At Home Safe and Sound
By Stephanie Q. Lawrence Vinson Hall
Do you have a loved one who is showing signs of memory loss? Do they forget words or repeat the same question several times in the same conversation, or maybe they do not recognize their grandchildren or a family pet? Perhaps your loved one is dealing with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia that robs them of the ability to perform basic tasks or have a simple conversation. They may have negative behaviors that are hard to manage, like getting agitated late in the day, wandering out of the house, or being unable to maintain their personal hygiene. If so, you may be wondering about potential solutions for their safety and care, one of which is a memory care community.
Memory care communities offer specialized care for those living with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. The Sylvestery, the memory care neighborhood at Vinson Hall Retirement Community (VHRC), is on Kirby Road, nestled among the trees, right in McLean. The Sylvestery features an award-winning architectural design with interior courtyards and connecting hallways. This unique design not only allows the building’s private suites and common spaces to fill with natural light, but it also gives residents who may be prone to wander a place to move about freely and safely. You do not have to already be a resident of Vinson Hall Retirement Community to live at The Sylvestery.
So when is the right time to move to a memory care community? For those managing the care of someone with dementia, it can be challenging and physically exhausting. When you are making the decision about your loved one’s care, consider their safety as well as your own. As the caregiver, are you getting a good night’s sleep, or are you up worrying that your loved one will wander from the house in the middle of the night? When you no longer have the endurance to manage all the physical and cognitive changes your loved one is experiencing, or when their negative behaviors become overwhelming, it is time to seek other options.
At The Sylvestery, our staff are trained to care for and communicate with individuals who have dementia. They know how to manage the negative behaviors that are often presented. Our families praise The Sylvestery staff for being “positive, caring, and supportive” of our residents and for the “empathy and understanding” they show when caring for them. When your family member is cared for at The Sylvestery, you can once again focus on being a loved one to them rather than a caregiver. You can regain peace of mind knowing that you made the best decision for them.
