Rise in Dementia and Related Conditions Results in Specially Designed Memory Care Units

The need for memory care units is growing with the population of U.S. seniors with dementia and similar cognitive disorders, reports Westfair Online . Certain communities have set up specialist units whose design diverges from assisted living communities for those not diagnosed with such conditions. Epoch Senior Living in Waltham, Mass., supports two memory care brands: Bridges, which is designed exclusively for memory care, and the Waterstone line for providing more traditional senior care. "Our concept for memory care is a building that is 100 percent dedicated to seniors with those issues," says Epoch CEO Laurence Gerber. He notes keeping memory care unit residents separate from others is a safety measure, and the firm works with its own architect and other consultants in designing its Bridges line "to create an environment that is both safe and allows people to have the highest quality of life they can, with a degree of independence and dignity." Among the amenities that Gerber says the memory care unit must deliver are even and consistent lighting, as well as carpets with non-confusing patterns. "A carpet with a distinct border that has an array of colors can adversely affect residents' depth perception, to the point where they think there's a step or even a hole there," he notes.