Memory care assisted living is a specialized form of long-term care that provides intensive, specialized care for people with memory issues, such as Alzheimers or other forms of dementia. It is similar to assisted living in that it provides housing, meals, and help with activities of daily living (ADLs), like bathing and toileting. However, memory care offers a specialized environment with increased safety measures, specially trained staff, cognitive therapies, and more, to help seniors with dementia maintain cognitive skills, a sense of self, and quality of life for as long as possible.

Here are some key differences between memory care and assisted living:

• Staff Training: Memory care communities boast staff with additional training and experience with the issues people living with dementia often face, such as swallowing difficulties, wandering, and anxiety.
• Specialized Activities: Memory care communities offer dementia-specific activities tailored to the unique cognitive needs of people with dementia.
• Security: Memory care facilities are designed to protect residents against wandering and self-harm, and often have secured units to reduce the risk that people with memory loss could wander off the property and get lost.
• 24-hour Oversight: Memory care communities offer round-the-clock care and supervision as well as help with day-to-day activities like bathing and dressing.
• Tailored Health Care: Memory care units tailor health care to the needs of those with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and may use signs and pictures to help residents do things independently as much as possible.

Its important to note that some assisted living communities also offer advanced memory care uni...