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What’s the difference between assisted living and memory care?

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Assisted Living & Memory care What's the difference, anyway?

When older loved ones are struggling to live safely and manage typical activities of daily living at home, long-term care is a great solution. The challenge is finding the right home, especially if your elderly parent or spouse is experiencing memory problems.

It’s important to really look at the support needs and challenges the person you’re supporting is facing at this point and to try to look honestly at what’s working and what’s not. A good assisted living or memory care director will guide you through this process during an introductory meeting.

Here is information about two common senior living types—assisting living and memory care—and how to determine the best option for your elderly loved one.

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Memory care is specifically for those with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.

Memory care facilities are specifically designed to accommodate seniors with dementia and other memory-related problems. Memory care is not a diagnosis but rather a place where people with Alzheimer’s, stroke, or other forms of dementia can live safely and comfortably while receiving specialized attention and care tailored to their particular needs.

Memory loss can take many forms, including:

  • Short-term memory loss that impacts daily life such as forgetting where you put your keys or phone.

  • Long-term confusion about current events or past memories that leave loved ones unable to communicate effectively. In some cases, people may forget things from long ago but still be able to tell stories about what happened in the past; this is one sign of early stages of Alzheimer’s disease or related disorders like vascular dementia.

Assisted living is for seniors who need help with daily tasks like eating, bathing, and dressing.

Assisted living is for seniors who need help with daily tasks like eating, bathing, and dressing. If your parent is struggling with these activities and is no longer able to live at home alone or with minimal assistance from a family member or friend, it’s time to think about moving them into assisted living. Assisted living facilities offer a wide range of services in addition to providing 24/7 care for residents. These services can include medication management, meal preparation, housekeeping services and transportation to doctor appointments or other community events.

Assisted living has also become a popular choice for families who desire more freedom when it comes to visiting their loved one on the weekend but still want them close by during the week when they’re working full-time jobs or have other obligations outside of taking care of their parents all day long (which nobody wants).

Memory care is a secure environment that prevents seniors from wandering out of the facility.

Memory care is a secure environment that prevents seniors with dementia from wandering. Safety and security are of utmost importance when looking for memory care, and this type of program ensures that the community will be safe at all times. The best way to keep people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia safe is by providing them with an environment where they can feel comfortable and happy while also being protected against getting lost.

If your family member has Alzheimer’s disease, he or she may wander away from your house or facility because they have trouble seeing things clearly due to memory loss. This can lead to many different problems such as getting lost in public places like shopping malls or grocery stores because it’s hard for these individuals to understand how things work anymore (remember how I mentioned earlier about their short term memory loss?). They might also get confused about where certain objects belong—they may put something in the wrong place like putting their keys on top of their toilet paper roll! It’s important that caregivers take precautions so this doesn’t happen again; otherwise there could be serious consequences such as someone becoming dehydrated because they didn’t know how much water they drank before bedtime!

There are special programs designed to help people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia develop new skills.

You can also find programs that are specifically designed to help seniors with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia develop new skills, including the ability to communicate effectively. These programs will provide instruction on how to use assistive technology devices such as iPads or special software that allows the person with dementia to speak through text messaging and still be understood by others. This is especially beneficial for those who have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, which is common among people who suffer from memory loss.

Programs like these are available at many assisted living facilities around the country, but they’re especially useful if you’re considering moving into a memory care community specifically because your loved one has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of cognitive impairment (such as multi-infarct dementia). In these communities, there are often caregivers on staff 24/7 so that they can step in if something unexpected occurs during the night—for example, someone having an episode where he thinks he needs help getting out of bed when really he just needs some water or perhaps a change in position.

It’s important to get a clear understanding of what your loved one needs before choosing a facility.

When it comes to selecting the right care for your loved one, it’s important not to rush into any decision. Don’t just choose a facility based on price or location; do your research.

While there are many factors that contribute to making an informed decision, we recommend you keep a few things in mind:

  • The type of care needed (assisted living vs memory care)

  • The number of beds available with each type of care

  • The level of supervision provided by staff at each facility

  • The proximity of other medical facilities and services (hospitals, pharmacies etc.)

