Assisted living care and memory care both provide support for seniors who need assistance throughout the day, but there are major differences between them. Read on to explore how assisted living and memory care communities vary.
Both assisted living and memory care communities prioritize safety, but they do so in different ways. Assisted living neighborhoods often feature handrails, grab bars and other safety features that reduce the risk of falls and allow people with mobility concerns to navigate the hallways and common areas easily.
You’ll also find fall prevention features in memory care communities, as well as additional security measures designed to discourage wandering. Outer doors typically lock with keys or numeric keypads, or they may be hidden from sight. Communities may be more compact to create a layout that reduces the risk of residents getting lost or disoriented when moving independently from one place to another.
Residents of both assisted living and memory care communities benefit from ongoing support from staff. Both types of senior living communities usually develop individualized plans of care to ensure each resident gets the assistance they need. However, the types of support provided differ.
In an assisted living community, staff is available to help 24-7. They can assist with daily living tasks, medication management, managing chronic medical conditions and responding to medical emergencies. While they’re always close by, staff doesn’t usually supervise residents closely throughout the day. Instead, they provide assistance according to the care plan and upon request. As a result, seniors remain as independent as possible.
Residents of memory care communities also benefit from help with daily living tasks and the management of medications and medical conditions, but staff tends to provide closer supervision. Because some residents may have difficulty communicating their needs, the staff takes a proactive approach when determining when to offer assistance. There's still an emphasis on allowing residents to maintain as much independence as possible, but seniors living in a memory care community are likely to need more assistance throughout the day.
Dedicated staff members provide care in both assisted living and memory care communities, but you can expect some differences in staffing between the two. For one thing, memory care communities typically have a lower staff-to-resident ratio to ensure every senior gets the extra attention they need throughout the day.
Training also varies. Often, staff at memory care communities receive training specifically in Alzheimer’s and dementia, so they’re familiar with best practices for responding to symptoms such as aggression, confusion and wandering.
Because they cater to seniors with different needs, memory care and assisted living communities may offer different types of services and amenities. Older adults in assisted living communities may have access to on-site libraries, salons, gyms, hiking trails and computer centers. Memory care communities are more likely to have activity rooms and TV rooms for residents and to feature decor designed to connect residents to their communities, such as memory boxes featuring personal mementos.
Whether living in an assisted living or a memory care community, seniors have access to a variety of activities to enjoy throughout the day. In assisted living neighborhoods, activities often include things like cooking and art classes, group exercise programs and special events and outings.
In memory care communities, activities often have a therapeutic component. For example, residents may participate in art therapy, music therapy, movement therapy or pet therapy. Also, memory care communities are more likely to have a set daily schedule to help seniors with memory issues transition from activity to activity more seamlessly.
Assisted living communities can be a good option for any senior who needs a helping hand to maintain their quality of life but doesn’t need the intensive medical support provided by a skilled nursing facility. If you or your loved one needs assistance tracking daily medications or performing one or more daily living tasks, consider an assisted living community.
Memory care communities are a good fit for older adults experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia who don’t have other significant health issues that require skilled nursing care. Because these conditions are progressive, memory care communities typically update plans of care on a regular basis to ensure residents get the right level of support as their symptoms evolve.
Whether you’re exploring senior living options for yourself or your loved one, our team here at Bethesda Gardens Thornton senior living community is eager to help you make the right decision. Schedule a visit to see the differences between assisted living and memory care for yourself, or contact us for answers to your questions about senior living.
