Oklahoma Memory Care Facilities

“The Sooner State” is a great place for memory care facilities. Oklahoma dementia care homes provide a quality place for a loved one suffering from the unfortunate diseases of Alzheimer’s or any other forms of dementia. Skilled caregivers are there to assist and help a loved one with specialized treatment since these kinds of cognitive diseases can require around the clock monitoring.

Oklahoma dementia care facilities are priced at the national median for memory care. Comparable to other parts of the Midwest, the cost of living for a nice, clean room is not too expensive.

Detailed Cost of Memory Care in Oklahoma

Oklahoma Alzheimer’s care homes and dementia care facilities average about $3,500 per month. For a projected yearly cost, a family can expect to pay $42,000, give or take, based on the actual facility. Some of the cheapest memory care facilities in Oklahoma only cost a little under $2,200 per month while the most expensive can reach prices of $5,300 per month or more.

One important aspect to note is that the gap between the most expensive and most affordable dementia care homes is not too wide. It means that regardless of whether you are seeking Alzheimer’s care in a bigger city or more rural community, prices shouldn’t fluctuate too drastically.

The largest variety of memory care communities is located in Oklahoma City. The city currently has over 630,000 residents and also features a good selection of independent living communities, assisted living centers, nursing homes and other care facilities.

Tulsa is also not far behind Oklahoma City, as the metropolitan area has over 400,000 people. Norman and Broken Arrow also rank high, as each community has over 100,000 residents and plenty of high-quality dementia care options. If a smaller town is more your style, there are several rural dementia care facilities in places like Enid, Stillwater, Moore and Midwest City.

Memory Care vs. Assisted Living in Oklahoma

All assisted living communities in Oklahoma are licensed and regulated by the Department of Health. Their primary responsibility is to assist the older adults by providing them room and board, helping them with the seniors' care, and helping with daily living activities.

The majority of assisted living centers in the state also have select care units specific to residents with Alzheimer's disease and other dementia forms. These special care facilities are called 'memory care.' These units, or perhaps a floor or wing of the main building, are set to have stricter security control because of their residents' nature.

Oklahoma Dementia Care - Amenities

The best Alzheimer’s care facilities in Oklahoma are featured in a number of different settings. The most common units are connected to a larger assisted living center or nursing home that also provides specialized Alzheimer’s and dementia care. These kinds of facilities are ideal for seniors that may need living with a wife or husband who does not suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s.

There are other types of Alzheimer’s care homes that are exclusive to that type of care. These facilities may incorporate more specialized care plans, higher levels of building security like automatically locking doors and security pendants for patients, as well as help in avoiding wandering or feeling of distress by color-coding walls or other helpful navigation tools for elderly residents.

Dementia care homes in Oklahoma generally break down the care into three different phrases: personal care, personal productivity and personal leisure. Personal care is offered to help with daily activities like getting dressed, helping with washing, brushing teeth, combing and styling hair, and other self-image functions along with using the restroom and bathing. Regardless of the circumstances, staff are on hand to make new residents feel as comfortable as possible.

Oklahoma Memory Care Admission Checklist

Any senior interested in moving to a memory care facility in the state of Oklahoma is permitted to a disclosure form that outlines and explains the services provided by the facility, including its related costs. The document will also explain the processes that the facility follows, including admission and the arranged activities specifically designed for dementia residents.

Interested individuals may be refused admittance to the memory care community if:

• Restraints in the physical or chemical form are needed
• The medical needs are beyond what the facility can give
• The physical demands are beyond what the facility can provide
• They are identified as a threat to self, to other residents, and the staff of the facility

Secured Memory Care Units in Oklahoma

In Oklahoma, the memory care units should be secured, and if there are restricted areas in the community, staff should always be present in that section. These restricted areas can be dedicated to storage rooms for medicines. Most use state of the art security systems to ensure that the entry and exit points can control access of the residents to prevent them from wandering off.

The facility should also observe the Oklahoma’s Fire Marshall's safety standards or the city's / town’s local jurisdiction.

Memory Care Regulations in Oklahoma

Like all the states in the US, Oklahoma also has a set of regulations for the processes in a memory care facility. All operating dementia-specific units and assisted living communities must abide by these regulations, so a standard level of care is achieved across the state.

Care Plan

Within the first month of the resident moving into the care facility, a medical assessment will be completed. This is to identify the senior's needs and check if the facility is capable of providing for these needs. Within 14 days, a comprehensive assessment is also needed to map the best approach so the resident can fully thrive in the new environment. This care plan is revisited and adjusted every year, or multiple times in a year should drastic changes be observed in the patient's health.

If the resident had extreme health changes, this doesn't mean that the senior needs to move out. The senior's physician can be tapped by formulating a plan where the facility's involvement is outlined. This written proposal will be reviewed quarterly, and adjustments will be applied as necessary.

