Assisted Living vs. Memory Care: Which Option is Right for You?

Of the roughly 800,000 seniors living in assisted living communities across the nation, an estimated 42% have Alzheimer's or dementia. Does that mean that general assisted living is the right choice for people with serious memory impairments?

If you're looking for the right community for your loved one, it's important to understand the differences between assisted living vs. memory care. Many communities, like Addington Place of Muscatine, offer both, but there are several key distinctions.

Read on to learn about the difference between senior care options to decide which one is right for the senior in your life.

Assisted Living: The Basics

Generally speaking, assisted living is ideal for seniors who can still enjoy a great deal of independence, but would benefit from as-needed aid. Let's talk about what residents can expect from assisted living communities like Addington Place of Muscatine.

General Care

In assisted living, residents can receive general care that meets their basic daily needs. This is called assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), which may include:

• Bathing
• Dressing
• Getting in and out of bed
• Cooking
• Eating
• Cleaning
• Using the restroom
• Ambulating

By stepping in to help with ADLs on an as-needed basis, trained staff members can help residents maintain as much independence as possible without compromising safety.

Resident Activities

Even seniors who do not yet need assistance with ADLs can enjoy the benefits of assisted living services. In robust communities, staff members work hard to facilitate a wide variety of social and recreational activities. These may include:

• Game nights
• Movie or TV watch parties
• Wellness and exercise classes
• Educational classes and guest lectures
• Arts and crafts lessons

Residents are also free to use any recreational spaces on campus, like seating areas, dining rooms, and patios. Many of them use these spaces to host club meetings or share impromptu social gatherings.

Living Arrangements

Assisted living costs include the cost of housing. Many communities offer private living quarters for residents with a few different floor plans to choose from. This can range from studio-style apartments to one-bedroom apartments.

In the assisted living wings of the community, private living quarters may include a kitchenette with a sink, range, and fridge. This is ideal for seniors who maintain the independence to cook some or all meals at home.

Staff Roles

Staff in an assisted living community play a major role in the day-to-day lives of residents. As we mentioned already, they assist with ADLs and plan community activities. They may also provide basic healthcare support such as medication management and transportation.

Assisted living staff members may not have specialized dementia training. However, they may communicate early signs of dementia to family members to help with future decision-making.

Memory Care: The Basics

As the name suggests, memory care is designed for seniors with serious cognitive impairments that impact their memories. Here are some of the basic elements of memory care that you'll find at Addington Place of Muscatine.

Specialized Care

Seniors with cognitive impairments like dementia often benefit from assistance with ADLs. They can receive this type of care in a memory care community, where they will also receive specialized care.

Dementia and other memory disorders can cause emotional and psychological issues. For example, seniors with dementia may grow agitated when they don't know where they are. In memory care, residents receive 24/7 compassionate care that can address these issues.

Resident Activities

Memory care residents can enjoy activities designed to benefit and enrich their lives. These activities may reduce stress and support cognitive functioning. Unlike assisted living activities, they often involve more staff oversight, direction, and targeted memory care benefits.

For example, research shows that creative art therapy can benefit those living with dementia. Guided creative therapy sessions keep patients rooted in the moment and give them tools to communicate with their caregivers.

Secure Living

Because memory disorders can cause residents to forget where they are, security is an important feature of memory care. Residents can still enjoy private quarters but with enhanced safety and security measures.

For example, features like door alarms can alert staff members when a resident has left a secure area. This enables quick intervention without sacrificing the dignity of the resident.

Staff Roles

As we mentioned earlier, staff members working in memory care facilities may receive specialized training. This allows them to address specific situations that may arise with cognitively impaired residents.

These staff members help to provide essential continuity of care for their residents. They can communicate significant changes to family members and doctors. This allows for faster and more streamlined improvements in a resident's healthcare plan.

Choosing Between Assisted Living vs. Memory Care

There's a big difference between mild forgetfulness that comes with aging and concerning levels of memory loss. Seniors who occasionally misplace an important item or can't find a word don't necessarily need memory care.

What about seniors who often lose track of where they are, who they're talking to, or the date? Is memory loss beginning to impede daily functioning and threaten safety?

If so, it's time to start considering memory care. Remember, while mild forgetfulness can come with age, significant memory loss is not a "normal" part of aging.

With communities like Addington Place of Muscatine, you don't have to worry about a major relocation in your loved one's future. With an on-site memory care wing, we are making it simple for residents to seek increasing levels of care as needed.

Addington Place of Muscatine: Tiered Living for Transitional Care

If you're considering senior care for your loved one, it's important to understand your options. This guide touches on some of the biggest differences between assisted living vs. memory care. The best way to find out more is to schedule a tour or consultation with a community near you.

At Addington Place of Muscatine, we strive to create a community where seniors of all abilities can thrive. Our tiered care model allows our staff members to provide the services and amenities that are most appropriate for each of our residents. Contact us to schedule a tour or learn more.