Memory Care At Poydras Home

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in New Orleans

Poydras Home has been a trusted part of the New Orleans community for generations, offering a continuum of care rooted in compassion, dignity, and deep local ties. Our Memory Care program is an extension of our Assisted Living services, designed specifically for older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

Our Memory Care team is here to provide the specialized support, structured environment, and warm, consistent care that elders need to live comfortably and safely.

What Is Memory Care?

Memory Care is specialized long-term residential care designed for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It provides a secure, structured environment with specially trained staff and personalized support that goes beyond what traditional Assisted Living offers. The goal is to soothe agitation, support safety, and help residents maintain a sense of identity and well-being.

What Makes Our Memory Care Approach Different

At Poydras Home, our approach to Memory Care is built on The Green House Project core values of Real Home, Meaningful Life and Empowered Staff.

Daily life in our two Assisted Living Memory Care areas is shaped by familiar faces and thoughtfully designed indoor and outdoor spaces that help to reduce the disorientation that often accompanies memory challenges. We fully support our Memory Care residents with all Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including assistance with dressing, grooming, showering, continence care, dining and mobility, while preserving as much independence as possible.

Memory Care provides a higher level of environmental support and engagement in a home-like setting. Our Memory Care caregivers receive specialized training in dementia care and person-centered support. We maintain consistent staffing so that residents build familiarity with their caregivers, which reduces anxiety.

Signs It May Be Time for Memory Care

Common signs that Memory Care may be the right next step include:

• A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, particularly as it progresses to moderate stages
• Wandering or safety concerns at home, including getting lost in familiar places, leaving the stove on, or leaving home without a clear destination
• Noticeable changes in the execution of daily routines and personal care, such as difficulty showering, dressing, preparing meals, or managing household tasks
• Challenges with medication management or nutrition, including missed doses, weight loss, or confusion about medications
• Caregiver strain and family stress, including exhaustion, difficulty leaving a loved one alone, or feelings of being unprepared for the level of care required

Assisted Living Memory Care at Seasons and Egret House at Poydras Home

Poydras Home’s Assisted Living Memory Care on our Uptown New Orleans campus is located within two residential spaces: Seasons and Egret House. Our campus setting affords residents access to beautifully maintained gardens and grounds, indoor common areas, and programming that supports daily engagement and social connection.

Seasons and Egret are designed to feel like home. Common spaces are thoughtfully arranged to support orientation and comfort, and the overall environment is managed to reduce overstimulation while feeling warm and inviting.

Curious about whether Poydras Home is the right fit for your loved one? We’d love to show you around.

Inquire About Residency

You are Invited to Attend Free-of-Charge and Open to the Public Alzheimer’s Support Group Meetings at Poydras Home

Poydras Home hosts monthly, free-of-charge, open to the public, Alzheimer’s Support Group meetings to assist those living with and caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. Join us virtually on the second Tuesday of each month from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. via ZOOM or attend in person on the third Tuesday of each month from 4:00 p.m to 5:30 p.m. in Poydras Home’s  Cultural Center on our campus. Contact Poydras Home’s Director of Memory Support and Day Program Elena Cambre via phone at 504-897-0535 ir email at [email protected] to obtain the ZOOM Link for our virtual meeting option and to RSVP. Our support groups are also confidential.

Additional Resources:

Alzheimer’s Association Website: www.alz.org
Lewy Body Dementia Association: https://www.lbda.org/

Daily Life In Memory Care in New Orleans

Daily life in Memory Care is designed to be supportive, with routines that reduce stress while leaving room for meaningful connection. For families searching for Alzheimer’s or dementia Memory Care in New Orleans, the daily experience matters just as much as the clinical support.

Personalization and Comfort

A meaningful day starts with feeling at home. Residents are encouraged to bring personal items, family photos, favorite blankets, familiar furniture pieces, and more to make their space their own. For people living with memory impairment, familiar objects can be grounding, providing comfort in moments of confusion.

Our team takes time to learn each resident’s personal history, preferences, and routines, incorporating that knowledge into care plans and daily interactions. We see the whole person, beyond their diagnosis.

Secure Environments and Garden Access

The Memory Care areas of our campus feature secured environments designed to safely satisfy wandering urges while preserving a sense of freedom. Keypad entries, monitored exits, and thoughtful layout design all work together to keep residents safe without making the space feel restrictive.

