A Place for Mom Finds Move-Ins By Men To Memory Care Communities Are Increasing 14 Percent Faster Than Women

SEATTLE, Oct. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A Place for Mom, Inc. (APFM), North America's largest senior living referral service, surveyed their data on men seeking senior care from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2014 and found that male move-ins to memory care communities are gradually catching up to women. Both men and women are moving in increasing numbers; however, male move-ins are growing at a rate that is 14 percent greater than women over the three-year period.

"While women continue to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease at a higher rate, we are seeing a significant increase in men seeking memory care with the number of our male residents doubling in the past 18 months," said Megan Carnarius, RN and Executive Director for Balfour Cherrywood Village, an Alzheimer's and memory care community located in Louisville, CO. "The prevalence of the disease in more people could be attributed to more people living longer. The older you get, the higher chance you have of getting the disease, and men specifically are living longer." 

In looking at just a one year span, APFM's data from August 1, 2013 to July 31, 2014, found that male seniors ages 62 and above who have moved into a community after being referred there by A Place for Mom are 27 percent more likely than women to require memory care services. Along this finding, APFM found that when men need memory care services, they are 8 percent more likely to exhibit wandering tendencies and are 30 percent more likely to have issues with combative behavior.

"As we see more men seeking memory care services, senior care providers are preparing for this potential shift in demographics and are implementing more specific training and care initiatives to address the memory care needs of both women and men," said Dan Willis, Senior Vice President of Partner Services at A Place for Mom. "It is important that families understand that there are many resources available today to help them enhance the quality of life of loved ones with Alzheimer's disease or other dementias."

Memory care providers that partner with A Place for Mom shared some examples of how they are making changes to care practices in response to the increase of men requiring memory care:

• Finding new ways to engage. Men's interests are often different than women and it's important that caregivers get to know each person to understand their backgrounds, past careers, and their interests. This helps to identify topics and tools to help with engagement.
• Knowing how to diffuse aggressive behavior. Men are physically larger and stronger. Staff should be trained to manage and diffuse triggers of aggressive behavior.
• Encouraging independence when possible. Men often are very proud and don't like having help, especially for things they've been doing independently for decades, such as shaving. Finding activities they can do on their own as much as possible is important.

A Place for Mom provides caregiving guides and links to helpful resources with information on Alzheimer's, dementia and memory care on their website at http://www.aplaceformom.com/alzheimers-care.

About A Place for Mom
A Place for Mom, Inc. (APFM) is North America's largest senior living referral service with 300 senior living advisors providing resources and personalized assistance in finding senior living services. Using its nationwide network of nearly 20,000 providers, APFM helps families find options based on a loved one's stated needs, preferences and budget. This may include independent senior housing, home care, residential care homes, assisted living communities and specialized Alzheimer's memory care. The service is offered at no charge to families as providers pay a fee to APFM. For more information, visit www.aplaceformom.com, call 1-877-311-6099 or visit one of APFM's social networks at Twitter, Facebook, Google +, Senior Living Blog and Pinterest. 

SOURCE A Place for Mom, Inc.