Memory care facilities provide
their residents with a very specialized type of assisted living that is catered
specifically towards individuals with dementia. With this in mind, memory care facilities are different to
traditional assisted living accommodations.
A memory care community hires
professionally-trained staff who are skilled in communicating with and caring
for residents who have dementia. They know how best to work with dementia
patients, treating them with empathy, dignity and respect. Staff with
specialized training ensures that every resident is supported and can feel more
relaxed in day-to-day activities.
Memory care also places a strong
emphasis on enrichment activities with therapeutic aspects. For example, music therapy and other types of musical entertainment are typical in memory care
facilities since research has found that music can boost memory in individuals with cognitive impairment.
Finally, memory care facilities will typically incorporate extra security to provide a safe environment for its residents and team members.
Assisted living facilities can
support seniors in various ways, and are not solely designed for dementia or
Alzheimer’s patients. These facilities are generally designed to target
loneliness, autonomy, and general daily living – all in a setting which feels
like home.
Assisted living communities
typically offer seniors apartments and give them access to communal dinners,
social areas, maintenance services, and fun activities. The residents look
after themselves with some additional support from professionally-trained
caregivers.
The extent of help can vary
depending on how much support each resident requires. Caregivers can assist
with plenty of different tasks, such as getting dressed, taking the correct
medication, and taking a bath. So, if your loved one finds it difficult to
complete any of these daily activities, an assisted living community may be the
ideal solution.
Assisted living facilities also
place a significant emphasis on socializing, offering a vast range of
opportunities for individuals to get involved with hobbies and meet new
friends. Everyday activities include playing board games, watching movies,
exercising, and enjoying musical entertainment.
Now that you know a little bit
more about these two types of care communities, let’s delve into what makes
them different in more detail. The assisted living vs memory care debate can
get confusing because both facility types share a variety of similarities. For
example, both communities generally have communal dinners, shared social rooms,
and apartment-style living spaces. Despite this, a few differences make
assisted living and memory care distinguishable, which could sway you to opt
for one over the other:
As mentioned above, assisted living activities
typically
focus on entertaining residents. On the other hand, memory care facilities
provide tailored activities to meet the needs of those with dementia and
related conditions. Since residents with dementia can often display behaviors
that challenge, memory care communities attempt to reduce these expressions by
providing timely and stimulating activities. For example, indoor activities designed for dementia patients may include listening to music
from their youth, going through old photographs together or getting creative
with coloring or knitting.
Teams working in memory care facilities
will have likely had additional training to work with and properly support
those living with dementia, understanding and implementing best dementia care
practises.
You should find security
features, like check-ins and emergency alert systems, in assisted living
facilities. On the other hand, memory care facilities should offer additional,
more advanced safety measures because residents with memory loss can be more
high-risk. For example, they may be more prone to wandering or falling over.
With this in mind, memory care communities are likely to have safety features
like keypad entries, doorbells that signal entry and exits, and locked entry
and exits.
Memory care and assisted living
communities can vary in cost, depending on aspects such as location, what kind
of services are provided, and if spaces are shared or singular. Memory care
units are typically more expensive because they include additional care
services that assisted living communities do not and require staff to have additional
training.
So, is an assisted living or
memory care facility right for your loved one? Let’s summarize below.
Seniors who can act mainly
independently but may need some support with everyday tasks, such as getting
access to nutritional hot food, could suit assisted living communities. These
types of residences also enable older adults to have a maintenance-free life.
Plus, there is the chance to socialize with others in the community, helping to
boost emotional well-being.
Those who have dementia may
benefit more from memory care facilities. Staff at these facilities are
fully-trained to deal with behaviors associated with dementia – this can help
to reduce your loved one’s anxiety and confusion levels. What’s more,
activities are tailored to help to promote memory processing and engagement.
These factors, along with the additional safety features, can help to put your
mind at ease, too.
If you don’t yet think your
loved one is ready to move into a care facility, there are other options to
consider if they still require additional support. One alternative to assisted
living or memory care facilities is hiring adult day-care services. This
involves a trained professional helping with daily living, nutrition,
companionship, and other factors to offer relief and peace of mind that your
senior loved one is being cared for properly.
Moreover, you may consider
creating an at-home sensory room for dementia to help your loved one in the best way you
can. A multi-sensory room approach can provide the right environment that those
with dementia or Alzheimer’s need to reduce their confusion and anxiety.
We hope you now have a clearer
understanding of the differences between assisted living and memory care
facilities. We appreciate this transition can be a challenging, stressful and
anxious time for both you and them. Your
loved ones deserve nothing but the best.
Explore our vast range of sensory
solutions to
see how we can help your loved one today. If you require any assistance when
shopping on our site and selecting the best products for you, please don’t
hesitate to contact us, and a member of our committed team will happily offer you the guidance
you need as soon as possible.