Memory Care vs. Home Care for Dementia: What’s the Difference?

Elderly adults with dementia require specialized care, whether it’s provided in a senior living community or at home. With the right care tailored to their needs, seniors with cognitive decline can age with dignity, enjoyment, and some independence.

Memory care and home care are two common options families explore for seniors with dementia. What services do they provide, and what are the most important factors to consider when making a choice of home care vs. memory care for your aging loved one?

What is a memory care facility?

Memory carecommunities can be standalone facilities or part of a senior living community with multiple levels of care. They provide specialized assistance for seniors experiencing memory loss, often due to Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia.

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Dementia care facilities provide many of the same services as assisted living, including help with activities of daily living (ADLs), medication management, and nutritious dining options. They also offer unique features tailored to seniors with cognitive impairment:

• Comprehensive staff training to support the emotional and mental needs of residents with dementia
• Full-time supervision to prevent wandering
• A small staff-to-resident ratio
• Specially designed spaces to ease anxiety and agitation common in people with dementia
• Safety features, which may include alarmed doors and in-room emergency call systems
• Building layouts that simplify navigation, encourage social interaction, and provide a safe space for residents

Memory care therapies and activities for dementia patients

Dementia care communities offer memory care activities and therapies designed for residents with all levels of dementia–a major benefit of memory care over care at home. These structured programs often require specially trained staff and aim to reduce cognitive decline, promote positive reminiscence, and comfort residents:

• Reminiscence therapy. Sensory or visual cues from the past can help seniors reconnect with positive memories. Memory care communities may be well-stocked with old magazines, classic films, and music from residents’ youths.
• Sensory activities. Appealing to all five senses encourages memories and exploration. Aromatherapy may bring back memories of baking Christmas cookies or mowing the lawn, while diverse textures can evoke a wedding dress, a beloved pet, or the buttons on a military uniform.
• Art therapy. Creative expression can be soothing and feel productive. Music therapy may include listening to favorite records or playing basic instruments. Some residents may retain their musical ability even after significant memory loss. Visual expression, like painting and drawing, are ways to express emotion safely and with creativity.
• Touch therapy. Memory care staff are often trained in hand and arm massage techniques to increase human contact and reduce stress. Some communities may also have contracts with licensed massage therapists who specialize in working with elderly patients.
• Pet therapy. Memory care communities may provide pet therapy to animal lovers who can no longer care for their own furry friends. Well-trained cats and dogs can provide companionship and comfort.

Design features for memory care facilities

Innovative design elements and relaxing spaces in dementia care communities can help ease anxiety and agitation common in people with dementia. Some of these unique features include:

• Memory boxes on residents’ doors, as familiar objects can guide seniors and reduce anxiety from an inability to read or recall room numbers
• Color-coded or texture-coded walls to help those with memory loss navigate
• Soft corners or circular hallways to allow continuous dementia wandering and prevent residents from feeling trapped
• Secure gardens for sensory stimulation, nature exposure, and safe exploration
• Simulated neighborhoods with storefronts, porches, and traditional home facades
• Controlled lighting to mimic sunrise and sunset
• Specialized multi-sensory rooms for light, sound, and touch therapy

Cost of memory care

The median cost for assisted living was $4,300 a month in 2020, according to statistics from Genworth’s Cost of Care Survey. Memory care adds another $1,000 to $4,000 a month, according to Carnarius, a memory care consulting firm. This price includes 24-hour care and monitoring, specially designed spaces, activities, and meals

What is home care?

For seniors who choose to age at home, professional home care offers companionship, practical help, and peace of mind. Care aides can provide help with daily activities as well as social interaction. Levels of care vary by need and can span from a few hours of weekly meal prep and housekeeping to 24-hour supervision.

Home care aides are trained to understand the nuances of senior care, but usually aren’t licensed to provide medical services. Senior home care services will be determined when you create a care contract, but often include:

• Companionship, which includes reading aloud, chatting, and in-home activities
• Transportation to doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, or errands
• Assistance with activities of daily living like dressing, bathing, and grooming
• Meal preparation or delivery
• Housekeeping, laundry, and dishes
• Helping the senior organize bills, manage finances, and write checks on time for utilities
• Dementia activities at home

Home care benefits for seniors

Home care is a common alternative to senior living for elderly adults who can no longer live independently. There are many reasons families choose home care, versus memory care, for their elderly loved one:

• Aging in place. Many seniors have lived in the same house for decades, and moving to a new, often smaller, home is a difficult and emotional process.
• Level of care. Home care can be adjusted to fit new needs as a senior ages. A home care agency could provide transportation and cooking assistance to an active senior as needed, or it could offer full-time care and companionship to someone who’s bedridden.
• One-on-one interaction. In-home care ensures your loved one has the entire attention of a visiting aide. In senior living communities, staff members must tend to multiple residents.

Cost of home care

Budget is often a concern for families choosing between memory care and home care for elderly loved ones. While the cost of a memory care community is greater than the cost of home care, it offers more amenities and other significant benefits that home care can’t provide.

Home care had a national median cost of $24 an hour in 2020, according to Genworth. For seniors with early stage dementia who don’t require full-time companionship and supervision, home care may be a good choice. However, home modifications, overnight care, and tracking programs can add significant expense to seniors with more advanced cognitive decline.

Can memory care be offered by home care providers?

While home care can’t provide the structural or design benefits of a memory care community, dementia care at home can help seniors with Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia age in place. To make the right choice for your loved one, it’s important to understand the difference between memory care and home care for dementia.

Aging in place with dementia

With the assistance of home care aides, elderly people with early-to-mid-stage cognitive decline may be capable of aging in their own homes or those of family members. For seniors with more advanced dementia, significant adjustments must be made to limit dementia safety risks and age at home:

• Full-time supervision, or alarmed doors and windows, to prevent wandering
• Home modifications, such as grab bars, stair lifts, and other safety features
• Clear, specially designed paths throughout the home that are free of clutter and conducive to safe, unimpeded wandering
• Sensory stimulation spaces, like a room designated for touch, light, and sound therapy
• Fencing for any open outdoor areas, or tracking devices in case of separation

Choosing a provider for dementia home care

It’s vital to work with a home care agency familiar with dementia and Alzheimer’s care, even if your loved one is only experiencing early signs of dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests taking these steps before selecting a home care provider:

• Know your care needs. Make a list of dementia symptoms, care needs, and how you expect them to be met.
• Call first, then interview at home. Once you have your list of needs, call to screen home care providers for dementia care experience. Interview your top prospects at home so they’re familiar with the space.
• Check references. Make sure the home care agency conducts background checks and ask for contact information or testimonials from current clients.
• Share information. Seniors with dementia need to be comfortable with their caregivers, and providers can form stronger bonds with seniors if they know them well. Discuss your loved one’s past accomplishments, interests, and fond memories with the home care aide so they can best provide person-centered dementia care and connect with your relative. Share photo albums, favorite music, and recipes as well. These tools are helpful for reminiscence therapy.