The director of The Cottages offers insights on how to find a good match.

Frisco, TX – When a loved one living with Alzheimer’s disease has symptoms that make it ill advised to continue care at home, families often find themselves seeking long-term care solutions. Finding the right memory care facility for a loved one, however, isn’t as simple as it may sound.

“People living with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders tend to do better in specialized facilities that are safe, secure and provide as much of a home-like atmosphere as possible,” says Trent Quinn, founder, president and CEO of The Cottages. “Comfortable, familiar surroundings that are welcoming can help residents flourish. When the right atmosphere is coupled with staff that is highly trained in the nuances of providing care to those living with memory disorders, families can rest assured their loved ones will be well cared for.”
Vetting a residential care facility before making a placement choice is important to ensure the best possible situation for a loved one. Quinn offers these tips to help families explore their options:

• Look into reviews and recommendations – Speak with the loved one’s healthcare provider for placement advice. Read online reviews. Talk to residents at a facility and their family members.

• Check into backgrounds – State and federal agencies have records of complaints, concerns and inspections for facilities under their watch. In addition, Medicare and Medicaid star rankings can be helpful.

• Visit in person – The best way to gain a real feel for a residential care facility is to physically go visit. The first visit should be announced, providing a way to meet staff and gain insights about services offered. It can be very helpful to also visit a few times unannounced to better gauge how residents are treated by staff, how staff interacts with family members and how well operations flow on any given day. Ideally, residents will be well cared for, the facility will be clean and staff will strive to create a comfortable, home-like atmosphere.

• Tour the grounds – Also look at the outdoor spaces. Are there places to sit and enjoy the outdoors? Is there ample room to take walks?

• Check into all the services provided – Be sure you understand the level and types of services. Do they only provide memory care services or do they also offer assisted living and skilled nursing?

“Taking the time to carefully vet residential programs that specialize in Alzheimer’s and other memory disorders can provide families with peace of mind,” says Quinn.

For more information about The Cottages and the services it provides, visit it online at Alzcottages.com.

About The Cottages
The Cottages is dedicated to care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other memory disorders. The Cottage concept provides a home-like environment tailored to meet individual needs based on physical, mental and emotional needs. The Cottages at Chapel Creek offers all-inclusive pricing with no level of care charges and all care and services are included. The Cottages currently has locations in Frisco, Round Rock, League City and Amarillo, Texas. The Cottages has been operating in Texas since 1997 and is family owned and operated by The Cottages Senior Living.

Learn more about Alzheimer’s disease and The Cottages difference at www.alzcottages.com