West Bloomfield, Michigan Assisted Living Facilities & Senior Care

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We noticed that a good number of the assisted living facilities in West Bloomfield care for residents with Alzheimer's Disease or other memory disorders.

One of the potential questions you might ask if you are looking at a facility, or home for the aged in the West Bloomfield area is how the staff and facility makes the resident feel at home - and just as importantly - how do they help them 'find their home?'

Let me explain:

If you have ever been inside a number of assisted living facilities, you'll probably notice that, especially with the larger facilities - the rooms or apartments for the seniors aren't especially unique from the outside. They may look like a hallway of a motel, or generic building, marked only by perhaps a number or letter of the unit.

Unless the staff can, and plans to walk the resident with a memory disorder to and from every appointment, meal, or event outside of their "home" (room or apartment), then they may need some help identifying which room is theirs if they get lost or confused.

A neat way for the facility (or family) to help out with this challenge is to let the resident have a "memory box" outside of their door, or unit. This box can be filled with photos, mementos and keepsakes that help the resident to identify their room or quarters. Memory boxes can be very helpful, therapeutic, and fun!

Keeping this box just outside their door is also a great way for their friends and neighbors to find them among the (at times) dozens of doors and rooms in a long hallway or large group home, or assisted living facility.

Ask your facility if they offer memory boxes, or if they would allow one for your loved one to have outside of their door. It will help them feel at home - and help them find their home after venturing out for dinner or an appointment.