Memory Care
Memory care is a form of residential long term care that provides specialized services for individuals who suffer from memory deficiencies. These facilities are often referred to as memory support or dementia care facilities, depending on the type of services provided. Memory care has recently surged as the fastest-growing sector of the senior housing market, which is evident through the quantity of units doubling over the last decades. Memory care facilities are most often found in senior living communities, where they provide specialized assistance with daily tasks and activities that have become difficult for seniors with Alzheimer's disease or dementia.
What makes Memory Care different?
The purpose of memory care is to grant individuals suffering from dementia or Alzheimer's with a safe, structured environment to prevent further stress. Employees provide residents with meals and help them with activities of daily living that may be difficult as a result of their condition. The professionals on duty also check in with residents on a frequent basis and offer additional structure and support.
The services offered by these facilities vary widely depending on the needs of each resident and the staff at the facility. Some examples of typical offerings include help with bathing, dressing, eating meals, and taking medications. Other services may include assistance with household chores like cleaning or laundry; transportation to appointments; or general companionship with activities such as playing games or watching TV together in a common area where residents can socialize if they wish but also find some peace if they prefer not to interact too much with others at that time.
What are the costs of Memory Care
Facilities typically offer various levels of service depending on what your loved one needs from them at this stage in his or her life and how much money you are willing/able to spend on their care. On average, someone pays about $6,935 in memory care expenses per month in the United States in 2021. This number ends up being substantially higher than the price one pays for assisted living, which totals to about $5,380 per month, but less than the $10,562 monthly price of living in a nursing home.
