Making the decision to move a loved one into a community where they can receive a higher level of care isn’t easy, whether you’re considering the options for a parent, a spouse or another beloved family member. What can make it even more challenging are the many choices of senior communities.
Some communities provide only certain types of care, whereas others offer the full continuum, from independent living to skilled nursing and hospice care. Which type of community will be most appropriate for your loved one depends on several factors that are unique to them.
By understanding how senior communities differ — as well as the benefits of assisted living and memory care — and then thoroughly exploring the available options, you’ll be able to make your decision with confidence.
An Overview of Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care
For those who are only beginning to look into senior living communities, the terminology can seem confusing. The best place to start is with a grasp of how the basic types of care differ.
- Independent living is for older adults who can live on their own without risking their health or safety, or that of others. While they may have health issues that are controlled through lifestyle or medication, they don’t need any assistance with their normal routine. Seniors who move into an independent living community often do so for the social opportunities and the convenience of having someone else maintain their home.
- Assisted living benefits individuals who, for the most part, can manage their usual routine but may need a helping hand at times. For instance, they might have physical limitations that necessitate help with grooming or getting dressed. They may have difficulty getting up from a seated position or navigating their surroundings because of limited mobility. Maybe they no longer drive and rely on others for transportation to medical appointments, or they might need reminders to take their medicine.
- Memory care is for those who are experiencing cognitive impairment to the extent that it could place their health or safety at risk (or risk the health and safety of others around them). Typically, but not always, the cognitive impairment is associated with a form of dementia, such as Alzheimer’s disease. In such cases, as the dementia progresses, the specialized care provided in a memory care setting can help the individual and their family members maintain a quality of life that wouldn’t be possible if the individual were still living at home. Memory care facility features and amenities vary considerably from one community to another.
Assisted Living Pros and Cons
For many older adults, being in an assisted living environment can be even more of a boon than they would have imagined. Still, it may not be the right environment for certain individuals.
Most assisted living communities offer:
- Adapted activities and classes so that residents with varying degrees of physical skill can participate.
- Three nutritious meals every day, along with snacks, to ensure residents have easy access to a balanced, healthful diet. Many can accommodate special diets.
- Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing and getting dressed.
- Medication management, including reminders to take prescribed medications.
- Safety features in residents’ living spaces, such as grab bars, raised toilets, shower seats and emergency call buttons.
- A variety of safe, engaging activities that encourage residents to stay active physically, mentally and socially.
- Trained staff members ready to help around the clock.
In general, assisted living communities do not:
- Support individuals with dementia, though some can support older adults with mild cognitive decline.
- Offer fully equipped kitchens in residents’ homes; most provide refrigerators and microwaves but not stoves, for safety.
- Administer medications, assist with injections or dialysis, or provide wound care.
- Provide skilled nursing, though that level of care may be available elsewhere in the community.
- Assist with feeding or transferring from bed to wheelchair — this level of care usually requires skilled or long-term nursing care.
What Do Memory Care Facilities Provide?
As noted earlier, memory care programs, services and amenities can be quite different from one memory care community to the next. Those that provide top-quality care will offer:
- A safe, secure environment that feels welcoming and has a calming effect to avoid over-stimulation. This should include outside spaces where residents can get fresh air and sunshine without the risk of wandering.
- Staff that has received thorough training in best practices for dementia care.
- Coordinated, person-centered care plans tailored to each resident.
- Dining options that address the nutritional needs of older adults.
- Programs designed to give residents a sense of purpose, helping them enjoy the best possible quality of life through social interactions and physical activity.
- The option for residents to be around others or by themselves, if and when they prefer.
- Support for family members, as well as opportunities for family to participate in activities and be involved in care planning.
The Best of Both: Assisted Living and Memory Care
Many senior living communities that started out decades ago as continuing care retirement communities now also offer memory care. However, they don’t necessarily provide all of the benefits of memory care you’ll find in a stand-alone memory care facility. A community like The Seville offers both assisted living and the benefit of specially designed memory care residences, common areas and programs for older adults living with dementia.
Senior living communities that offer independent living in addition to assisted living and memory care are likely to have at least several hundred residents. People who have dementia may find it unsettling to be part of such a large community, even though they would spend the majority of their time in an area dedicated solely to memory care.
It’s easy to see how someone with dementia would feel more comfortable in a living environment that feels like home (rather than a facility or an institution). That’s true of virtually anyone, but sometimes even more so with someone who has memory issues. Plus, in a smaller community like The Seville, the staff-to-resident ratio is more conducive to building caring, trusting relationships between staff members and residents.
A smaller community like ours that offers both assisted living and memory care also has advantages over stand-alone memory care facilities. Oftentimes, it’s beneficial for people living with dementia — particularly those in the earlier stages — to be able to participate in group activities with other older adults who do not have dementia.
In the case of an older couple where only one of them has dementia but the other could benefit from assisted living, a community like ours gives them the opportunity to stay together and still have their needs met.
There are additional advantages of living in a smaller community like The Seville that offers both assisted living and memory care. For example, the staff is attuned to, and will notice, early signs of cognitive decline in assisted living residents — signs that could warrant a physician consultation. And if an eventual move from assisted living to memory care is necessary, the move can be within the same community, where everything is familiar, including the staff.
Can We Help You With Your Decision?
When it comes to deciding if and when to move a loved one into assisted living or memory care, no two situations are alike. If possible, it’s a matter that calls for careful consideration by all family members who will be affected.
We are here to answer your questions not only about The Seville, but also about assisted living and memory care in general. The more informed you are, the better able you will be to make the best decision.
If we can help, call us at 949.236.6135 or connect with us here on our website.
