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The Differences Between Memory Care and Assisted Living

Making a big life change like moving to a senior living community can be exciting – but it can be overwhelming and a little stressful too. There are a lot of decisions that have to be made, and the terminology can be confusing if you’ve not had to deal with it before. If you or a loved one are moving because of a life change, such as needing assistance to live safely and independently or due to a progressive cognitive disease like Alzheimer’s, you may be weighing different types of senior living scenarios and wondering what’s best for your situation.

 

“One of the biggest questions we help answer for individuals beginning this journey is what’s the difference between assisted living and memory care?” says Nat Grim, Executive Director of Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee. “These two types of living situations have many similarities, but depending on what’s going on in your life and lifestyle, one option will more than likely be better for you than the other.”

If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with dementia, or you’ve simply been noticing that your memory isn’t quite what it used to be, you may be wondering whether or not it’s worth it to move into memory care. After all, at the moment, all you need is assisted living services – and you may not need much more than that, depending on what happens with your health.

Nat says that it’s important to not think of assisted living and memory care as an either/or situation. “There are benefits to moving to a memory care community even if you’re still incredibly capable and independent, just as there are benefits in moving to an assisted living community even if you’ve started to experience the effects of cognitive decline,” she says. “That’s why we call Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee a memory care assisted living community. We’re not one or the other thing – we’re a caring home that can flex our services and care to best meet you or your loved one where you are in your journey of aging.”

Still, she says, it’s important to know the difference between what memory care provides and what assisted living provides. Here’s a breakdown of the similarities and differences between the two care types.

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is used to describe a lifestyle for mostly independent seniors who require a certain level of assistance, such as medication management, transportation, getting dressed, bathing or that type of thing. Assisted living can be a great option if you feel like it’s becoming too difficult to navigate your home (for example, due to going up and down stairs) or if you simply no longer wish to deal with managing a household and want to be secure in a place where you can receive help if and when it’s needed. Assisted living communities range from large apartment buildings to residential-style neighborhoods with individual homes. Assisted living residents live in their own private space but share certain areas of the community, such as a dining room, common areas, a fitness center and others. Some places include maintenance-free living with housekeeping and laundry.

What Is Memory Care?

Memory care communities are designed to meet the unique, specific needs of individuals who are living with a neurocognitive disease such as dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. If a resident is in the very early stages of the disease, the care may not differ much from what they would receive in assisted living. However, since dementia is a progressive disease, memory care communities are equipped to handle the changes and ensure safety, happiness and life enrichment to all residents, no matter what stage of the disease they are in. Memory care communities are designed to help reduce confusion and ensure safety, with easy-to-navigate hallways, secure entrances and exits, activity areas to help stimulate residents’ memories and encourage interaction and 24/7 staff that have been professionally trained in the latest dementia care best practices.

What Are the Similarities Between Memory Care and Assisted Living?

In both assisted living and memory care communities, residents are given the care they need in order to live as safely and independently as possible. Assisted living services are a major part of memory care, but memory care is generally not a part of regular assisted living services. There are many communities that offer both assisted living and memory care services, which are often housed in separate areas of the community. Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee is unique in that our community is set up to provide assisted living services that can segue into full-on memory care.

What Are the Differences?

Assisted living is given with the philosophy of assisting individuals as needed, without an expectation or need for consistent care. Memory care, on the other hand, is for individuals who need constant supervision and care in order to live safely. There is less of a focus on independence in memory care, although providing opportunities for autonomy and accomplishment are incredibly important. Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee chooses to take the approach that there always remain opportunities to create meaningful moments, celebrate existing abilities and make memories, and part of that means allowing our memory care residents a secure environment that allows them to experience independence in their own way.

Which Option Is Right for You or a Loved One?

If you or a loved one simply require a little extra help in order to live safely, assisted living is generally the best option. However, if you know that cognitive diseases run in your family, or if you have been diagnosed as having memory issues or are in the early stages of dementia, you may wish to consider a memory care assisted living community such as Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee.

Nat says that she’s spoken to many residents and families who wish they’d moved to Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee sooner – even before they “needed” the care. “By moving to a community before you really need the help, you’re more able to make a life, feel comfortable, make friends and become part of the family before care is really required,” she says. “This means both peace of mind and comfort, because you know that no matter how your needs will shift in the future, you will always be able to stay in the place that you have come to know as home.”

For more information please contact us on our website.

Peace of Mind for Cape Cod Seniors and Their Families

Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee provides assisted living memory care that is comfortable, positive, safe and engaging. Exclusively dedicated to caring for those with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia or memory impairment, we’ve created a wellness-focused lifestyle that promotes dignity and individual preferences. Our memory care professionals receive specialized and ongoing training designed to help residents maximize their independence in a secure, calm environment – making a truly positive impact on the lives of our residents each and every day.

Age in Place

While many memory care assisted living communities are unable to care for those whose memory loss has progressed, Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee can continue to provide a home and care no matter the stage. Our age in place philosophy helps residents avoid the stress often associated with moving to another community and offers peace of mind to their families. Perhaps the best benefit, your loved one remains in the care of those they’ve grown to know and trust.

Supportive, Engaging Services 

At Bridges® by EPOCH at Mashpee, we offer a program of care and services that celebrates life and supports individual strengths. Our compassionate and engaging approach adapts to the unique challenges and individuality of each resident. No matter what stage of memory loss a resident may be experiencing, families can be sure their loved one will receive a full array of services and a high level of personalized attention.

Contact us today to learn more.

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