Key Differences between Assisted Living and Memory Care

November 28, 2020 0 Comment Category: Assisted Living

Finding the right type of senior living is vital to ensure that your loved one gets all the care and support required to meet their day-to-day needs and live a contented life. This is even more important when choosing a senior living option for your parent or grandparent with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, or any other form of memory impairment. In such cases, two of the most common choices for family members are assisted living facilities and memory care centers. Learn more about our assisted living facility here,

While many of the services provided in assisted living communities and memory care facilities may seem similar, there are a few subtle differences between the two. That is why it is essential to understand what differentiates them so that you can make an informed decision for your senior. Below are some of the main differences between assisted living and memory care that you should be aware of.

Specialized Care and Staffing

Both assisted living communities and memory care centers have skilled and trained staff on the site to help their residents and address all their specific needs. In general, assisted living facilities have expert caregivers, who assist seniors with their daily tasks, medication management, meals, hygiene, and more. In contrast, memory care communities have staff that are specialized in the nuances of memory care and offer more dedicated care services related to cognitive impairment.

The Level of Activities

Assisted living facilities are known to offer a wide variety of daily activities to keep seniors engaged and stimulate their physical and mental health. This can range from dance classes and book clubs to workout sessions and game nights. Memory care, on the other hand, mainly offers socialization activities that trigger the cognitive functions of their residents and helps them to stay relaxed and happy. They also help to keep the onset of dementia at bay. See the type of services we offer here.

Dining Options

Assisted living care facilities provide nutritious meals to their residents in a comfortable setting that fosters healthy dining with socializing. Seniors can have an individualized meal plan prepared for them at the time of their admission to the facility so that their everyday diet needs are met aptly. Memory care centers also follow this approach but their focus remains on creating a dining experience that is conducive to seniors with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Living Environment

Both memory care and assisted living facilities offer a specialized living environment to help residents stay safe and comfortable. Memory care communities usually focus on the safety concerns and specific needs of seniors diagnosed with memory problems, while assisted living facilities provide multiple living options to ensure the utmost privacy and independence of their residents. The living environment will also vary from facility to facility, so it would be wiser to visit the senior living center in person to make a decision.

Add-on Services

Memory care facilities provide specialized services that are tailored to the individual needs of elderly patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. This can range from additional nursing care to social work services and more. Some memory care centers also offer peer support groups for family members to help them understand their role in ensuring the best care for their seniors. Assisted living communities, in contrast, focus on providing extra services and amenities to boost the overall physical, mental, and social well-being of their residents.

Apart from these aspects, a major difference between assisted living and memory care is that where assisted living communities can offer specialized memory care services to their residents, memory care centers cannot often offer the same level of daily assistance and long-term care to seniors that assisted living facilities provide. Therefore, the final decision always boils down to the specific needs and preferences, as well as future care requirements of your loved one.