As we age, concerns about living arrangements and appropriate care seem inevitable. Retirement communities are a great way for you or your loved one to have your needs met while having a social support system and activities to make the most of your retirement. However, choosing a retirement community can be difficult. Even with all of the information available on the internet, there still is a lot of confusion about which type of retirement community one should choose, depending on your needs. Read on to find out about the differences between assisted living and memory care in Pearland, TX.
To understand the difference between an assisted living community and a memory care community, we first need to understand their key features.
Assisted Living
Assisted Living communities are focused on helping and encouraging residents to maintain their independence but also assisting them where needed in daily living. For example, our Assisted Living provides three gourmet meals a day, prepared straight from our kitchen, housekeeping and maintenance, and fulfills other needs that you or your loved one may have. If you or your loved one is experiencing only mild to moderate memory impairment or are still capable and want to live independently, meaning that you can do most of your daily tasks independently, assisted living is a great option. However, assisted living is not recommended for those who require 24/7 care and supervision. In our Assisted Living, we also offer medication management as well as activities for our residents to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.
Memory Care
Memory Care communities are typically set up to mimic a warm family-like setting where socialization, familiar routines, and stimulating activities catered specifically to their needs are used to help care for your loved one. Residents are privy to round-the-clock care by our team of professionals, trained especially to tend to the needs of those with advanced memory loss. Residents will also benefit from more attention from team members as there is a proportionate ratio of team members to residents.
The Similarities and Differences Between Assisted Living and Memory Care
While there are many overlaps between assisted living and memory care, like help with medication, physical therapy, and offering social activities and programs, assisted living is geared toward helping retirees with adult daily living needs while memory care focuses on working with residents with memory loss. The team members of memory care are trained specifically to understand and tend to the mental behaviors and emotional needs of those with dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Another difference is that in memory care, there are secure, monitored entrances to prevent residents from wandering and help keep them safe. Assisted living residents, on the other hand, are able to move around freely as long as they are capable of doing so safely.
Lastly, when it comes to cost, memory care costs more than assisted living due to the extra supervision and training needed for staff members as well as the programs and safeguards provided.
