Making Informed Decisions for the Ones You Love

Choosing the right memory care facility is a deeply personal and emotional decision. For families supporting a loved one living with dementia, it’s about finding a place that offers not just safety, but dignity, understanding, and compassion.

Memory care facilities are specialised environments designed to support individuals with cognitive decline. They offer trained staff, dementia-friendly spaces, and care models tailored to the challenges of memory loss. But not all facilities are created equal — which is why thorough research and evaluation are essential.

Using platforms like Evaheld, families can document their facility research, store care preferences, and share decisions across carers, power of attorneys, and other support teams — all in one secure digital vault.

What Sets Memory Care Facilities Apart?

Memory care facilities differ from general aged care or assisted living in several ways:

• Staff training: Specialised education in dementia care, including behavioural support and communication strategies
• Environment: Secure layouts that reduce wandering risk, with calming décor and clear signage
• Activities: Programs designed to stimulate memory, support routine, and encourage social interaction
• Health monitoring: Closer observation for changes in condition, and tailored medication management
• Family engagement: Structures to include carers and family in daily life and long-term decisions

According to Dementia Australia, facilities with dementia-specific training and protocols are better equipped to reduce hospital admissions, support quality of life, and prevent isolation.

Step-by-Step: How to Begin Your Research

Step 1: Clarify Needs and Preferences

Before evaluating facilities, identify what matters most:

• Medical needs (e.g., mobility, medication, nutrition)
• Cultural or spiritual values
• Location preferences
• Personality and social preferences (quiet vs. active environments)
• Budget and financial limits

Use the Evaheld Legacy Vault to store these preferences, and refer back to them throughout the process.

Step 2: Explore Available Options

Search online, ask your GP, or contact local aged care support services. Explore government listings, community referrals, or resources from platforms like Advance Care Planning Australia.

Create a shortlist of 3–5 memory care facilities that match your core needs. Use the Family Legacy Series to help gather emotional priorities to include in your decision-making.

Step 3: Visit Facilities in Person

Where possible, schedule tours. Observe how staff interact with residents, how welcoming the environment feels, and whether the routines seem consistent and calming.

Ask to meet care coordinators, review activity schedules, and discuss their approach to legacy, emotional wellbeing, and carer involvement.

If your loved one is able, involve them in tours and conversations — this supports autonomy and shared decision-making.

Step 4: Ask the Right Questions

Here are key questions to ask during your evaluation:

• Are all staff trained in dementia-specific care?
• How do they handle aggression, confusion, or wandering?
• What’s the staff-to-resident ratio, especially overnight?
• How is medication managed and reviewed?
• Are meals customised for dietary needs and preferences?
• How are family members updated and included in care decisions?
• Do they support advance care planning and end-of-life care?

You can upload notes, photos, and impressions to Evaheld to create a shared record accessible by other family members and decision-makers.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Not all facilities meet high standards of care. Watch out for the following warning signs:

• High staff turnover
• Vague or evasive answers about care protocols
• Lack of engagement between staff and residents
• Limited natural light or cluttered spaces
• Overreliance on medication for behavioural support
• No clear policy on integrating advance care directives or family involvement

These signs may indicate under-resourced operations or outdated care approaches — both of which can compromise wellbeing.

How to Compare Facilities Effectively

Use a rating system to assess each facility across key categories:

• Safety and environment
• Medical and personal care
• Emotional and spiritual support
• Staff expertise and empathy
• Family engagement and communication
• Legacy and storytelling integration
• Transparency and governance

Log your assessments digitally using a spreadsheet or store them in the Evaheld Legacy Vault, where multiple family members can contribute and review over time.

For the sandwich generation, this shared approach lightens the load and supports consensus during difficult decisions.

Financial Planning and Care Costs

Memory care facilities often come with added costs due to their specialised support.

Depending on your location and care model, fees may include:

• An accommodation bond or entry fee
• Daily care fees (means-tested)
• Extra services (private rooms, therapies, entertainment)

Use resources like Nurse Info to understand cost breakdowns and what government assistance may be available.

It’s also wise to include preferences for funding in your loved one’s estate plan or advance care directive.

Recording Facility Preferences in Care Documents

Once a preferred facility is selected (or even shortlisted), it’s helpful to include this in your loved one’s formal advance care plan. This ensures their wishes are respected — especially if they become unable to participate later on.

Through Evaheld, you can document not just the selected facility but why it was chosen, along with any emotional or spiritual context.

These insights are especially valuable during sudden transitions, when decision-making is rushed and emotionally charged.

Supporting Emotional Wellbeing Through the Process

Choosing a memory care facility is more than a logistical task — it’s a deeply emotional journey. It often represents a shift in identity, independence, and role for both the individual and their family.

Try to approach the process with openness, patience, and compassion. Use conversations to reflect on values, legacy, and what matters most. This supports the individual living with dementia and helps families navigate the decision with confidence and unity.

The Evaheld Blog offers additional resources to support families through this transition — helping you balance clinical decisions with emotional needs.