Transitions can be challenging, especially for elderly people with dementia. If dementia is getting worse in your loved one, it could be time to move from assisted living to memory care. Since there is no set rule for determining when to make a change, the choice can be challenging. Because a memory care community often charges more for its higher level of care, financial worries may also be on your mind.
It may be easy to decide on a senior care community that aids inhabitants in a smooth transfer. Families who are thinking about putting a loved one in a senior living facility should consider what might happen if the person eventually needs memory care.
Difference Between Memory Care and Assisted Living
Seniors with a wide range of needs and conditions are catered to in assisted living facilities. A memory care community is built entirely around the special requirements of those who have dementia. As a result, memory care is frequently far more extensive. Your senior loved one will spend their days with caregivers who are skilled at managing dementia and will make friends with other dementia sufferers.
Other characteristics that set memory care apart include:
Safety Is Emphasized:
Seniors with moderate to advanced dementia risk wandering or losing their capacity for critical thought. Memory care facilities are made to keep residents secure while limiting the loss of their independence as much as possible.
A More Proactive Approach To Engagement In Activities And Socialization:
Executive function and social skills are frequently lost in people with dementia. Most elderly residents of assisted living facilities are capable of running their own social lives. Those residing in memory care facilities may require assistance with socializing, making daily decisions, and maintaining their interpersonal interactions.
A High Sense Of Sensory Difficulties:
People with dementia may get overwhelmed by new sights and noises. They might also get a lot of comfort from sensory stimulation. Seniors at memory care facilities are kept active and engaged without making them feel threatened or overwhelmed.
A Team With Extensive Knowledge In Dementia:
Memory loss is not the only symptom of dementia. Making judgments, thinking rationally, and upholding relationships may become challenging. Mobility concerns and trouble grooming may result from it. People with experience in handling dementia sufferers know how to support elderly people who are struggling with these issues.
Bottom Line
Whether your loved one is content and living the life they deserve should be your primary consideration when deciding whether to move them into memory care. There can be a need for more care if they’re lonely or if their relationship is tense.