While moving a loved one into a senior housing facility is always challenging, it can be especially difficult when they have been diagnosed with dementia. Along with the common concerns of adjusting to a new environment and fears about loss of independence, people with dementia face unique challenges, such as increased confusion and anxiety in unfamiliar surroundings due to disruptions to routine.
Amidst these concerns, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll face is selecting the right primary care team for your family member, which will have a significant impact on your loved one’s overall health and quality of life.
At Curana Health, we understand the complexities surrounding the selection of a senior housing primary and dementia care team. As part of our mission to improve the health, happiness, and dignity of senior living residents and their caregivers, we’ve compiled the following information to support you on this important journey:
Finding The Perfect Match
Identifying the best primary care team goes beyond their medical expertise—it’s also important to find providers who will treat your loved one with the compassion, dignity, and respect they deserve. The right providers will become an extension of your family, providing not just healthcare services, but also peace of mind and a friendly face your family member can always count on.
The perfect team will not only understand the unique challenges that come with dementia and be committed to maintaining your loved one’s quality of life – they will also be there to answer your questions every step of the way.
As you evaluate potential providers, be sure to look for a partner who offers:
On-Site Care
Look for a team that provides care directly within your loved one’s skilled nursing or assisted living facility. On-site care offers numerous benefits, including:
- Convenience for your loved one, eliminating the need for stressful travel to medical appointments
- Familiar surroundings that can reduce anxiety
- Quicker response times for medical concerns, which can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations
- Better coordination with facility staff, ensuring continuity of care
24/7 Access to Clinical Support
Dementia and related conditions can present unexpected challenges at any time of day or night. A care team that offers around-the-clock clinical support can give you invaluable peace of mind by providing:
- Assistance with medication-related issues that may arise unexpectedly
- Support for managing sudden behavioral changes or agitation
- Guidance on when emergency room visits are necessary versus when illnesses or symptoms can be managed on-site
- Coordination with facility staff to address urgent care needs
Care Coordination
Comprehensive dementia care often involves multiple specialists and services. Care teams that offer a dedicated care coordinator can help take some of the responsibilities off your plate, including:
- Communicating important updates to your loved one’s healthcare providers
- Scheduling follow up and specialist appointments
- Ensuring all aspects of your loved one’s health are addressed, from physical to emotional wellbeing
The GUIDE Model
Developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model offers an innovative approach to dementia care. When searching for a primary care provider for your loved one, look for a participating medical group or facility, as they offer enhanced services for patients and caregivers. These include:
- Dedicated care navigators with dementia-specific training who provide enhanced care coordination, education, and other support services to enrolled patients and their caregivers
- Comprehensive and individualized assessments and care plans
- 24/7 access to an interdisciplinary care team member or help line
- Medicare-funded respite services and coaching for caregivers
Curana’s Comprehensive Care Model
Curana Health’s care teams provide individualized primary, urgent, and palliative care services to assisted living and skilled nursing residents throughout the country.
In addition to providing on-site care, 24/7 clinical support, and enhanced care coordination services, Curana is a GUIDE Model participant and will begin incorporating its resident and caregiver benefits into our dementia care model starting July 1, 2025.
Our commitment to providing excellent health care services and supporting our patients is backed by proven results, with our comprehensive care model leading to fewer falls, less unnecessary hospitalizations, and better health outcomes overall.
If you’re looking for a senior primary care provider and Curana Health is in your family member’s facility, reach out to us today. We would be honored to learn more about you and help determine if Curana’s care model is best for your loved one.