Assisted living often is an excellent long-term fit for older adults who enjoy a high level of autonomy with just the right amount of support. However, for individuals with cognitive challenges like dementia, assisted living may fall short of fully supporting their needs.
If you’re considering whether your loved one would benefit from specialized memory support, take a moment to learn more about the differences between memory care and assisted living, signs it’s time to move to memory care, and tips for navigating this transition.
How Does Memory Care Differ from Assisted Living?
Each level of living in a community delivers distinct advantages, so it’s important to talk with your loved one to ensure you both understand how memory care differs from assisted living. Your senior living care team can also be an excellent resource as you and your loved one evaluate options. Here are some key differences between memory care and assisted living:
Level of Care
Assisted living provides routine support for older adults who remain relatively independent. For example, team members may help residents with activities of daily living, such as dressing or bathing, if they struggle to manage these tasks on their own. Autonomy remains a priority in memory care, but this level of living provides more extensive support, specialized therapies, and around-the-clock supervision to promote health and safety.
Specialized Support
Assisted living residents can participate in a variety of events and programming at their senior living community. Individuals in memory support may take part in general programming as well as in therapies and programming designed specifically to support their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Safety Measures
Assisted living residents enjoy a high level of independence. This independence can be unsafe, however, for a person with dementia. Memory support includes additional safeguards, such as specialized accommodations and constant supervision, to promote health and safety for those prone to challenges like confusion and disorientation.WesleyLife prioritizes making our memory support neighborhoods feel as homelike as possible while ensuring the safety and security of residents.
Determining When to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care
In most cases, the team at your loved one’s assisted living community will be the first to raise concerns and express that the time may be right to move from assisted living to memory support. If you’re considering whether memory support would be a better fit, be sure to discuss your concerns with your loved one and their care team. Team members can provide insight to inform your and your loved one’s decision.
Individuals with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias may experience different challenges and needs, so it’s always best to consider your loved one’s specific situation. That said, there are some common signs that it may be time to move from assisted living to memory care:
Increased Confusion
If your loved one struggles to recognize familiar faces, places, and objects on a regular basis, it may indicate a need for specialized support. Pay attention to your loved one’s cognitive function at various times of day; increased agitation and confusion in the evening and at night (known as sundowning) is common.
Decline in Daily Living Abilities
Although assisted living can help with activities of daily living, if your loved one is consistently struggling to manage tasks such as dressing, eating, or maintaining personal hygiene, it may be a sign that more extensive assistance is needed. Memory support team members can also carefully oversee your loved one’s medication regimen to ensure they take the right medicines at the right times.
Disorientation and Elopement
Confusion can sometimes cause a person with dementia to leave their home or senior living campus without a clear sense of direction, posing a serious safety risk. Fortunately, memory support can mitigate this risk through special safety measures and supervision.
Aggression or Agitation
Verbal or physical outbursts toward you, team members, or other residents may be a sign that your loved one needs specialized support. Memory care team members understand this symptom of dementia and can skillfully de-escalate tense situations, offering clarity and comfort to your loved one. The environment in a memory care household or neighborhood can also contribute to a feeling of calm.
Navigating the Transition Process
If you and your loved one’s care team agree that a move to memory support would be beneficial, it’s time to focus on transitioning successfully. Consider these tips to support your loved one as they make the move:
Coordinate with your loved one’s care team.
Your loved one’s care team can be a valuable resource in making the transition to memory support as smooth as possible. Talk with team members to understand exactly what to expect from the memory care environment and how to best support your loved one. Moving from assisted living to memory care should feel like a smooth and beneficial adjustment — not a total upheaval.
Prioritize your loved one’s agency.
Negative misconceptions around dementia may lead you to view your loved one as merely a recipient of memory care, but even at this level of care, we believe in the importance of person-directed living. Be sure the memory support team involves your loved one as much as possible in their own care and values engagement from you and other loved ones.
Communicate openly with your loved one.
Maintain an open dialogue with your loved one about the transition. You may need to reiterate these expectations, such as daily routines, available amenities, etc., and reassure them whenever they express anxiety or concern. You can also involve other family members to ensure everyone is on the same page and can lend additional support to your loved one. Experts in the community can also alleviate your loved one’s concerns and ensure they understand the community’s role in supporting their well-being.
Look for ways to maintain consistency.
Fortunately, many communities offer a continuum of care that includes both assisted living and memory support, allowing your loved one to remain on the same campus where they feel comfortable and at home. You can look for other ways to ease the transition through consistency, especially in the early stages. For example, if you typically visit on certain days of the week, try to maintain that schedule.
Offer continued support.
Even well after your loved one moves to memory care, your continued love and support remain vital. Stay in close communication with your loved one’s care team to collaborate on their care plan and stay apprised of their well-being and needs.
Support Your Loved One’s Needs in a Place They’re Proud to Call Home
Determining when your loved one should move from assisted living to memory care can be an emotional experience. However, with careful planning, open communication, and the support of your loved one’s care team, this transition can be smooth and beneficial.
Even if your loved one’s assisted living community offers memory support, it’s important to consider whether that community remains the best fit for their progressing needs. Your loved one deserves an environment where they feel empowered to live with purpose and joy. WesleyLife is deeply committed to providing that sort of environment.
Our Brio of Johnston community was even awarded the Dementia "Excellence in Care" Program of Distinction designation from the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. This rare honor reflects WesleyLife’s dedication to helping those with memory challenges flourish.
Learn more by reading The Complete Guide to Memory Care from our resource center.
