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Assisted Living Vs Memory Care

Written on . Posted in Memory Care


What is memory care vs assisted living?

 

  • Memory care

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

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. 

 

What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?

 

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:

 

  • Activities

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. 

 

  • Staff

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.  

  • Security

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.

  • Fees

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.

 

Assisted living vs memory care: which one should you choose?


So, is an assisted living or memory care facility right for your loved one? Let’s summarize below. 

 

  • Who are assisted living communities best for?

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.

 

  • Who are memory care communities best for?

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. 

 

  • What are the other options?

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.

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