Assisted living or memory care? Find out which is best for you!
When you’re faced with caring for an aging loved one, it can be challenging to find appropriate long-term care. Senior living varies significantly in terms of seniority and cost; some homes offer only essential assistance while others have every imaginable luxury available at your fingertips!
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services Reports
LThe U.S Department of Health and Human Services reports that more than half (60%) of older adults will need long-term care at some point in their lives. According to The World Health Organization, many who require senior citizens’ services have cognitive decline or memory loss as they age, with over 55 million people worldwide who have dementia globally.
Here are five key areas where assisted living and memory care differ.
- Safety: In addition, environmental security may also include things such as as Assisted living communities may offer safety features like in-room emergency alert systems and daily check-ins. For seniors with memory loss, increased safety is a significant concern, as wandering, aggression, and falls are common but dangerous dementia behaviors.Environmental security is a key design characteristic of memory care facilities.
For example, this could mean features such as:
- Locked entrances and exits
- Keypad entries
- Obscured exits
- Doorbells that signal to enter and exiting
2. Staff training and care
Assisted living and memory care facility staff members have experience supporting residents with day-to-day tasks.
But staff at memory care facilities are well-equipped and trained to provide 24-hour, person-centered care that helps seniors with dementia maintain cognitive skills, a sense of self, and quality of life for as long as possible.
Beyond developing nursing care plans tailored to the individual needs of a resident with dementia, staff may also follow best practices for a memory care community.
Caregivers at memory care facilities know how to effectively and compassionately prevent and manage challenging dementia behaviors, such as wandering and aggression. They also understand the balance of encouraging residents to stay as independent as possible while providing the support they need.
Memory care gives residents more one-on-one attention throughout the day with a higher staff-to-resident ratio than assisted living and other senior care types.
3. Amenities
Amenities vary significantly from one community to the next, but many assisted living communities offer:
- Gyms
- Beauty salons and barber shops
- Outdoor spaces like gardens or courtyards
- Pet-friendly accommodations
- Transportation services
- Library and game room
- Arts and crafts studio
- Spas or relaxation rooms
Memory care communities often feature many of these same amenities, but most importantly, you’ll find unique layouts and design features to help orient residents and reduce confusion. For instance, design elements in memory care communities may include:
- Clearly defined common areas.
- Color-coded walls to make it easier for those with memory loss to find their way
- Outdoor gardens to prevent patients from feeling trapped or confined
- Increased opportunities for personalization, like memory boxes outside of residents’ doors to guide them and make them feel at home
