Determining which assisted living community is right for you can be one of the most significant decisions you’ll make in your golden years. What happens when you need more care than your chosen assisted living community can provide? Determining when to move from assisted living to memory care can be complicated, but learning more about it can help.
When to Move from Assisted Living to Memory Care
For seniors who need extra help during the day, assisted living can provide the support they need. It’s an excellent resource for anybody in their golden years, but what if your health picture changes and you need more support? If you’re a senior with a progressive age-related memory loss condition like Alzheimer’s or dementia, memory care can help you. But how do you know when to move from assisted living to memory care?
What is the Difference Between Assisted Living and Memory Care?
For seniors in assisted living communities, the care and support they receive as residents is essential. Assisted living communities provide homes for seniors who want to maintain independent lives, with daily support to make it manageable. Seniors in assisted living communities receive services like housekeeping assistance and medication management to make life easier. They also benefit from living in a community of like-minded seniors and accessing social events and other activities.
While assisted living is an ideal home for most seniors, it doesn’t always provide the level of care a senior needs when dealing with an issue like Alzheimer’s or dementia. A memory care community can fill the gap for seniors who need help with age-related memory loss. Like assisted living, the goal is to provide whatever care is required in order to allow community members to live independent and fulfilling lives. Seniors in memory care communities get all the benefits of assisted living, plus specialized care from staff with experience treating age-related memory issues. For seniors with these conditions, memory care can be a lifeline to independence.
If I Have Age-Related Memory Problems, Should I Move into Memory Care?
The decision to move into a memory care community is complicated, and there are many factors to consider. While the decision depends mainly on your personal situation and health needs, some universal signs indicate that it’s time for a senior to receive a higher level of care:
- If a senior is starting to neglect their self-care or hygiene due to age-related memory issues, memory care can provide daily assistance with those tasks.
- If a senior is frequently wandering or getting lost, memory care can provide an intentionally designed community and staff intervention to help them stay oriented and comfortable.
- If a senior needs to be frequently prompted to eat or participate in community activities, memory care can provide structure and more focused assistance to meet their needs.
- If a senior becomes socially withdrawn or isolated due to age-related memory issues, memory care provides enrichment activities and social events designed with their abilities in mind.
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Determining when to move from assisted living to memory care can be difficult, so don’t do it alone. Call the memory care experts at the Crossings at Riverview, and we’ll help you explore your options.
Looking for a memory care facility in Riverview, Florida? We invite you to tour our beautiful community, meet our friendly staff, and see our amenities firsthand. Overlooking the Alafia River on twelve beautiful acres, the Crossings at Riverview offers a relaxing atmosphere, and our talented team is committed to cultivating a welcoming and vibrant community. Our goal is to make our community feel like home for all of our residents. To schedule a tour, contact us online. We look forward to meeting you!