ASSISTED LIVING VS. MEMORY CARE: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES?

Finding the right senior living facility for a loved one can be a stressful experience, especially if the loved one lives with a medical condition that makes it difficult to live independently. Assisted living and memory care facilities offer support for residents that live with a wide variety of health issues, including medical conditions in which a resident suffers from some form of cognitive impairment.

However, memory care facilities specialize in helping residents cope with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Caregivers trained to address the physical and psychological impacts of severe cognitive impairments provide around-the-clock services to ensure the highest quality of life for residents. Assisted living facilities in Portland, Oregon provide services that target specific lifestyle needs, such as grooming and household chores.

For many residents, it makes sense to live in an assisted living facility and as cognitive impairments develop, transition to amemory care facilityfor more intensive support. MorningStar at Laurelhurst is a senior living residence that provides both assisted living andmemory care services. Four criteria define the major differences between assisted living and memory care services.

Safety

Although both assisted living and memory care residents live in super-safe environments, memory care facilities place more emphasis on environmental security features. Assisted living communities offer security features such as daily check-ins and room emergency alert systems. On the other hand, a prototype memory care home has obscured exits, keypad-enabled entrances, and a doorbell system that alerts staff to people entering and exiting the building.

Caregiver Training

Caregivers at assisted living and memory care facilities should have undergone extensive training before assuming their roles. Memory care staff provides support 24 hours a day that helps residents maintain a quality of life while dealing with a rapid decline in cognitive skills. Caregivers at memory care facilities have mastered the skill of managing the most difficult dementia behaviors such as aggression and wandering.

Activities

Assisted living facilities plan activities for active seniors who need minor support with daily tasks. This means residents of assisted living facilities participate in more planned social events, such as cookouts, day trips, and guest speaker presentations. Memory care facilities offer group and individual activities that are specially created for seniors living with significant memory loss. The goal of the activities is to improve the cognitive skills of residents living with some form of dementia or stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

Cost

Many of the same factors determine the cost of an assisted living and a memory care facility, such as location, room size, and type of amenities. Assisted care facilities in Portland typically charge a monthly rate that covers room and board, weekly housekeeping, three daily meals, and transportation to and from healthcare appointments. The median monthly cost for a one-bedroom at an assisted living facility ran $4,500 in 2021, as opposed to a median monthly rate for a memory care facility room of $5,430. Memory care facilities offer specialized care and nursing services that make rooms more expensive.

MorningStar operates on the principle of “To honor, to serve, to invest.” Located in the greater Portland area, MorningStar at Laurelhurst offers resort-style amenities surrounded by beautiful natural attractions. We offer both assisted living and memory care services, which makes our facility ideal for residents that might have to transition to more intensive care and targeted services in a caring environment.