discussions between doctors and staff. Coastal Care Homes staff typically stay with Coastal Care Homes for a long time and develop a deep relationship with our patients, which we believe is critical in high-quality care. Assisted Living Memory Care Units along the Central Oregon Coast often have a higher turnover of staff. When choosing between care facilities or Assisted Living Units in Lincoln City or along the Oregon Coast, we suggest not only comparing cost but also considering the value of Continuity of Care you will get at a particular facility.

Best Value For Memory Care

Meet the staff.

Coastal Care Homes is well staffed and can provide each patient with a consistent and adequate amount of behavior therapy. Our staff is familiar with specific techniques for Dementia / Memomy Care patients, and will patiently re-direct or distract our residents to help them move their thoughts away from a particular incorrect thought or delusion. Other facilities along the Oregon Coast do not have enough staff to provide this level of behavior therapy. Meeting and getting to know the Senior Care Team in any facility is extremely important. We recommend meeting each administrator and caregiver to make sure you are getting the best value for your money.

Case Management - For those who need to transition to a Memory Care facility.

While moving in to Coastal Care Homes offers the best value, many patients will be better served by going through a transition period, and moving from their home in Lincoln City or along the Central Oregon Coast to Coastal Care Homes. Coastal Care Homes offers a cost effective method to make that move through our case management transition program. This program provides the care you need at your Oregon Coast home and continues that care with the same team when you need to move to Coastal Care Homes. Our methods allow for the Continuity of Care that works most effectively when treating Dementia patients.

Coastal Care Homes offers a care service where trained staff work personally with a Doctor. The Doctor coordinates the care with our caregivers that is given to the patients. This level of service is unique in Lincoln City and along the Oregon Coast.

Traditional Home Care services are usually coordinated by an Agency that may not have substantial professional health care experience. Typically, these agencies do not communicate on a personal basis with the patient's Doctor or health care provider, which leads to challenges in providing Continuity of Care for dementia and Alzheimer's patients. The average hourly rate for Agency caregivers is $20/hr. If the level of home care progresses to 24 hours a day, the cost of such care is $13,440 a month. Keep in mind that cost is only for a caregiver, and does not include doctor visits, medication and consultations.

Coastal Care Homes case management services are provided by a skilled care team. Leading the team is a LPN (Licenced Practice Nurse), who directs the plan of care and appropriate treatment.

In home care providers. The cost for private Home Care and Case Management can be from $4,000/month (for lower levels of care) to $10,000/month for 24 hour live-in care and coordination services.

Every individual experiencing dementia or memory loss is unique, and their unique brain will impact how dementia impacts them. The best way to treat these patients is to combine science and individual treatment through Continuity of Care.