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A Gift Of Time, LLC
Senior Move Managers — Serving Milwaukee & Southeastern Wisconsin for 30 Years
agiftoftime.net · (414) 510-9695 · info@agiftoftime.net · Mon–Fri: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Memory Care Decision Guide
Recognizing the signs, asking the right questions, preparing well
NASMM Certified · BBB A+ Rated · 30+ Years Experience
Memory care is not a bigger version of assisted living. It is a secured setting with different staffing, different routines, and a different purpose. This sheet walks through when to consider it, what to ask, and how to prepare the move.
Signs it may be time for memory care
- Wandering, or leaving the house and not finding the way back.
- Forgetting that a meal happened, or losing weight without a medical cause.
- Medications missed, doubled, or taken at the wrong time.
- The stove or the door left unattended.
- Needing help with bathing, dressing, or the bathroom most days.
- A caregiver who is no longer sleeping, or no longer safe alone with them.
Questions to ask a memory care community
- How is the building secured, and how do staff respond to a missing resident?
- What training does every caregiver receive in dementia care?
- What is the staff-to-resident ratio by shift, including nights?
- How are residents grouped — by stage, by neighborhood, or all together?
- What happens when a resident's needs exceed what the community can provide?
- How do you handle aggression, sundowning, and refusals of care?
- Can family visit at any hour?
- What activities run on evenings and weekends?
Preparing the move
- Keep the room simple: one familiar chair, one familiar quilt, familiar photos.
- Avoid bringing valuables or items that look like something else.
- Label clothing and keep duplicates of glasses, keys, and hearing aids.
- Bring a written life story and a short list of routines and triggers for staff.
- Move the person during their best hours, not at the end of the day.
- Keep goodbyes short, warm, and predictable.
The first weeks
- Expect confusion and a decline in the first two weeks — this is common.
- Visit at the same time each day if you can; predictability helps.
- Do not correct every mistaken statement; redirect instead.
- Give the staff two weeks before judging the fit.
- Ask for one point of contact so information is not lost between shifts.
General information only — not medical advice. Confirm care needs with a physician.
More detail online: agiftoftime.net/resources/memory-care-guide
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