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How Memory Care Differs from Assisted Living

Dementia is progressive, which means that someone with the disease will almost certainly get worse over time and require long-term care, such as assisted living and/or memory care. Assisted living can be for any senior that needs assistance with something — from housekeeping and making meals to showering and getting around.

“Memory care is assisted living PLUS,” says Carrie Wilson, who is director of the Reflections Memory Program at the Ivy at Ellington.

Memory care communities are typically housed within assisted living communities and offer 24/7 care from professional staff members with specialized training for the care of those suffering from dementia and other cognitive impairments, including memory loss.

“The entire environment and program of memory care is specifically geared toward keeping a senior with memory impairment or dementia as independent and successful as possible while living a social, fun, happy life day in and day out,” Wilson says.

Here’s a closer look at the differences between assisted living and memory care — two of the fastest growing options for long-term senior care.

Assisted Living

Assisted living communities are designed to empower seniors to maintain their independence while allowing for easy access to assistance, activities, and companionship. They allow seniors to live in a residential, homelike setting and enjoy an independent lifestyle while receiving non-medical assistance with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, grooming, and medication management.

Assisted living communities typically provide 24-hour staff supervision, prepared meals, housekeeping services, transportation, and care plans tailored to each senior’s individual needs. Even though assisted living communities provide only non-medical care, they generally have at least one nurse who assesses each resident’s needs and creates an individual care plan for assistance with daily activities.

Memory Care

Memory care is a distinct form of long-term care that specifically caters to people with dementia and other types of memory problems. Basic services such as meal prep, laundry, and housekeeping are included, but specialized medical care and a high level of assistance with daily activities are also provided as the staff is prepared to handle many different needs.

Memory care communities often offer structured activities or programs designed to nurture residents with dementia. Additionally, the physical layout and security of memory care communities are designed to better suit people with dementia. The level of care that memory care communities provide can really help residents maintain their quality of life, even as their cognitive impairment worsens.

Memory Care Within Assisted Living

Memory care programs often exist as a wing within an assisted living community, and many seniors start in assisted living before transitioning to memory care.

“The beauty of that situation is the senior is already comfortable in the community,” Wilson says. “They already know the staff, who work in both assisted living and memory care, and they already know other memory care residents.”

When you’re searching for the right memory care community for your loved one, Wilson recommends looking for a community that offers both assisted living and memory care.

“When you are touring an assisted living community, tour it’s memory care community as well,” she says. “You may love assisted living at a community, but their memory care could be less than ideal. Make sure you see it all. You may never need it, but if you do, you want that memory care to be the best!”

That way, if your loved one does transition to memory care, the move is as seamless and easy as possible — they’re simply moving from one apartment to another within a familiar setting.

“Otherwise, you, as the family, end up doing the whole process — research, touring, moving — twice and the senior ends up having to leave one familiar environment for an entirely new environment with all new faces, new surroundings, new routine, which can be substantially more detrimental to a senior with memory impairment or dementia,” Wilson says.

It can be challenging to navigate your options and choose the best memory care community for your loved one. Every facility and community is different, and all have different pros and cons. That’s why you should learn as much as you can about memory care before deciding on a facility.

For more information about how family caregivers can make sure a memory care community is the right fit for their loved one with dementia, download our eBook “What to Look for in a Memory Care Community”.

 

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-The Challenges of Aging: How to Handle Your Aging Parent’s Difficult BehaviorsDifficult behaviors in elderly adults are very common. They may be an expression of frustration your loved one feels or a symptom of early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s.

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The Arbors Assisted Living-Guide-Is It Depression? A Guide to Identifying and Addressing Depression in Aging AdultsHas your aging parent recently lost interest in activities they used to enjoy? Have you noticed a change in their mood and behavior?

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No one ever plans to be sick or disabled, and disasters, man-made or natural, can happen at any time, anywhere.

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Guide-Solutions to Common Caregiving ChallengesIn this eBook, you’ll learn how to talk with family and friends about caregiving challenges, how to deal with a parent who is resistant to help, how to get more caregiving help from your siblings, and how to keep your job while caregiving.


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How Moving My Loved One to The Arbors Eliminated My Caregiving ChallengesHave you had to cut back your hours at work to care for your mom? Are you worried about administering medications or injections?

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Guide-When is the Right Time for Memory Care?In this guide, you’ll learn about the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, including the early symptoms of dementia; the seven stages of dementia and the symptoms that typically accompany each one; and the signs it’s time to start exploring your memory care options.


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Guide-What to Look for in a Memory Care CommunityIn this guide, you’ll learn about the difference between assisted living and memory care, how healthcare professionals are trained in dementia care, common features of a memory care community, and questions you should ask when exploring your memory care options.


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Navigating adult sibling relationships can be a challenge, but coming together for the sake of your parent is important.

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Guide-The StandoffAssisted living can be a touchy subject. No matter how you approach it, your parent is likely to have objections to something.

As you help them transition to a new stage of life, it helps to be prepared with answers to their questions and concerns.


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A Guide to the Most Common Family Caregiver Challenges Associated with Caring for an Aging Parent.

You’ll learn about the true costs of being a family caregiver, common family conflicts that can occur when caring for parents, and some of the unexpected challenges of caregiving.


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Guide-Checklist_ Questions to Ask When Touring an Assisted Living Community
This checklist will help to make sure you are getting the most out of your visit to The Arbors.

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Guide-What is Assisted Living Really LikeIf you’re unsure what Assisted Living looks like in real life, whether there is a difference with nursing homes or a desire to see how community life unfolds, then this guide is exactly what you need.

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