The deeply personal journey to memory care often is filled with questions and emotional crossroads. Yet time and again, families share how this transition brought unexpected blessings—not just for their loved one living with dementia, but for the entire family as well.
At Community First Solutions Senior Living, we’ve witnessed these transformations firsthand. We understand that while memories may fade, the capacity for joy, love, and connection remains ever-present through our senses. That’s why we developed TouchPoint Sensory — a holistic approach to memory care focused on meaningful multi-sensory experiences and empathy-first care delivery.
Keys to a Successful Move to Memory Care
“Timing and creating a familiar environment are paramount to a successful transition. Moving a loved one into memory care is a significant adjustment, and thoughtful planning can make the experience smoother for both the resident and their family,” explains Stephanie Stoll, Director of Sales for Montage Mason and The Cottage of Mason.
The best way to feel at home in memory care is to bring pieces of home with your loved one when they move in, create heartfelt connections with staff and neighbors, and get involved. Memory care doesn’t need to be an unfamiliar space, but one that enriches daily life and bolsters joy.
These proven approaches can help ease the move to memory care:
Timing for a Smoother Transition
Timing a move into memory care plays a crucial role in ensuring a successful transition. If possible, we suggest scheduling the move on a Monday and using the prior week to set up the apartment.
“Arriving at the start of the week allows our care team to introduce residents to their new routine gradually, without the disruptions that weekends sometimes bring,” shares Beth McCane, Director of Sales for The Patterson Memory Care and Assisted Living Community in Beavercreek, OH.
“Additionally, having the apartment fully prepared before move-in day allows families to focus on emotional support rather than logistics. Instead of unpacking and organizing, family members can be fully present, offering comfort and reassurance,” Beth explains.
Creating a Familiar Space
When working with families, we help personalize living spaces with cherished photos, familiar bedding and beloved items that tell their life story. These physical items provide comfort and help residents feel at home from day one.
“We create shadow boxes with special items and photos and “My Life Story” posters to share residents’ life stories with staff and others who may interact with them. Knowing more about each resident helps a great deal during care by creating familiarity and friendliness,” shares Megan Deaton, LPN, Memory Program Manager and TouchPoint Sensory Memory Care Developer. “Our memory care team develops comprehensive sensory profiles for each resident, capturing their unique history, experiences, and preferences. These profiles ensure that every interaction—from the music played during activities to the aromas in our Savory Kitchen—resonates with each individual’s life story.”
Building Routines and Nurturing Engagement
Engaging residents in daily routines right away helps ease this major life change. When residents follow consistent schedules for meals, activities and social time, they feel more comfortable and secure. Meanwhile, family members find reassurance in knowing their loved one is staying active and connected.
“Structured activities, sensory experiences and appropriate socialization also engage the brain and will help maintain abilities for as long as possible,” expresses Erika Maddox-Howard, Director of Lifestyles for The Patterson. “Our TouchPoint Sensory approach takes this engagement further by stimulating all five senses—touch, taste, sight, sound, and smell—to access deep-seated memories and create meaningful connections.”
These thoughtful preparations pave the way for meaningful improvements in residents’ lives.
4 Positive Changes Memory Care Provides
Once settled into memory care, residents and their loved ones often experience remarkable positive changes:
Enhanced Daily Structure
Memory care gives residents a purposeful daily rhythm and provides a perfect balance of engaging activities and quiet moments. This structured yet flexible routine helps reduce anxiety and confusion while promoting better sleep patterns and overall well-being.
Renewed Social Connections
Through carefully crafted group activities and shared experiences, residents find new friendships and rediscover community. Our TouchPoint Sensory-certified specialists facilitate these connections through personalized engagement plans that balance individual attention with group sessions. By weaving together multi-sensory experiences—whether through music, familiar scents, or hands-on activities—residents find common ground and forge friendships through shared moments that transcend words. These interactions often spark joy and engagement, even in those who had become isolated at home.
Improved Health and Safety
Memory care communities provide specially trained staff and thoughtfully designed spaces that prioritize safety and ease of navigation. Our memory care team members complete rigorous TouchPoint Sensory certification, equipping them with advanced skills in communication, interaction and engagement techniques specifically tailored for memory care residents.
Rooms and common areas are arranged specifically for individuals with dementia and Alzheimer’s, offering safe spaces to move freely—an essential feature as spatial awareness becomes more challenging.
Beyond safety, residents’ overall health often improves. Consistent medication management, proper nutrition and gentle daily movement lead to marked improvements in physical health and mobility. Regular monitoring ensures small issues are addressed before becoming serious concerns.
Multi-Sensory Enrichment
Through our TouchPoint Sensory program, residents experience life through all five senses in ways specifically designed for memory care. From interactive cooking lessons to dedicated sensory stations, every element of daily life is thoughtfully crafted to promote emotional well-being, spark joy and maintain cognitive abilities for as long as possible.
TouchPoint Sensory also integrates advanced technology that further engages the senses of our memory care residents. These technologies include Lucynt Magic Tables that promote cognitive stimulation through projection and sound and Crdls®—care instruments that create connection by translating touch into sound.
Rediscovering Joy in Relationships
Without the constant stress of caregiving, spouses and children can return to their primary role of loving family members. The pressure of being a round-the-clock caregiver lifts, allowing genuine connection to flourish again.
“Most family caregivers are not professionally trained; instead, they piece together a care plan based on what they believe is best, often adapting as the disease progresses. While the intention behind keeping a loved one at home—often driven by promises made in the past—is rooted in love, it may not always be in their best interest,” shares Beth.
When memory care is introduced, families get their relationships back and can concentrate on being a family and not on caregiving. “While every decision is made with love, recognizing when professional support is needed can lead to a better quality of life for both the individual with dementia and their family,” Beth explains.
From Guilt to Gratitude
“One of the most frequent comments we hear from families is that they wish they hadn’t waited so long,” reflects Erika. Recognizing the signs early can help families make this important decision with confidence and adequate time for planning.
Family caregivers have often spent years struggling at home, trying to manage alone, when specialized support could have improved the quality of life for their loved one. But the feeling of guilt from a promise they made to keep their mom, dad or spouse home has them feeling they must endure.
Families often find solace and peace quickly when they see their loved one doing so well in a space designed with them in mind.
“Guilt turns to gratitude when families experience their loved ones receiving the care and attention they need, which eases worry. They also feel this tremendous relief from caregiver burnout and realize how much stress they were under only after it’s lifted. Seeing their loved one thriving makes all the difference,” shares Beth.
Learn about Making Memory Care Decisions With Confidence —>
Let’s Begin This Journey Together
As you consider the possibility of helping a loved one transition to memory care, we can help navigate the process, determine options that might best fit your family, answer your questions about our TouchPoint Sensory approach, and show you how multi-sensory engagement can enhance your loved one’s quality of life.
Contact our knowledgeable senior living team to learn more about our Community First Solutions Memory Care Communities:
- Berkeley Square in Hamilton, Ohio
- Montage Mason & The Cottage of Mason in Mason, Ohio
- The Patterson in Beavercreek, Ohio
