Memory Care as a Case Study

To best demonstrate the effects, let’s use memory care units as the guinea pig. Updated senior living designs are increasing census in memory care units to unprecedented numbers.

The Consequences of Expansion

Changing Care Dynamics

Now entire buildings of 60 or more residents are built and labeled memory care – changing the care dynamic and stretching the caregiver to resident ratios to accommodate the larger numbers of high need residents.

Financial Motivations and Clinical Complexities

Memory care beds have historically fetched a premium rate making investors very happy. However, more beds mean increased care, clinical complexity, and additional staffing needs.

Challenges and Unintended Consequences

Staffing and Care Quality

Finding staffing solutions to accommodate the larger footprints has proven difficult, making resident-centered care for higher need residents extremely hard to find.

The Financial Burden on Families

Vacant rooms and 30-day notices are pressuring families towards the nursing home level skilled settings unless they are willing to add private duty caregivers for 1:1 care at $35 dollars per hour.

Inconsistent Policies and Family Stress

One recent family I worked with was told that their mom could not receive the care she needed in the current memory care community and needed to move to skilled nursing, only to be told a week later that ownership decided she could receive the care and didn’t have to move.

The Broader Impact

Recruitment Pressure and Increased Liability

Staffing these larger layouts quickly puts pressure on recruiting and increases liability, often necessitating the use of agency caregivers unfamiliar with resident needs.

A Call for Observational Changes

This has translated to a present-day quandary pitting the boardroom, architects, and investors against the families, residents, and caregivers they employ and serve. Our industry would be wise to spend more time observing the daily resident rhythms before continuing to implement an unprecedented number of significant policy changes.