About 70% of adults in the United States will need long-term care as they get older. If you are looking for viable options for a loved one, you may be confused about the differences between the different types of facilities. These differences can be in the amenities provided, cost, staff and staff training, or levels of care. Because assisted living and memory care facilities are popular and growing in popularity, we will be focusing on the differences between the two.
Safety
Both assisted living and memory care facilities take security very seriously. In assisted living communities, many of the residents may not present any safety issues, so they typically have features like daily check-ins and emergency alert systems.
Security is a much more serious concern in memory care facilities. Some major concerns in these facilities include falls, aggression, and wandering, which can all put a resident in danger. There are also dementia behaviors that present safety concerns on their own.
Environmental security in memory care facilities is especially important and is a key consideration for those looking for one for their loved ones. Some environmental security features include keypad entries, locked exits and entrances, doorbells to signal entering and exiting, and obscured exits.
Staff Training
Staff at both memory care facilities and assisted living communities are skilled in helping residents with daily tasks. However, because of the greater needs of their residents, the staff at memory care facilities are trained and equipped to provide round-the-clock care and person-centered care.
Their training enables them to help seniors with dementia and other cognitive issues maintain a sense of self, quality of life, and cognitive skills. They also develop personalized care plans that are geared towards taking care of the individual needs of their residents.
If a loved one has difficult dementia behaviors such as aggression and wandering, the staff at memory care facilities are trained to deal with such issues.
To provide the highest level of care, many memory care facilities hire skilled nurses to care for their residents. By hiring nurses with the highest qualifications, Brentwood assisted living facilities ensure their residents receive the highest level of care.
Amenities
Both assisted living and memory care communities offer similar amenities. These can include barber shops and salons, transportation services, game rooms and libraries, gyms, outdoor spaces, and many others.
However, memory care facilities are also designed to help avoid confusion and to help their residents remain oriented. This is done through unique design features and friendly layouts.
Some of these features include color-coded walls to assist those with memory loss, open outdoor spaces to eliminate the feeling of being trapped, a lot more room personalization, and clearly marked common and personal areas.
Therapies and Activities
Assisted living facilities provide social opportunities to eliminate loneliness and encourage interactions. They also have planned activities for their residents. Memory care facilities, on the other hand, have tailored activities to help their residents feel comfortable, establish routines and help maintain cognitive skills. Assisted living and memory care communities have similarities and differences. Explore both, keeping your loved one in mind to see which community would be best for them.
