One of the most important considerations you will have to make is selecting a good care community for your loved ones. This is because your loved one’s quality of life as they deal with dementia and other aging-related difficulties is directly impacted by the community’s quality. A specialized memory care community or a general assisted living community is often the choice for many people.
You should make sure you fully grasp how regular assisted living and specialized memory care vary in order to make an informed decision.
Memory care communities offer specialist care for those with dementia, which is one of the key distinctions between these types of living arrangements. Contrarily, assisted living provides your loved ones with all-encompassing care and assistance. While memory care caters to a particular group, “Assisted Living” refers to a broad category of living communities. The majority of memory care communities have “Assisted Living” licenses but only provide care for those who have memory loss.
At first glance, assisted living and memory care appear to be the same thing. However, a close examination of their areas of expertise and roles reveals many distinctions between these various living communities. You will learn all the important information you need to know about assisted living vs. memory care in Elkton, FL from this article.
Different Types of Team Members’ Training
A memory care community’s personnel receives particular training in caring for dementia patients because of the nature of the community. In order to keep current on disease-related behaviors, communication strategies, and emphasizing residents’ strengths rather than shortcomings, memory care personnel also receive extra training.
Similar to a memory care center, assisted living employs caregivers who have received elder care training. However, they seldom possess the knowledge required to care for those who have dementia, particularly those with Alzheimer’s disease.
Environment and Housing Setup
Safety is a major concern in memory care communities due to the nature of dementia. Although assisted living communities provide fundamental security features like in-room emergency warning systems, they do not offer the additional safety measures required for individuals with dementia. Parents who are elderly and suffer from memory problems may feel insecure because of this.
Each Offers Its Own Specialized Activities
Residents in assisted living communities take part in various entertainment events, such as parties or social gatherings.
Memory care, on the other hand, promotes residents’ participation in music therapy and certain physical activities like gardening that support persons with dementia in being active, sociable, and a true member of the community.
Assisted Living Vs Memory Care Costs
Pricing may be a factor when deciding whether to place your parent in a conventional assisted living community or a memory care community. So how expensive is memory care compared to assisted living?
The average monthly cost of an assisted living community is around $4,300; however, this figure may change depending on the institution’s location and the services it offers. In many cases, a community in a big city is more expensive than one in a small town or out in the country.
Typically, assisted living communities offer a standard monthly price that includes live-in room and board, housekeeping, transportation to and from medical appointments, three meals per day for residents, and transportation to and from assisted living communities.
Compared to regular assisted living communities, memory care communities charge extra since they provide specialized care and improved services. The average monthly cost of a memory care community is roughly $5,200, although prices vary depending on location and range from $4,000 to $8,000 per month. The value of the services and care considerably beyond those of assisted living communities, despite the increased price.
