10 Best Memory Care Facilities in Atlanta, GA

Paying for memory care can seem like an impossible feat at first, but it’s attainable with planning. Part of this entails becoming familiar with what financial resources may be available, including both public and private sources of funding. Since many families utilize a combination of private and public payment methods, we highlight several examples of both types that may be able to help pay for memory care in Atlanta.

In Georgia, stand-alone memory care facilities and assisted living communities with specialized memory-care units are licensed and regulated by the Georgia Department of Community Health’s Healthcare Facility Regulation Division (HFRD). The HFRD is also in charge of inspecting facilities. You can access inspection reports, license verifications, and facility listings on its website.

All facilities have to comply with the state’s rules and regulations for assisted living communities, which include the following:

• Providing medication administration or supervision
• Serving nutritiously acceptable meals
• Planning daily social activities

Atlanta assisted living facilities with specialized memory care units must meet a few extra requirements on matters such as community design, admission requirements, and staff training. You can browse through some of the criteria in place for Atlanta memory care facilities below.

Pre-admission requirements

Assisted living communities in Georgia can’t admit residents who require skilled nursing care, are bedridden, or have care needs that can’t be met at the facility. Additionally, prospective residents must meet special requirements to be admitted to a memory care center, which includes completing a physical examination within 30 days of admission. This report must be able to confirm the following:

• The resident has a confirmed or likely diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia.
• The resident doesn’t need round-the-clock nursing care.
• The resident has symptoms that warrant the need for memory care placement.

Post-admission and care plan

Memory care centers must conduct an assessment of residents after admission to determine their care needs. The post-admission assessment should identify elements such as the following:

• Physical care needs
• Amount of familial support
• Level of behavioral impairment
• Functional levels and ability to perform activities of daily living

All residents in a memory care center should receive a direct care plan that’s reviewed and signed by all participating direct care staff. Residents’ families are also encouraged to participate in developing a care plan, when possible, to factor in personal and family history. These care plans should be reassessed quarterly and updated as needed to reflect any changes in a resident’s needs.

Enhanced security measures

Certain safety measures need to be met in a building’s physical design to make sure memory care residents can safely live within a community. Memory care facilities must provide multipurpose common spaces for dining and group activities, as well as the following:

• Adequate lighting that reduces shadows and glares
• Secured, wheelchair-accessible outdoor spaces and walkways
• High-contrast design elements that distinguish walls from doorways and floors
• An automated alert system to notify staff of any unauthorized entrance or exit
• Personalized entrances that help residents recognize and identify their personal living space
• A communication system that helps staff directly connect to each other and to emergency personnel services

Specialized activities

Just as assisted living communities are required to provide residents with social activities, memory care centers must provide activities that promote the following:

• Socialization, which can include games and trivia
• Gross motor skills, such as exercising, gardening, and cooking
• Sensory enhancement, which includes reminiscence programs and light therapy
• Self-care and personal hygiene

Staffing

Memory care centers must be properly staffed to make sure the unique needs of each resident can be met. At a minimum, the following requirements must be provided by memory care centers:

• Two on-site direct care staff must be available at all times.
• An on-site registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or qualified medication aide must be available at all times.
• There should be one dementia-trained direct care staff per 12 residents during awake hours, and one on-site for every 15 residents during non-awake hours.
• A registered nurse or licensed practical nurse should be on-site or available in the building from 8 to 40 hours per week, depending on the number of residents in a memory care center.

Staff training

All memory care center staff should receive initial and annual training. Memory care centers are required to preserve all documentation for all training sessions that details the course content, attendance rosters, and instructor qualifications.

All direct care staff in an assisted living facility must receive an initial orientation within the first 30 days that goes over matters such as general infection control practices, emergency preparedness, and recognizing physical or cognitive changes in residents.

