Episode 8 of our Austin Senior Living Series!

EPISODE 8: Memory Care Explained - When Assisted Living Isn’t Enough

Today we’re breaking down memory care - what it is, how it’s different from assisted living, and when your loved one needs this level of specialized dementia care.

In this episode, I cover:

• What memory care actually provides (and how it’s different from assisted living)

• 8 signs it’s time for memory care instead of home care or assisted living

• Real examples from families I work with - including my own mom’s symptoms

• What to look for when touring memory care communities in Austin

• Staff ratios, security features, and behavioral management approaches

• The emotional side of this decision

• Cost ranges in Austin ($5,000-$8,000/month)

• Red flags to watch out for

•How to know if you’re ready to make this move

Raw, honest, and practical - for families navigating one of caregiving’s hardest decisions.

Key Topics: - Memory care definition and features - Secured environments for wandering - Specialized dementia staff training - Signs it’s time for memory care - Safety issues (stove incidents, nighttime wandering) - Sundowning and paranoia - What to look for on tours - Emotional aspects of placement

Resources: - TSL Tour Senior Living: tourseniorliving.org
- Stella’s Direct Line: 737-389-2130

Williams Senior Transition Services

stellawilliamstx.com

Link to Austin Memory Care Community Guide

Checklist for Signs its time for memory care

#memorycare #dementia #alzheimers #Austinmemorycare #tourseniorliving #tslaustin #wstservices #navigatingseniorcarewithstella

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode discusses end-of-life care, hospice, and personal loss. If you're grieving or this feels too raw, it's okay to skip this one and come back when you're ready.

Stella shares her dad's lung cancer journey - from home care to ICU to a hospital comfort care room where he passed on February 5, 2020. As his medical power of attorney, she discusses the crushing guilt of not being able to bring him home, what skilled nursing and hospice care provide, and how to know when facility care becomes necessary.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:

- The difference between skilled nursing facilities and nursing homes

- When medical needs require 24-hour nursing care

- What hospice actually is (and the myths we need to clear up)

- How hospital comfort care rooms work

- Critical questions to ask when evaluating skilled nursing facilities

- What being a medical power of attorney really means in crisis

- How to advocate for your loved one even when they're in a facility

Part professional guidance, part personal story - for families and POAs facing impossible decisions.

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📞 NEED HELP? CALL STELLA:

Williams Senior Transition Services

737-389-2130 (Bilingual - English/Spanish)

Available 24/7 for crisis consultations

FREE consultations

🌐 WEBSITES:

stellawilliamstx.com - Learn about our services

tourseniorliving.org - Browse Austin senior living communities with photos & virtual tours

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HELPFUL RESOURCES:

- Medicare skilled nursing coverage information

- Hospice eligibility requirements

- Austin area hospice providers

- How to evaluate skilled nursing facilities

- Understanding your role as medical POA

- Family caregiver support groups for grief

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ABOUT STELLA:

Stella Herrera Williams is a Senior Advocate and founder of Williams Senior Transition Services in Austin, Texas. After serving as medical power of attorney for both of her parents, she became a advocate helping families navigate the hardest decisions of their lives. In three years, she has assisted families through senior placement, hospice decisions, and end-of-life care.

NEXT EPISODE: Memory Care Explained - When Specialized Dementia Support is Needed

#SkilledNursing #HospiceCare #EndOfLifeCare #SeniorCare #AustinTX #MedicalPOA #CaregiverSupport #SeniorAdvocate #PowerOfAttorney #SeniorPlacement #TSLAUSTIN #TSL #WSTServices #stellaherrerawilliams

In this deeply personal episode, Stella reveals her origin story - the night she broke her mother out of a rehab facility in less than 5 hours and why that traumatic experience led her to become a senior placement advocate. She shares the reality of three years of home dementia care, including aggression, paranoia, and her recent stroke symptoms, while exploring why she's uniquely qualified to help families with BOTH home care and facility placement decisions. Raw, honest, and judgment-free - for caregivers facing impossible decisions.

Keywords: dementia care, home care vs facility, caregiver guilt, family decisions, memory care, elderly parents, placement advocate origin story

Episode 5 of our Austin Senior Living Series! Today we're breaking down Assisted Living - what it provides, who it's for, and how to know when it's time.

In this episode, I cover:

• What Assisted Living actually provides (and what it doesn't)

• Who needs Assisted Living vs Independent Living

• Personal care services and medication management

• Real stories from Austin families I've worked with

• Honest pros and cons you need to consider

• Cost ranges in Austin ($3,500-$7,000/month)

• What to look for when touring Assisted Living communities

• How to know when it's time to consider this option

• The emotional side of this transition

AUSTIN ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES MENTIONED:

• Silverleaf Eldercare

• Belmont Village

• The Enclave communities

• Brookdale locations

• Tech Ridge Oaks

• The Springs of Austin

• And many more throughout Austin metro

This episode is for families who know their loved one isn't safe at home anymore but needs help understanding what Assisted Living provides and how to choose the right community.

Cost Range in Austin: $3,500 - $7,000/month (varies by location, apartment size, and level of care needed)

IMPORTANT: Assisted Living is NOT covered by Medicare. Some may use long-term care insurance or VA benefits.

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NEXT EPISODE: "The Day We Broke Mom Out of Rehab" - A personal story about trusting your instincts and the reality of facility care

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RESOURCES:

📚 My Book: "The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Your Senior Housing Solutions"

Chapter on Assisted Living with detailed touring checklists

📝 Workbook Available

Assessment tools and community comparison worksheets

🏠 Tour Senior Living - Austin Area

Browse Austin Assisted Living options: tourseniorliving.org/area/austin

💼 Work With Me

Free consultation for Austin families: [email protected]

Website: williamsseniortransitionservices.com

🔍 Check Texas Licensing

Look up inspection reports for any licensed Assisted Living community in Texas

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ABOUT THE HOST:

Stella Herrera Williams is a Senior Placement Advocate in Austin, author, and daughter navigating complex care needs with her own mom. She helps Austin families find the right senior living solutions with both professional expertise and personal understanding.

