Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: What Are the Differences?

Making the right choices isn’t always easy, especially when it comes to ensuring your older loved one has everything they need for the highest possible quality of life. For example, assisted living vs memory care: how do they differ? Which best matches your parent’s needs, and how can you be sure they will receive the support they need?

At The Herrick House, we are dedicated experts in both assisted living and memory care, and we are here to help you and your family through this important decision process. Here is a look at the features, benefits and the differences between these two care levels.

Assisted living vs. memory care: the differences 

Assisted living offers personalized support, newfound freedom, and an engaging lifestyle. You may have heard assisted living described as “a helping hand when you need it.” In a nutshell, assisted living offers personalized, professional support for everything from grooming, dressing, and bathing to medication management and dining. In other words, assistance with the activities of daily living But that’s just the beginning.

If you’re pondering assisted living vs. memory care, remember that assisted living is for those adults who mainly want the convenience of a homelike setting without the worry of home upkeep, cooking, cleaning and yard maintenance. They want easy access to a wide range of social activities, programs, outings, events, classes and much more that’s generally listed on a monthly calendar of events. Assisted living residents do not require around-the-clock skilled nursing care but do have access to assistance with their daily activities when they need it.

Just visit a vibrant assisted living community and you’ll see firsthand: residents are benefiting from freedom and peace of mind. They have more ways to remain active and independent. Opportunities for socializing and making friends abound.

Here are some of the aspects of life in assisted living:

• Comfortable, spacious accommodations
• Assistance with activities of daily living
• 24-hour staffing and security
• Restaurant-style dining
• Housekeeping, linen and maintenance services
• Fitness, health and wellness programs
• Stimulating activities, events, outings, programs and more
• Transportation
• Access to medical services

In the debate of assisted living vs memory care, a person best suited for assisted living is someone who functions well on their own but could use some additional support or would just appreciate maintenance-free lifestyle filled with companionship and opportunities for lifelong wellness.

Memory care addresses cognitive impairment with understanding, compassion, and respect 

If you are struggling with the choice between assisted living vs memory care, you probably have many questions. What is memory care? What is a typical day like? Does my loved one need it right now? Who provides this type of care?

First, let’s define memory care. Memory care communities are specifically designed to nurture those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with 24-hour supervised care. Assisted living communities that offer memory care do so with specially trained staff that provide individualized support in a safe environment with opportunities for your loved one to find purpose and joy.

Most memory care settings offer:

• A private or companion apartment
• Meals and snacks
• Assistance with activities of daily living
• Medication management
• Personal care
• Cognitive and physical therapy
• Fitness programs
• Social activities
• Housekeeping and laundry services

As you can see, a memory care setting is designed to provide 24-hour care and attention for your loved one. If you’re weighing assisted living vs memory care, remember that this care option is specifically for those individuals dealing with memory problems or other cognitive issues.

Ask yourself:

• Is your loved one struggling with safety issues? Such as wandering, becoming lost, not making sound choices? This can also include forgetting to turn off a stove, confusing night/day, locking keys inside a car and so on.
• Is their behavior changing? It’s important to pay attention to signs of agitation, decreased mobility, sudden weight loss or gain, medication errors, poor grooming habits and inappropriate social behaviors.
• Is your loved one depressed, or spending too much time alone? It might be time to consider the physical and mental stimulation they would receive in a memory care setting.

At its core, memory care strives to improve quality of life and help to maintain individuality and independence for as long as possible. A key component in doing that is through enrichment programs that support purposeful and active living. You can expect daily activities for your loved one that include sensory stimulation, cognitive therapies, physical and occupational therapies and exercise. Social engagement is also a focus, with activities which offer a balance of physical, cognitive and social engagement for residents to enjoy throughout their day.

Your memory care community can be a great source of support for you by partnering with you in your loved one’s care and helping you to better understand dementia’s effect on brain function and behavior. They may even have a support group hosted at the community.

Assisted living vs. memory care: make the choice that works for your loved one and your family 

Talking with your physician can be helpful as you and your family help your loved one take the next step toward a lifestyle of support, care, and fulfillment.

The Herrick House is a resort-like assisted living and memory care community located in a picturesque setting in Beverly, Massachusetts. Here, your loved one will receive personalized support with the highest level of professionalism and caring.

We invite you to learn more about our welcoming community and all that we have to offer. Download our free guide, Early Signs of Dementia, or contact us. We’d love to hear from you.