The big question to be answered when seeking professional help with dementia care at home or in residential setting: What kind of training does your staff receive on an ongoing basis? (How do you ensure your staff participates in education? What have they done in the last quarter? What difference do you see it making?)
If seeking residential care, add, “What are your staff ratios?” There are many qualified, compassionate dementia care providers in Northern Colorado and some who are less qualified. Long term care community staffing is a real issue throughout the country (not limited to Northern Colorado), so take your time and do your own research. Trust your intuition. Research has shown that you keep your loved one home longer if you have chosen a residential care community location “just in case” it is needed. Hiring well-trained companions at home, however, may eliminate the need for a move to residential care indefinitely.
Some organizations do their own training. Those who have participated with our Dementia-Friendly Leader® education within the past six months include:
Garden Square of Greeley Assisted Living and Memory Care, Greeley
Good Samaritan Water Valley, Windsor
Larimer County Office on Aging
MacKenzie Place Memory Care, Fort Collins
Mirasol Senior Community, Loveland