Facility

Unlike other states, Oklahoma doesn't have specific floor size requirement for each resident's space. The regulation is just to make sure that the memory care facility's design is appropriate and safe to the residents' profile. There should only be two residents in every bedroom, and a bathroom should be readily available for every four residents living in the facility.

Staffing Ratio and Training

There is also no set staff to resident ratio for memory care units in Oklahoma. The only regulation is there should be enough staff to provide the needs and assist the residents at all times. This rule is also applicable during the night.

The staff that has direct contact and socialization with residents should be qualified and should be trained in giving CPR and first aid. There should also be at least two awake members of the staff on duty for every shift.

There should also be an administrator responsible for the facility's operations, and these leads should either be certified by the State Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators. Completing sixteen hours of continuous education should be done every year.

Medication Management

For the staff members to administer medicines and prescriptions, they should be duly certified by the State Department of Health. They should also complete the approved training program before they assist with the medication of the residents.

The residents' medication should also be reviewed by the dementia facility's pharmacist or registered nurse. These medications are reviewed quarterly by a consultant pharmacist, and any changes in the residents' prescriptions should come from a certified physician.

Financial Aid for Alzheimer's Memory Care

There are a lot of programs that Oklahoma seniors and their families can take advantage of to assist them in their financing their stay in assisted living facilities, including special ones dedicated to dementia residents.

Here are the viable options that can be considered:

• Advantage Program Waiver
• Oklahoma Personal Care Program
• Veteran's Affairs

Additional Option: Tax credits and deductions like the Credit for the Elderly and the Disabled.

When is the right time to move to Memory Care?

You and your loved one who is suffering from dementia may not realize it at first, but the option of moving to a memory care unit brings about advantages.

Sure, it might cause doubts and a lot of hesitation at first because the last thing your senior wants would be to be away with loved ones and a familiar environment, and you, as the family, would like to help as much as you can to make a safe environment for them.

In reality though, dementia is a progressive disease, and it's not going to get better. Caring for our seniors at home might initially work but will no longer be conducive to dementia, and the needs get worst. This is where professionals and the 24/7 supervision available in memory care communities become the ray of hope for everyone.

Is there a specific time to say that it is time to move your senior to a memory care unit in Oklahoma? No, there's none because dementia and its progress are unique for every individual. There might be a likely pattern, but it is not textbook written to help you arrive at a decision.

Staff and supporters of memory care units would recommend moving your loved ones when they are still alert and able to intervene accordingly in order to make the transition more seamless and less complicated.

But if you need some obvious signs to get your buy-in and not doubt your decision, then here are some of the usual symptoms that our seniors with Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia display or experience. These can make you consider more the necessity of memory care communities:

• Deteriorating physical health – losing weight, vision problems, health complications
• Drastic and/or gradual behavior changes – getting violent, frequent outbursts
• Emotional challenges – feeling depressed, isolating oneself, heightened fear and anxiety
• Safety risks – wandering off, getting lost, falling down the stairs
• Responsibilities at risk – forgetting to pay the bills, not taking in prescriptions on time

If you, as the caregiver, also see the following signs in you or the family member taking care of your loved one, then the more you should weigh in on moving your loved one to a memory care facility

• Physically, mentally, psychologically, and emotionally exhausted
• Not 100% confident that you are providing the care needed
• Unable to balance work, family, and your responsibilities
• Level of stress is at its peak
• Unable to commit your full time

Note that moving your loved one to a memory care unit doesn't mean that you are abandoning your responsibility or not being 'family.' Memory care communities can provide the assistance and ensure the security of your loved one more than you can. Moving them is putting them first and giving them the chance to thrive better.

Questions to Ask When Touring an Oklahoma Memory Care Community

Being scheduled for a memory care community will always be a scary experience. You really won't know what to expect, and visiting one makes the decision seem more real and imminent.

The facility personnel who will do the tour with you will appreciate your asking questions and wanting to know more about their community. This is one way of you wanting to be involved with the future residence of your loved one. You want that personal guarantee that the people you will be involved in your senior's life are professionals and more capable than you. You want to be assured that they are better than you when it comes to giving the assistance and attention that need to be provided.

Preparing a list of questions may help you get the most out of the tour. You can ask about the costs and the services included in the quoted rates. Take your time and ask about the security measures that the facility has in place and the processes they follow during difficulties – be it  medical related or natural emergencies.

You can also ask how you and the rest of your family can remain involved in the life of your senior. Check schedules of visits or if you can take your loved one out of the facility during the weekends or for special family occasions.

The experience can be a little overwhelming but once you're there, maximize the time and opportunity that has been extended to clear your hesitations and calm your fears. There are no right or wrong questions. You are there to learn about the facility, so ask away.