The Difference Between Assisted Living and Memory Care

Assisted living and memory care are both types of senior care services. While people assume these terms mean the same thing, there are some important differences between them. Here is some insight from our assisted living community in Gloucester County.

What is Assisted Living? 

As we get older, we will all slowly start to require some extra help to manage our daily lives. These are known as assisted living services. Assisted living communities are designed to provide all of these under one roof. The following are included in these services: 

• Rooms or apartment homes are wheelchair and walker-friendly and have safety measures in place to help prevent falls;
• Manageable-sized housing, which is maintained by building services;
• Transport to shops, events, and scheduled appointments;
• Trained staff to assist with activities of daily living (ADLs), like eating, bathing, dressing, medication management, and mobility; and
• Additional services that support senior health, like a calendar of social events, clubs, senior classes, outings, fitness centers, communal dining, libraries, computer centers, and wellness therapies.
  
  

There are different levels of care within assisted living that scale according to a resident’s needs. For example, independent seniors may only need housekeeping, transportation, and companionship, while older less robust seniors may need help with physical therapy, pain management, or grooming.

What is Memory Care? 

This senior care service is available at many assisted living communities. It is specifically tailored to the everyday needs of residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia conditions. These residents need specific care only available from trained and experienced staff who understand the needs of residents with cognitive decline. This assistance is designed to ensure comfort, dignity, and the highest possible quality of life. These services can include the following:

• Cognitive therapies and wellness programs;
• Assistance with ADLs;
• Management of doctor’s appointments, medication, and transport;
• Social events suitable for dementia patients;
• Additional safety measures and trained associates to ensure residents don’t become disoriented or wander off;
• Life Enrichment Team Specialist (LETS) experts lend companionship, hands-on assistance, strategic intervention, and more; and
• Highly trained LETS associates understand not only the challenges of working with dementia patients, but also their needs.
  
  

Your loved one’s cognitive health primarily determines the choice between memory care and assisted living. If he or she has not been diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, then assisted living should be a good fit. If your loved one has a diagnosis, however, you can rest assured that memory care will ensure all their needs are expertly met.

Compassionate Memory Care and Independent Assisted Living at Pitman, NJ 

Pitman is an assisted living community in Gloucester County, NJ, offering high-quality scalable assisted living services in a comfortable, well-supported, and beautiful environment. As part of the United Methodist Communities network, we also offer rehabilitation, access to therapists, hospice care, respite, and Tapestries® Memory Care, and support services. We welcome seniors from all faith backgrounds.

To find out more about our assisted living community, please visit our website at https://pitman.umcommunities.org/ contact us today or book a personal tour.

Original content posted on https://umcommunities.org/blog/the-difference-between-assisted-living-and-memory-care/