Memory Care Facilities: Dementia & Alzheimer's Care

Memory care, sometimes called Alzheimer’s care, provides housing and 24-hour care for seniors with dementia or other types of memory loss. Memory care facilities offer a safe, uniquely designed environment for residents to improve quality of life, reduce confusion, and prevent wandering.

Staff at memory care facilities receive special training to help prevent and minimize difficult dementia behaviors. These communities also offer memory-enhancing activities — such as music and art therapy — in addition to many of the services available at assisted living, such as prepared meals, housekeeping, laundry, and assistance with daily activities, such as dressing, bathing, and grooming.

Many families struggle with the decision to transition a loved one to senior living. As your relative’s dementia progresses, it’s important to consider their health and safety and your own physical and mental health.

It may be time for memory care if your parent’s daily care needs are increasingly more than you can provide or manage. If dementia behaviors — such as aggression, wandering, and depression — pose a physical or mental health risk to your loved one, yourself, or others, memory care may be a solution.

Memory care provides memory-enhancing therapies, 24-hour care and supervision, and a secure environment with specialized staff who are trained in dementia and Alzheimer’s care.

Memory care costs vary depending on location, community amenities, apartment size, and how much assistance your loved one needs. You can save money on memory care costs by carefully weighing the benefits of all-inclusive vs. a la carte services, and asking about move-in specials or other discounts.

Several financing options are available to help pay for memory care, including veterans benefits, long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, and more.

There are many factors to consider when searching for a memory care community for your loved one. Location, safety, cost, amenities, and memory therapies and programs will likely be on your list of considerations. Be sure to ask about staff-to-resident ratios, staff qualifications, and emergency procedures.

An in-person or virtual tour provides opportunities to ask questions and get a sense of the community. It allows you to see or experience activities, meals, amenities, staff interactions with residents, and more.

Moving a loved one to memory care can be especially stressful and emotional. You may be overwhelmed with the moving process and concerned about whether your loved one will adjust.

Visiting the community with your parent before moving, selecting your loved one’s best time of the day to move, and carefully choosing what to move are just a few of the steps that can help make the move smoother. Knowing what to expect can help you better prepare to ease your loved one’s transition to memory care.