Selecting a care facility for an aging loved one often involves making a difficult decision. The degree of care, facilities, staff training, and expense of senior living varies substantially from one facility to another. According to the NIC, senior housing occupancy increased in the third quarter of 2021 to 80.1%. Thus, before selecting a facility, it’s essential to analyze the traits of both the individual and the community to ensure that you make the appropriate choice. The following is an overview of the two major senior living options (assisted living and memory care) to help in selecting the right facility for senior loved ones.
Assisted Living Facilities
In a home-like atmosphere, assisted living provides elders assistance with daily living, privacy, companionship, freedom, and security. Apartment-style living with cleaning and maintenance services, common areas, shared meals, and activities are available in many assisted-living homes. Residents can care for themselves, although they may need assistance with medicine, bathing, dressing, grooming, or walking. If you or a loved one is having difficulty with any of these activities, assisted living facilities have experienced caregivers who can offer the assistance a senior requires.
One of the most significant advantages of assisted living is the opportunity for seniors to socialize. Musical entertainment, gaming evenings, films and historical lectures, art workshops, fitness, holiday celebrations, and faith-based events are common activities in these kinds of communities.
Memory Care Facilities
Many similarities exist between assisted living and memory care homes, such as apartment-style living, common rooms, and shared meals. Nevertheless, memory care is a more specialized kind of assisted living that caters to the requirements of persons with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementia. Additional safety elements are included in communities to ensure that people with memory problems are cared for in a safe setting. Memory care also assists with everyday routines. Memory care facilities have professionally trained employees who understand the difficulties and frustrations that persons with dementia face. They have skills and tactics for dealing with problematic behaviors and assisting residents in leading meaningful lives.
Memory care facilities also provide enrichment activities, although they are more therapeutic. Music therapy, for example, may be offered in tandem with musical entertainment because music has been demonstrated to activate memories and improve communication in persons with dementia.
Making a Decision
The choice between assisted living and memory care ultimately depends on the needs of a senior. For seniors with Alzheimer’s or memory impairment, a facility offering assisted living and memory care is ideal. If you seek such a facility, reach out to VIA Elegante Assisted Living today to sign up for your aging loved one.
