When loved ones need extra care as they age, family members often look into assisted living homes and memory care facilities. While there are many similarities between the two, memory care programs offer specialized services for people with symptoms of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Here are some of the differences between assisted living versus memory care.
Memory care is specialized
The experts involved in memory care have advanced training and provide more supervision to care for people with memory problems, compared to assisted living. Memory care locations have security measures to keep residents safe by, for example, preventing them from wandering and helping foster the calm atmosphere that is important for those who may become easily confused.
While costs vary, memory care will generally be more expensive because it is specialized.
“Families can typically expect to budget all-inclusive care for less than $4,000 a month at Solaris Senior Living,” according to the Admissions Director, Susan Wolf.
Memory care offers nurturing activities
Each assisted living or memory care community offers unique activities and services to meet residents’ needs, with enrichment opportunities that foster contentment and enjoyment. Possible enrichment activities might include the following:
- Health and exercise programs
- Social activities
- Monitored outdoor courtyards
- Activities for residents and their families
Memory care facilities often offer special programs designed to stimulate cognition or foster social interaction, which can help residents feel calm and included. In general, activities at memory care facilities require higher levels of monitoring and involvement from staff compared to assisted living communities.
Special consideration is also given to the architecture and layout of a memory care community.
“People with memory problems may get frustrated when confronted with a door they cannot get through, so many memory care communities have circular walkways where residents will not encounter doors or other obstacles to wandering,” Senior Living explains.
Other possible considerations might include lighting that avoids shadows, locked exits or monitoring bracelets that set off alarms when a resident gets close to an exit, and activities, music or décor reminiscent of eras familiar to residents.
Memory care offers advanced assistance
Patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia often require more assistance with daily tasks compared with those living in traditional assisted living facilities.
At Solaris Healthcare memory care locations, staff may help with many facets of a resident’s life. This could include everything from bathing, grooming, and dressing to dental hygiene and dining assistance.
Because of the advanced care offered, memory care facilities often have higher staff to patient ratios than other facilities. The number of people in different facilities varies widely. For example, Solaris Healthcare memory care locations offer living quarters for up to 36 patients at a time.
“Our staff really gets to know your loved ones because people often lose their ability to verbally communicate as their dementia progresses.” said admissions director Susan Wolf. “People lose their ability to verbally communicate.”
Part of getting to know the residents is understanding what stressors they have, including everything from whether they don’t enjoy visits with therapy animals to serious health concerns, Wolf said.
For more information about Solaris Healthcare’s memory care offerings or to schedule a tour, visit solarishealthcare.org.
