March is Brain Injury Awareness Month and there are many causes of brain injuries for people of all ages, including seniors. For an aging person who may need some type of elder care due to a brain injury — either caused by a stroke, a slip and fall accident, surgery, illness, or other medical emergency — assisted living can be a great consideration.

Keep in mind, though, that not all assisted living communities are the same. What you want to focus on is known as memory care assisted living.

What’s the difference between memory care and ‘regular’ assisted living?

First and foremost, it comes down to experience. Experience supporting seniors who are dealing with some type of memory related impact or brain injury. It could be caused by Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, too, not an accident or stroke, for example.

This tends to be the most common reason why an aging senior might choose memory care facilities for their future. However, it’s not the only reason.

What impacts could a brain injury cause a person?

This type of question can often be considered a loaded one because the answer can differ from one person to the next. In general, though, a brain injury can affect memory. It can cause a person to have difficulty moving short-term experiences into their long-term memory banks.

It can also make it more difficult for an aging senior to recall events and moments in their life that happened decades ago. A brain injury can affect reason, rationality, and even emotional stability.

A senior dealing with some type of brain injury may seem completely ‘normal’ for the most part, then suddenly act irrational. They can lash out at the people they love the most, completely unaware of what they’re really doing.

When this happens, their family support system, their loved ones, which may include a spouse, adult children, grandchildren, friends, and more tend to recoil a bit. It can also cause a lot of emotional harm along the way.

At a memory care assisted living community, staff members are experienced and trained in these types of behaviors. They understand that verbal and physical aggression are possible when it comes to brain injured seniors. They have a number of strategies, tactics, and tools at their disposal that can help calm the situation, keep the senior safe, and encourage them to stay calm during times of stress and confusion.

What about for seniors who don’t want to move into assisted living?

Some memory care facilities will provide respite care options, allowing seniors with some type of brain injury, Alzheimer’s, or another form of dementia to see firsthand what assisted living can and will offer them.

More often than not, when a senior with memory related challenges relies on overnight stays, a few days a week, a couple of weeks or a couple of months at assisted living, they begin to quickly recognize that this truly is a wonderful elder care option to consider.

Seniors with brain injuries and their immediate family members and caregivers can benefit from the right memory care assisted living facility.

If you or an aging loved-one is considering a move to Assisted Living in Scottsdale, AZ please contact the caring staff at MD Senior Living today. 480-267-9200