Residents have access to secure outdoor garden spaces and safe walking paths that allow residents to enjoy fresh air and natural surroundings in a supervised, enclosed setting. Time outside can reduce agitation, support sleep, and improve mood for many people living with dementia.

Daily Structure

Routine is one of the most powerful tools in Alzheimer’s and dementia. Predictable daily routines reduce anxiety, support cognitive function, and help residents feel a sense of continuity and control. At Poydras Home, each day is organized around an individual’s natural rhythms, with family-style meal times, personal care routines, and meaningful activity programming.

Our team provides hands-on assistance with Activities of Daily Living as needed, including support with dressing, grooming, showering, continence care, dining and mobility. The level of support is tailored to each resident and adjusted as needs change.

Meals are served in shared dining spaces supporting social connection and sustained nutrition. Programming throughout the day is designed to engage residents, and include creative activities, music, cognitive activities, light physical movement, and more.

Supporting Wandering Urges

Wandering is a common behavior associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia. At Poydras Home, we address wandering both through secure spaces and proactive engagement and routine. When residents feel oriented, engaged, and cared for, wandering urges are often reduced.

Our staff is trained to recognize the early signs of agitation that often precede wandering, and to respond with redirection, reassurance, and structured activity. Secure exits and monitored common areas provide an additional layer of protection so that families can feel confident their loved one is safe.

Community Activities

Through Intergenerational Programs, our residents can improve self-esteem and a sense of connection to our wider New Orleans community. We have been fortunate to partner with numerous organizations over our many years.

Holidays are always made merry and bright when local grammar school classes visit to sing for our elders.

Since 2013, Poydras Home has partnered with Tulane University’s Center for Public Service. In 2019 the program expanded to include Service-Learning students from Loyola University New Orleans, LSU Nursing School, and Tulane Medical School.

Through these partnerships, students spend time on our campus throughout the school year visiting one-on-one or in small groups, sharing interests, discussing life stories, and even facilitating special programs alongside our Life Enrichment, PHASE Adult Day Program, and Memory Care caregivers. Poydras Home is also honored to serve as an internship location for LSU & Tulane School of Social Work, Tulane Masters of Healthcare Administration, and Loyola Community-Based Federal Work Study programs.

Respite Care for Memory Support in New Orleans

Poydras Home also offers month long respite stays in our Assisted Living Memory Care subject to availability.

Care Options at Poydras Home

Poydras Home offers a full continuum of care on our New Orleans campus, which means residents don’t have to move to a different community if their needs change over time. Our healthcare staff continuously monitors each resident’s well-being and will recommend transitions between care levels when different supports are needed.

Traditional Assisted Living vs. Assisted Living Memory Care

Traditional Assisted Living is designed for older adults who need some support with daily tasks but retain higher degrees of independence. Residents at this care level can self-direct large parts of their days.

Assisted Living Memory Care is appropriate when cognitive changes affect safety or behavior to a degree that traditional Assisted Living can no longer accommodate. Memory Care offers a higher staff-to-resident ratio, a more structured environment, secured spaces, and specialized programming. Some residents begin with traditional Assisted Living and transition to Memory Care as their needs progress. Our team works closely with families to recognize when that transition is appropriate.

Assisted Living Memory Care vs. Nursing Care

Assisted Living Memory Care and Nursing Care serve different needs. Assisted Living Memory Care focuses on cognitive support, behavior management, and daily functioning within a homelike setting. It’s often the best fit for residents whose primary challenges are memory-related. Nursing Care provides a higher level of medical and clinical support for residents navigating complex, ongoing health needs and/or heightened mobility needs often in addition to cognitive decline.

Schedule A Tour Of New Orleans Alzheimer’s Care At Poydras Home

Choosing Assisted Living Memory Care for someone you love is one of the most significant decisions a family can face. We know it comes with questions, uncertainty, and often, emotion. Reach out to us by phone at 504-897-0535 or through our website form to inquire about residency. A member of our team will follow up to answer your questions, learn about your loved one’s situation, and help you determine the best next step.

At Poydras Home, we believe that seeing our community in person is the clearest way to understand what care here actually looks like: the spaces, the staff, the routines, and the feeling of our historic campus. Our tours are low-pressure and informative, and you’re welcome to bring family members or other caregivers.

We’re proud to be a trusted option for Alzheimer’s care and memory support in New Orleans.

Inquire About Residency