Different types of senior care are available for people at different stages of their lives.

As baby boomers age, the need for senior care is growing rapidly. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), one out of every five Americans is now over the age of 65. More than half of this population—50.5%—is above 75 years old. And here in Clearwater, Fl, we have the oldest population in Florida. With a median age of 43.8 years, Clearwater has the oldest population of any large city in Florida, which has the highest density of elderly people in the country besides Maine.

As a result, many older adults are living longer than ever before; some may need help with daily tasks like eating, dressing and bathing that they used to handle on their own. Others may have more serious medical issues requiring constant attention or medication management in order to stay healthy and safe at home or in their own apartments or condos while they still have some independence left—but not enough mobility or cognitive function to live independently without assistance from caregivers who watch over them 24/7 throughout their days (or nights).

Some seniors can request assisted living services when they feel like it’s time for them to move into a lower-maintenance environment where all services are provided by professionals including meals service; housekeeping; transportation services such as getting groceries from grocery store(s) nearby–and even fun activities like dancing lessons! In these cases it means less work for family members who want nothing more than peace and quiet themselves 🙂

Conclusion

Both memory care and assisted living are viable care options for your loved one. However, for people with beginning stages of dementia, an assisted living home with a memory care community already established is better positioned to give them the long-term care and support they need to improve and maintain their quality of life. Come visit us in Clearwater, Florida and let us know how we can help your parent or spouse.

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7 signs your parent might be ready for assisted living

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Lantern Senior Care 7 Signs your parent might be ready for assisted living

As a family caregiver, you might have noticed some signs that your parent is no longer able to care for themselves. While it may be difficult to accept the fact that your parent can’t live independently anymore, it’s important to know what is happening and why. Caring for an elderly loved one can take its toll on both you and them. If you notice any of these seven signs, contact us at Lantern Senior Care for information and assistance:

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You find yourself constantly worrying

  • Your parent’s health is failing, and they no longer have the strength or energy to care for themselves. They’re confused, forgetful and stressed about losing their independence.

  • Your parent is living in unsafe conditions — the stove is on, the front door unlocked, or there are bottles of pills lying around where anyone could get them.

  • Your parent is in pain and needs help managing that pain — whether it’s physical or emotional (e.g., from dementia).

  • Your parent is depressed — feeling hopeless about their future, lonely and isolated from others who care about them (e.g., family members).

Your parent needs assistance with the basics.

Your parent needs assistance with the basics. Your parent may need help with dressing, bathing, eating and toileting. If so, he or she is ready for assisted living.

If he or she is unable to walk without a walker or wheelchair and has difficulty getting in and out of bed and chairs on their own, it’s time to start looking at resources that can offer more care than you are able to provide at home. If your loved one has been falling down frequently without apparent cause—for example, after climbing stairs or standing up from a sitting position—that’s another sign they might need more support than you can provide (or want) in your home environment.

Your parent needs help managing money matters like paying bills or managing income if they have not been able to do so themselves for some time now (in other words: paying bills late). This is another area where an aging adult may need assistance either due to physical limitations preventing them from doing what was once very easy on their own but now requires additional assistance such as filling out forms by hand instead of using electronic devices such as computers/laptops which were once commonplace but are now beginning their journey into obsolescence due largely in part because younger generations aren’t familiar with how these tools work anymore so there’s no one left who knows how!).

Your parent has become less interested in life.

If you notice that your parent is no longer interested in the activities they used to enjoy, it could be a sign of depression. This includes socializing with friends and family, hobbies and even work. They may also have lost interest in their appearance.

Your parent may not show signs of depression immediately after being placed in assisted living. It’s important to take note of how they behave over time so you can pinpoint when it began happening and why.

Your parent has accumulated a collection of bad habits

If your parent has been suffering from memory loss, they may be more likely to develop bad habits. For example:

  • Your parent forgets to turn off the stove or lock the door when they leave the house.

  • Your parent is always late because they get lost in familiar places.

