It can be difficult to choose between nursing homes or memory care as a long-term care option. This is why it’s crucial to understand the distinctions between nursing homes and memory care near North Palm Beach, FL, as well as the types of care they provide for residents and family members. Continue reading as we examine the variations between nursing homes and memory care.
What are Memory Care and Nursing Homes all about?
People with memory loss receive specialized care around-the-clock in memory care communities. To help prevent and eliminate challenging dementia behaviors, caregivers in memory care communities periodically get the proper care training.
Nursing homes, meanwhile, offer help and care to individuals who are disabled. Nursing home patients who are elderly but unable to care for themselves or live independently do not need hospital care.
What exactly distinguishes nursing homes from memory care, then? Here are just a few of the distinctions between nursing homes and memory care.
The Kind of Care Provided
Both nursing homes and memory care communities provide care for their elderly residents, but there are differences between the two. Compared to nursing homes, memory care typically offers a wider range of services, including memory-enhancing therapies that include many different options like art therapy, music therapy, pet therapy, aromatherapy, sensory stimulation, and light therapy.
Clearly defined public spaces, enclosed gardens or courtyards, memory boxes outside residents’ doors with personalized mementos, keypad entry for family or team members, and other innovative community layouts and architectural features are observed at memory care communities.
On the other hand, nursing homes, because of their short-term and long-term care options, primarily offer transportation to appointments, meal services, housekeeping and laundry services, social activities, medication management, assistance with daily living activities (ADLs), specialized care for patients with memory loss, round-the-clock care and supervision, secured entrances and exits to prevent wandering, and rehabilitation therapies as required.
Costs and Expenses
Although they are distinct, the operating costs of a nursing home and memory care are both significant. The average monthly cost for memory care is $5,430, but expenses might change based on the neighborhood and location in different states.
The price of nursing home care varies depending on your state and whether the institution is privately owned or not. A semi-private nursing home room in the United States costs on average $7,900 per month, while a private nursing home room costs on average $9,000 per month. As a result, nursing homes are often more expensive.
Activities Offered
The pursuit of enhancing residents’ quality of life is the goal of the activities in a memory care center. To help the residents maintain a regular schedule, we at Discovery Village At Palm Beach Garden offer social outings and supervised exercise.
On the other hand, fewer activities take place at nursing homes, primarily due to the residents’ poorer health. Those with better health are still encouraged to interact with one another. Additionally, occasionally there are board games, movie evenings, and small musical performances.
