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If you are looking for long-term care options for you or your loved one, you are probably facing a difficult decision. You are not alone in this journey though. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 70% of adults older than 65 are in need of long-term care. Many from which suffer memory loss or cognitive impairments.
Senior living offers varied services based on the levels of care needed, amenities, services, and health concerns. Memory care and assisted living are both popular senior living options that provide supportive care to older adults with a range of health issues, including cognitive impairments.
Differentiating Memory Care and Assisted Living
The duration and level of care will vary from one senior to another, and it often changes over time. Thus, it’s important to professionally assess the senior’s health condition, medical needs, and living situation.
To help you decide on the senior living options for you or your loved one, here are the 6 key differences between memory care and assisted living that you need to understand.
1. Staff training and care
Memory care and assisted living communities both to share similar staff capacities such as nurses and nursing assistants. The huge difference, however, is the additional training and experience that staff members of memory care communities have. This is because people with dementia often face special – and sometimes complicated – difficulties such as swallowing, wandering, and anxiety.
Staff members in memory care facilities are often required to attend continuing classes to help them deepen their knowledge about people with dementia.
2. Specialized activities and therapies
There are certain activities that help people with dementia stimulate different areas of their brains. For instance, research suggests that music therapy could give people with Alzheimer’s disease emotional and behavioral benefits.
While assisted living communities are focused on catering to the basic needs, socialization, and entertainment of their residents; memory care facilities offer dementia-specific activities tailored fit to cater for their needs.
3. Safety and environment
Assisted living and memory care facilities offer basic safety features like in-room emergency alert systems and daily check-ins. But for memory loss, safety is a major concern. Dementia patients often wander around, exhibit aggression, or fall down.
In memory care facilities, there are environmental key designs in place to prevent senior residents from falls and accidents. Overall environmental security is a key design characteristic for memory care facilities to make sure seniors remain safe and their families have peace of mind. These include:
- Locked entrances and exits
- Keypad entries
- Obscured exits
- Doorbells that signal entering and exiting
4. Purpose-Built Amenities
Gyms, salons, gardens, pet-friendly accommodations, entertainment rooms, arts and crafts studios, and transportation services are some of the common amenities that many assisted living communities offer. These amenities have the goal to provide entertainment and basic services to their residents in a convenient manner.
For memory care communities, you could find similar amenities, but you will also find unique layouts and features designed to help orient residents in their environment and lessen their confusion. Some of these designs are clearly defined areas, color-coded walls, and memory boxes to guide residents to express themselves and be more comfortable.
5. Thoughtful Dining
Dementia can complicate nutrition. This is why assisted living communities offer three healthy meals per day in a social setting; and memory care communities offer specialized diets to ensure their residents’ health. Both of these communities do not only serve meals but also offer an environment that is conducive for socialization and practice independence.
6. Costs
Location, room size, and services provided affect the cost of assisted living and memory care. Beyond that, costs are calculated a little differently for each type.
Assisted living communities generally charge a base monthly rate, which covers their accommodations, meals, activities, housekeeping, and other services. Help with activities for daily living (ADLs) could be an additional charge, depending on the assistance.
Meanwhile, the cost of memory care tends to be higher than with assisted living because of the additional specialized care and nursing services that they offer.
Making a Decision
In many ways, assisted living and memory care communities are similar, but they differ in important ways. As you weigh the benefits of your options, it is crucial for you or your loved one to go through a professional assessment to learn about your options and pinpoint the best fit.
Consider contacting our senior living advisors at bestplace4seniors for a consultation, to help you make an informed decision for yourself or your loved one.
Recommended Assisted Living Locations:
Blue Skies of Tri-city – Assisted living
3218 Mira Mesa Ave, Oceanside, CA 92056, United States
Blue Skies of Temecula – Assisted Living
45410 Bayberry Pl, Temecula, CA 92592, United States
Blue Skies of San Marcos – Assisted Living
1119 Via Vera Cruz, San Marcos, CA 92078, United States
Blue Skies of Oceanside – Assisted Living
322 Keyport St, Oceanside, CA 92057, United States
Blue Skies of Laguna Niguel – Assisted Living
25437 Via Estudio, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, United States
Blue Skies of Laguna Hills – Assisted Living
25811 Tree Top Rd, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, United States
