Memory care communities may be a form of senior living, but they’re often quite different from traditional independent or assisted living communities. Memory care residents require a different type of support and often engage in more specialized enrichment, activities, and therapies than assisted living residents. Further, memory care communities are designed with their residents in mind. Their floor plans are typically more accommodating to residents with memory loss than assisted living communities, using design principles like barrier free living. But why does this matter?
What Is Barrier Free Living?
Barrier free living is a design concept that aims to be inclusive and accessible. Its principles revolve around being able to move around your living space and access the things you need easily. This design principle caters to people who need special accommodations to be able to retain a sense of independence and freedom within their living spaces.
How does Barrier Free Living Work in Memory Care Communities?
When it comes to memory care, it’s critical to ensure that residents feel at home in their new space. The transition to a memory care community isn’t always easy for seniors, and dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are never easy diagnoses to navigate. Using a barrier free design layout in a memory care community can help encourage a homelike feeling where residents feel free, like there are no “off limits” areas that are inaccessible to them. Examples of barrier free design include:
- Ramps and slopes instead of steps, which can be confining, especially to residents who rely on walkers or wheelchairs to move around
- Wider doorways and hallways to allow for freer movement, especially while in a wheelchair
- An environment free from trip and fall hazards that allows for free movement with low risk
- Clear signage with familiar words and symbols to help residents navigate the community
- Circular hallways without dead ends that encourage free movement without agitation or confusion
- Brighter and higher quality lighting that encourages the right amount of contrast so it’s easier for residents to easily recognize places and objects
In essence, barrier free living encourages memory loss residents to still roam and explore their community, retain a sense of independence, and move freely while ensuring safety and security for them.
How Does Barrier Free Living Benefit Memory Loss Patients?
How does barrier free living help memory care residents in their day-to-day lives? Here are some of the ways this design approach can improve quality of life for these residents.
Less frustration and agitation: Barrier free living encourages movement and freedom, removing dead ends and “off limits” areas. This allows residents to continue to explore and wander safely so they don’t feel confined or cut off. By allowing residents to retain a sense of freedom, barrier free living helps to reduce frustration in residents and in turn, agitation. This leads to a calmer, more peaceful quality of life.
Independence: There’s always the feeling of a “loss” of independence when residents enter assisted living, but this doesn’t have to be the case. While memory care residents do need specialized support to ensure their safety and vitality, a barrier free design encourages them to still have a sense of independence in their lives as they navigate the community with as little assistance as possible. This builds confidence and can also encourage cognitive activity, both of which are rewarding to seniors with memory loss.
Safety and security: Memory loss can lead to wandering and in the wrong circumstances, this can be dangerous for seniors. A barrier free design allows for independence, but it’s also implemented with safety and security in mind. This design principle ensures that if your senior loved one does wander, they’re doing it in a safe environment with the support level they need to feel secure (and for you to have peace of mind about their wellbeing).
Connection and engagement: Memory care residents need just as much connection and engagement as independent and assisted living residents. A barrier free design encourages them to move around, explore their surroundings, and connect with other residents and staff in a natural way. This leads to an enhanced sense of community and connection for residents, which improves quality of life and leads to higher levels of happiness and calm.
Explore Barrier Free Living in Person at Terra Vista
Are you ready to see how barrier free living can benefit your senior loved one? Contact Terra Vista today. We can take you on a tour of our community and explain the benefits in detail. Our expert advisors are always here to help – let us assist you in finding the right memory care community for your loved one.
