Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: Making the Best Choice for Seniors

Choosing between assisted living vs memory care for seniors depends on their specific needs and circumstances. How do you know what type of senior living community is best for your loved one? Here’s some general guidance for family members making difficult decisions regarding senior living options. 

Assisted Living vs Memory Care 

Assisted living is suitable for seniors needing help with daily activities but not intensive medical care.

Memory care is designed for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia, providing personalized care, a secure environment, cognitive therapies, and higher levels of medical support tailored to individuals with memory impairments.

Key factors to consider when choosing between assisted living and memory care include the severity of cognitive decline, behavioral changes, reduced physical health, and increased safety concerns. Memory care is recommended for those with severe memory loss, confusion, significant behavioral changes, neglect of personal hygiene, or safety issues.

Assisted Living Communities

An assisted living community is for seniors who need some assistance with daily activities but do not require intensive medical care. Here are the kinds of services you may receive from assisted living facilities:

• Personal Care: Assistance with personal care activities such as bathing, dressing, and grooming
• Medical Support: Basic medical monitoring and medication management
• Social Activities: A variety of social and recreational activities and wellness programs
• Meals: Three meals are provided, often with options to meet dietary preferences
• Housekeeping: Regular housekeeping and laundry services
• Transportation: Scheduled transportation for medical appointments and errands

Seniors living in independent living communities are relatively independent but may prefer a community environment for social interaction and support with daily tasks.

Memory Care Communities

Seniors diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia need a higher level of supervision and care. A memory care facility (or dementia care facility) provides staff members trained in offering specialized care for those with memory impairments. Here are the kinds of ADDITIONAL services you might expect from a memory care unit:

• Specialized Care: Personalized service plan for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia
• Secure Environment: Enhanced security measures to ensure the safety of residents prone to wandering
• Cognitive Therapies: Programs and activities designed to stimulate memory and cognitive function
• Personal Care: Assistance with daily activities focusing on the unique needs of those with memory loss
• Medical Support: Higher level of medical care, including monitoring for health changes related to dementia

Those who exhibit memory loss, confusion, or other cognitive impairments that affect their daily living might be best suited for memory care units.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between an Assisted Living Community and Memory Care Unit

How do you know if your loved one’s cognitive decline is severe enough to require specialized support? Here are some thoughts to consider when choosing between these two senior living options. 

Cognitive decline

Is your loved one experiencing severe memory loss, including frequently forgetting recent events, appointments, or important information? Are they experiencing increased confusion about time, place, and familiar faces? Are they increasingly getting lost in familiar places or wandering? Answering yes to these questions may mean that memory care is the best senior living option for your loved one. 

Behavioral changes

If you are noticing behavior changes in mood, such as increased anxiety, agitation, or depression, or significant shifts in personality or behavior that are out of character, your loved one may be showing early-stage dementia. You may notice your loved one developing irrational suspicions or paranoia towards others.

Reduced physical health

Reduced physical health can manifest itself in a variety of ways. You may notice your loved one neglecting their personal hygiene. You may notice unexplained weight loss due to forgetting to eat or the inability to prepare meals. Some of the health issues may be due to mismanaging medications. 

Increased safety concerns

You may be concerned about your loved one’s inability to maintain a safe living environment, such as leaving the stove on or not locking doors. You may notice frequent falls or injuries due to unawareness of surroundings, unsafe driving behavior, or getting lost while driving.

If you observe these signs in your loved one, it may be time to consider memory care facilities. Mira Vie will assess your loved one to help determine the best course of action. Contact us today to schedule a consultation so you can make an informed decision.