If you’re looking into senior living communities for one or both of your aging parents, or perhaps your spouse, you may find the terms used to describe different types of senior communities confusing — especially in the beginning.
When starting to compare senior living communities, one of the first things to consider is the level of care that’s most appropriate for your loved one. Older adults who can live independently, without assistance of any kind, often choose to move into an independent living community for the convenience and lifestyle it provides.
But if they are experiencing changes in cognition or struggling with daily activities, then moving to a community that offers higher levels of care could be the right choice.
If that’s the case, you’ll want to know more about the difference between assisted living and memory care.
WHAT IS MEMORY CARE VS. ASSISTED LIVING?
Although some senior communities offer assisted living with memory care, you’ll also find that some offer only one level of care or the other. Either way, there are distinct differences between memory care and assisted living.
The sections below should help to answer the question, “What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?”
Assisted Living
As the term implies, assisted living is for older adults who require assistance with routine activities — particularly with activities of daily living, or ADLs. Common ADLs include:
- Bathing or showering and other personal hygiene
- Getting dressed
- Walking or climbing stairs
- Preparing meals and eating
- Getting into or out of bed or a chair
Assisted living communities are a good option as well for seniors who need reminders to take their medication. Assisted living may also meet the current needs of those with mild cognitive impairment or those in the early stages of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease.
Many older adults find that moving to an assisted living community helps them feel more independent than they did living in their home. They have assistance when they need it, but they also have easy access to a variety of amenities and social activities right there in the community, as well as transportation to medical appointments and local venues.
Residents in assisted living communities can come and go as they please. Most communities provide emergency alert systems in the residences, as well as daily check-ins, so residents feel secure even when living alone.
Memory Care
Along with providing assisted living, memory care communities have specialized programs and activities for older adults who are in the more advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia.
These programs and activities are designed to help residents maintain a positive sense of self and preserve their cognitive abilities to the greatest extent possible. Some examples are music therapy, art therapy and sensory activities, all of which can stimulate different areas of the brain.
Memory care communities typically feature:
- Calming color palettes to help ease anxiety and frustration
- Interior designs and signage that make it easier for residents to find their way
- Extra security measures to prevent residents from wandering off-site
- An outdoor area where residents can get fresh air while staying secure
- A small staff-to-resident ratio so that residents receive a high level of personalized care
- Around-the-clock supervision and security
Although licensing requirements vary by state, the staff at a memory care community will usually have specialized training and experience in dementia care. In some states, the training requirements apply not only to caregivers, but also to administrators and, in some cases, to service staff.
This specialized training gives staff skills and strategies to address difficult behaviors effectively and with compassion, and provide a level of support that enhances residents’ quality of life.
COMMUNITIES WITH A MEMORY CARE ASSISTED LIVING COMBINATION
According to LongTermCare.gov, a person turning age 65 has nearly a 70% chance of needing some sort of long-term care services and support in their remaining years, whether it’s assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing care, in-home care or something else.
And, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease among seniors in the U.S. is expected to double by mid-century (from 6.1 million in 2020 to 12.7 million in 2050).
In light of these projections, you can see how the demand for both assisted living and memory care is likely to increase as more baby boomers enter their 70s and 80s.
For some communities, it makes sense to offer both levels of care. In such communities, the memory care unit may be on another floor, in a separate wing or in a different building.
The memory care unit will have its own core staff but may share certain staff members, such as fitness specialists and activity directors, with assisted living. The memory care unit will probably have its own dining area, too, because it’s common for people with advanced dementia to require substantial assistance with eating.
In most communities, memory care residences are smaller than assisted living residences, and they may not have a stove in the kitchen.
Generally, the amenities are available to all residents as long as there’s no safety risk.
Advantages to Living in a Combined Community
Residents who move into assistant living and later transition into memory care are likely to have an easier time making the move because they are staying in a community that’s familiar to them. They can continue to see their friends who are in assisted living and will see familiar faces among the staff, too.
Choosing a community that offers both memory care and assisted living can also be beneficial for couples when both people require at least some assistance with their daily routines. If one of them requires memory care, either at move-in or later on, the couple will (still) be in the same community, making it easier to spend time together.
THE COST OF ASSISTED LIVING VS. MEMORY CARE
Costs can vary significantly from one community to another, but in general, memory care is more expensive than assisted living because of the higher level of care required.
When comparing communities on the basis of cost, be sure to take into account how similar the amenities, services and programs are. The qualifications and experience of the staff are additional factors to consider.
ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE AT THE VERED
Residents at The Vered can expect to receive exceptional supportive care and impeccable service, whether they’re with us for assisted living or memory care.
Our apartment homes are larger than those in most senior communities offering supportive care, and while our elegant Art Deco-style interiors may evoke the glamour of old Hollywood, The Vered’s amenities are as modern as any you’ll find in the Los Angeles County area.
We invite you to learn more about The Vered and how much your loved one could enjoy living here. Our Discovery Center team is available for one-on-one appointments. To arrange yours, call 818.450.3120.