There are tons of senior living facilities out there, so it helps to understand the key differences between the features and care types for each one. Once you understand what separates assisted living and memory care facilities, you'll be able to make the right decision for your loved one's care needs.
What's The Difference Between Memory Care and Assisted Living Near Decatur, Illinois
These senior living options are both forms of long-term care for seniors. However, they differ mainly in terms of their resident populations and the overall purpose of the facilities.
As the name implies, assisted living facilities provide assistance with activities of daily life (ADLs) such as eating, bathing, dressing, grooming, medication management, and so on. These facilities aim to make daily life easier for their senior residents however they can. They also offer socialization opportunities and housekeeping services.
On the other hand, memory care facilities focus on providing care for seniors who suffer from memory loss, Alzheimer's disease, or other forms of dementia. These facilities usually provide 24/7 supervision and specialized care services for residents, along with ADL care and social activities.
That said, these types of facilities differ in many other ways.
Resident Security
Both assisted living and memory care communities prioritize the safety of their residents. That means both types of facilities will have safety features like handicap-accessible bathrooms and in-room call systems. However, memory care residences will place greater emphasis on facility security.
This is because seniors with dementia are prone to some potentially dangerous behaviors (NHS). These troubling symptoms of dementia may include:
- Wandering behaviors
- Sleep disturbances
- Aggression
- Delusions and hallucinations
To keep those seniors with dementia safe, memory care residences will have additional security features in place. For instance, at The Creeks, we have monitored exits and staff on-site 24/7 to always keep a watchful eye on our residents.
Staff Members
The training of staff members can vary from assisted living to memory care. Both types of facilities will employ Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). However, memory care communities will employ Certified Care Partners who are trained to provide more person-centered care specifically geared towards seniors with memory loss.
That means memory care residents receive more personalized one-on-one attention throughout the day. They'll work diligently to prevent and manage difficult dementia behaviors, like aggression or sundown syndrome.
Memory care facilities also tend to have a higher staff-to-patient ratio. At The Creeks, for instance, we maintain a 1:5 staff to resident ratio 24/7.
Activities and Therapies
In both types of communities, you'll find seniors enjoying plenty of planned activities. From board games to communal outings, seniors in assisted living or memory care will stay active each day.
That said, the activities at memory care communities help maintain and improve the cognitive skills of residents. In addition to the aforementioned activities, seniors at memory support homes will participate in activities like:
- Music therapy - To promote reduce agitation
- Pet therapy - For companionship
- Art therapy - To help slow cognitive declines
- Aromatherapy - To reduce sundowning behaviors
- And other similar therapies
How We Merge Memory Care And Assisted Living Near Decatur, IL
We've actually got a foot in both camps at The Creeks. While we function primarily as a memory care community, we have structured our communities to blend memory care services with assisted living. This way we can ensure our residents with Alzheimer's disease or dementia receive the ideal level of care that they need.
If your loved one is experiencing dementia and needs assistance with daily living activities, you've come to the right place!
Contact The Creeks today to schedule your tour and see our approach to memory care and assisted living near Decatur, Illinois.