#AssistedLiving #AustinSeniorLiving #SeniorCare #ElderCare #AustinTexas #SeniorHousing #NavigatingSeniorCare #CaregiverSupport

#Austin, #personal care, #medicationmanagement, #seniorliving, #agingparents, #caregiversupport, #nursinghomealternative #TSL #tourseniorliving #tourseniorlivingaustin

Starting our Austin Senior Living Series! In this episode, we're breaking down Independent Living - what it actually means, who it's designed for, and what you can expect in Austin communities.

I'm covering:

• What Independent Living really is (and isn't)

• Who is the ideal candidate for Independent Living

• What's included in most Austin communities

• Real examples from families I've worked with

• Pros and cons you need to consider

• Cost ranges in the Austin area

• What to look for when touring communities

• Why moving proactively is often better than waiting

AUSTIN INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITIES MENTIONED:

• Belmont Village (West Lake Hills & Lakeway)

• The Enclave (Cedar Park & Round Rock)

• Westminster (Central Austin)

• And many more throughout Austin metro area

Whether you're exploring options for yourself or a parent, this episode will help you understand if Independent Living is the right fit - and what to look for in Austin communities.

Cost Range in Austin: $2,500 - $5,000/month (varies by location, apartment size, and amenities)

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NEXT EPISODE: Assisted Living Explained - when you need more support than Independent Living provides.

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RESOURCES:

📚 My Book: "The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Your Senior Housing Solutions"

Includes detailed checklists for evaluating Independent Living communities

📝 Workbook Available

Worksheets to assess fit and compare communities

🏠 Tour Senior Living - Austin Area

Browse Austin Independent Living options: tourseniorliving.org/area/austin

💼 Work With Me

Senior placement services in Austin: stellawilliamstx.com

Email: [email protected]

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ABOUT THE HOST:

Stella Herrera Williams is a Senior Placement Advocate in Austin, author, and daughter navigating dementia care with her own mom. She helps Austin families find the right senior living solutions with both professional expertise and personal understanding.

#IndependentLiving #AustinSeniorLiving #SeniorCare #RetirementLiving #AustinTexas #SeniorHousing #NavigatingSeniorCare

In this vulnerable episode, I share my personal health crisis while caring for my mom with dementia - and the wake-up call that taught me sustainable caregiving starts with self-care.According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, over 40% of family caregivers report feeling emotionally strained, and 1 in 3 say their health has gotten worse since caregiving began. If you're running on fumes, waiting for "the right time" to ask for help, or feeling guilty about needing support - this episode is for you.

I discuss:- My health crisis and what led to it- Why caregivers wait until crisis to ask for help- The difference between sustainable care and perfect care- Austin resources for caregiver support and respite care- Permission to prioritize your own health

AUSTIN RESOURCES MENTIONED:🧠 Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area- Caregiver support and respite care information- Website: aaacap.org

💜 Family Eldercare- Various support services for Austin caregivers- Phone: (512) 450-0844

🏠 Tour Senior Living - Austin Area- Respite care options at local communities- Website: tourseniorliving.org/area/austin

📚 Alzheimer's Association Greater Austin Chapter- Caregiver support groups (not just for dementia!)- 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900

Remember: Taking care of yourself isn't selfish - it's essential. Your loved one needs the best version of you, not the burnt-out version.---ABOUT THE HOST:Stella Herrera Williams is a Senior Placement Advocate in Austin, author of "The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Your Senior Housing Solutions," and a daughter navigating dementia care with her own mom.

📧 Connect: [email protected]🌐 Learn more: stellawilliamstx.com📚 Get the book: click here for your FREE Book!New episodes helping Austin families navigate senior care with confidence!

Episode Number: 2 Episode Title: Understanding Dementia: What I Wish I'd Known Sooner Duration: 6-7 minutes Season: 1 Category: Health & Wellness / Self-Help Explicit Content: No

In honor of World Alzheimer's Month, Stella gets deeply personal about her journey with her mother's dementia. As a professional senior care advocate, you'd think she would have spotted the signs early. But love sometimes makes us blind to what we don't want to see.

In this heartfelt episode, Stella shares:

• The subtle early signs of dementia she missed in her own mother
• Why raw meat in the pantry and lost teeth were actually red flags
• How different types of dementia can present differently
• The guilt of being a "professional" who missed the signs in her own family
• Essential Austin resources for families facing dementia
• Why trusting your instincts matters more than medical expertise

Whether you're just starting to notice changes in a loved one or are deep in the caregiving journey, this episode offers both professional insight and personal understanding.

Featured Austin Resources:

🧠 Alzheimer's Association Greater Austin Chapter

• 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900
• Website: alz.org/texascapital
• Local support groups and educational programs

🏥 Dell Medical School Memory Care Program

• Phone: (512) 324-7000
• Website: dellmed.utexas.edu

🏠 Tour Senior Living - Greater Austin Area

• Website: tourseniorliving.org/area/austin
• Specialized memory care communities

📚 Stella's Book: "The Complete Step-by-Step Guide to Your Senior Housing Solutions"

• Available on LuLu: purchase Book

Stella introduces herself as a Senior Placement Advocate in Austin and daughter caring for her mom with dementia. Real talk about navigating senior care from both sides.