  • They don’t take their medications as directed and this leads to dangerous interactions with other drugs or alcohol.

In addition, bad habits are often a sign of depression—another common symptom of aging that can lead to an earlier death if left untreated! When you see changes in their behavior (like not following through on household tasks), it’s time for a conversation about assisted living options so both you and your loved one can start enjoying life again!

Your parent has become forgetful.

You may have a hard time remembering things, or you might be unable to recall something that happened just a few minutes ago. If this is happening frequently, it could be a sign of dementia. However, memory loss is also common among people who are aging and experiencing physical illnesses like diabetes or heart failure. Additionally, depression and anxiety can make it difficult for you to focus on what’s going on around you.

If your parent seems forgetful but the problem isn’t getting better after taking medication or making changes at home, then he or she might need additional help with his or her daily activities (like getting dressed) to ensure safety during these moments of confusion.

Your parent no longer takes an interest in personal care.

It’s hard to see your parent lose interest in the things they once loved, but this can be a sign that they’re no longer able to care for themselves and need a helping hand.

If you notice your parent is no longer taking an interest in personal care, it may be time to consider assisted living. This includes:

  • lack of interest in grooming, including showering and brushing teeth (or doing anything else that involves personal care)

  • lack of interest in hygiene (for example, not bathing or changing clothes as often as usual)

  • lack of interest in clothing choices or fashion sense

  • lack of interest in diet (eating less than usual or eating foods not considered healthy)

You’re starting to feel overwhelmed

You’re starting to feel overwhelmed.

Maybe it’s because you’ve been caring for your parent for so long, or because of their advanced age, but you’re starting to feel like you’re not doing enough. You know that if your loved one is going to live independently, they need constant supervision—and yet when it’s time for them to go somewhere else and get that level of care on a regular basis, they refuse. Sometimes they don’t want help getting out of bed; other times they can’t remember what day it is or what they ate yesterday. And then there are the times when they forget where the bathroom is located (or how many steps there are between them and their bedroom).

What’s worse: Your parent has become increasingly agitated or angry whenever anyone offers assistance with daily tasks like bathing and dressing themselves. They might even lash out verbally if someone tries too hard to help out around the house—taking out frustrations over being unable do things on his/her own due in large part due lack mental capacity (like remembering where things are located) rather than physical capabilities such as being able walk without assistance

Assisted living may be right for your loved one.

Assisted living may be right for your loved one.

If you’ve noticed that your parent is having trouble caring for him or herself, that it’s become increasingly difficult to bathe and dress independently, or if he or she is having memory issues, assisted living might be a good option. Assisted living is generally considered to be a step up from home care services in terms of how much assistance each resident receives. But it’s also less expensive than nursing homes and some retirement communities.

Assisted Living Benefits: A More Independent Life

In many ways, assisted living offers a more independent lifestyle than most other options available to seniors who need some help with day-to-day tasks but don’t want to give up their freedom entirely. Assisted living facilities typically offer residents their own private room in which they can have visitors over whenever they like—something that isn’t usually possible in nursing homes—and allow them access to all kinds of amenities (such as swimming pools, gyms) that encourage socialization and keep residents active throughout the day.* In addition*, assisted living facilities often provide daily transportation services so residents can go shopping or run errands without worrying about getting there safely themselves.* Finally*, most facilities offer housekeeping services at least once per week; however this may vary depending on location.*

Assisted Living Drawbacks: Isolation And Cost Of Care

Assisted living facilities do come with downsides too; namely isolation from friends and family members who live elsewhere.* The biggest drawback though might simply be cost: Assisted living costs about $3-$4K more every month than home health care does (about $6K). And while this expense may seem high now–especially when combined with increasing medical expenses–it could save you money down the line if it means avoiding costly hospital stays later on..

There is help out there

Don’t let your fear of the unknown stand in the way of taking action. Assisted living can be a great option for older adults who need some extra help, and it will give you peace of mind in knowing that your loved one is safe and well cared for. So if you think your parent might be ready for assisted living.  We can help!  Call us today and schedule a tour of our lovely assisted living home in Clearwater, Fl.