All direct care staff who work in a memory care center, regardless of their role, must complete 4 hours of dementia-specific orientation within their first 30 days of employment. This orientation specifically covers the following topics:

• How to recognize and reduce safety risks for residents
• General information about Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia
• Techniques to diminish challenging dementia-related behaviors from residents
• Ways to effectively communicate with residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia

Additionally, memory care staff must complete an annual 8 hours of dementia-specific training, as well as 16 hours of specialized training that include subjects such as those listed below:

• Common dementia-related behavior problems
• Effective interventions and therapeutic activities
• A family’s role in caring for residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia
• The memory care community’s philosophy, policies, and procedures for providing care to residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia

COVID-19 regulations for Atlanta memory care facilities

Georgia doesn’t currently have COVID-19 regulations in place for memory care communities, but facilities will likely have their own policies in place to protect staff and residents. You can find general guidance for long-term care facilities on the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) website, but it’s always a good idea to check with an Atlanta memory care facility directly before visiting.

Atlanta has lifted most of its emergency COVID-19 restrictions, but city officials encourage residents to continue following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the following:

Atlanta memory care communities range from comforting homelike settings to luxurious high-rise buildings. About half of our in-network memory care facilities exclusively cater to residents with Alzheimer’s and other types of dementia, while others may offer other types of care like assisted living and/or independent living.

No matter your preference, you’ll find that memory care facilities in Atlanta offer a perfect balance of Southern hospitality, safety, and specialized programs for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Stately living spaces

Elegant entrances with charming walkways and lavish lobbies set the tone for most Atlanta memory care facilities. Delightful common areas await inside where residents can enjoy gathering for meals, activities, or simply unwinding. Some memory care facilities are adorned with modern fixtures, and others with homelike décor. Outside, many communities feature manicured grounds with covered seating and walking paths.

Some communities even offer upscale amenities, such as outdoor pools, state-of-the-art fitness facilities, and home theaters for movies. Memory care units in Atlanta come in a variety of floor plans, with private and semi-private living options available at most. Over half of our partnered Atlanta memory care facilities include kitchenettes, and the majority are wheelchair-accessible with well-lit bathrooms and grab bars available.

Five-star services

A wide range of top-tier services can be found at Atlanta memory care facilities. You can expect all memory care facilities in Atlanta to have round-the-clock awake staff available to make sure your loved one’s safety needs are accounted for at all times. Additionally, all of our partner Atlanta memory care facilities have visiting occupational, speech, and physical therapists available, and several also have a visiting nurse.

Meals are provided at many of our partnered memory care facilities, with dining options ranging from restaurant-style and anytime dining to room service. More than half of our in-network memory care facilities offer the convenience of grocery shopping or help with errands. On-site beautician services, housekeeping, and personal laundry are available at most of our partnered memory care communities.

Delightful activities

Most of our partnered memory care facilities have an on-site activity director to coordinate regular activities for residents. This often includes a mix of social activities and dementia-specific programs. You can expect therapeutic activities, such as reminiscence programs and sensory-based programs, to be available at most Atlanta memory care facilities. These are designed specifically to help residents express themselves and explore happy memories.

At several of our partnered communities, stretching classes, yoga, and tai chi are favorite activities that encourage residents to use their motor skills and stay active. Most communities also offer educational activities that include cooking classes, art classes, and trivia games. Additionally, many memory care facilities hold gatherings to celebrate birthdays and holidays, and several also host dances and outdoor festivities like BBQs and picnics.

Health care for seniors in Atlanta

Access to premium health care is among Atlanta’s many attractive qualities. Several hospitals are nationally ranked in a variety of specialties that include cancer and neurology. Explore a few of Atlanta’s top hospitals below.

Transportation for seniors in Atlanta

Caregivers and loved ones can breathe a sigh of relief knowing complimentary transportation is available at over 75% of our partnered Atlanta memory care facilities. This convenient service makes sure your loved one can safely get to and from the places they need to be, like medical appointments or other errands.

Visiting a loved one in an Atlanta memory care facility can be a piece of cake for residents’ family and friends. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) is one of the largest public transit systems in the country, with countless rail lines and bus routes that operate daily. MARTA’s Red and Gold rail lines travel directly to and from the Airport Station, which is located in the Domestic Terminal at Jackson-Hartsfield. MARTA also operates the Atlanta Streetcar, which loops around the city’s popular downtown area.