Whether your loved one was just diagnosed with cognitive impairment or has been living with a form of dementia for some time, you may be considering your long-term care options. As dementia progresses, people living with the disease may require a wide range of needs, from safety and supervision to assistance with personal care.
Long-term care and memory care within an assisted living community are two standard options caregivers consider; however, sometimes, those terms can be used interchangeably. Here, we’ll share the difference between each care option and when one is preferred. Whether looking for a vastly approaching care option or considering your future care needs, you’ll feel confident knowing your options.
What do long-term care and memory care have in common?
Long-term and memory care provides 24/7 care and supervision to individuals with a wide range of care needs. Both have staff ready to assist with daily needs like dressing, bathing, eating, and more.
Residents of both long-term care and memory care in Cooper City, FL, benefit from structure and routine. In addition, they offer plenty of opportunities for engagement, both in group and one-on-one settings. Engagement opportunities include physical, emotional, spiritual, and creative programs. In addition, quality communities keep residents engaged in the great Cooper City community.
Both care options offer individualized care plans to provide resident-centered care. These plans consider diagnoses, physical needs, and social history. Care plans are frequently reevaluated to ensure they accommodate current and future needs. Some may offer individual or shared apartments based on budget and personal preferences.
What differentiates long-term care and memory care?
While long-term and memory care provide a high level of care, memory care is specifically geared toward individuals with dementia. This includes people living with Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal, vascular, or unspecified dementia. Generally, people living with dementia move to memory care when their needs become difficult or unsafe to be managed at home. The staff in a memory care community are specially trained to offer quality, empathetic care to individuals with this disease.
Memory care neighborhoods are designed with additional safety features to protect and support residents. These features include easy-to-navigate hallways and secured entrances and exits. Memory care in Cooper City, FL, offers an empowering environment and a senior-friendly design.
While long-term care can support individuals living with dementia, it also supports individuals with a range of physical and cognitive needs. Frequently, long-term care communities have staff with nursing skills. They may be able to provide a higher level of nursing services, including wound and diabetic care. Long-term care may also offer on-site therapies like physical and occupational therapy.
Some individuals may transition from memory care to long-term care if multiple diagnoses make managing their care in memory care difficult or unsafe. While memory care communities assist with activities of daily living, long-term care can offer a higher level of support, which is especially beneficial for individuals with complex medical needs.
Making the decision
It can be challenging to decide whether memory care or long-term care is the best fit for your loved one. If Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia is the primary concern, memory care is often a great fit. With staff specially trained in supporting those with dementia, residents can thrive with structure and safety. Alternatively, those with multiple diagnoses may find that long-term care provides a more stable and secure residential option for the future.
There’s not always a clear time to transition to a long-term or memory care community. Many transitions are initiated by a hospitalization due to an injury or illness. While it’s not always possible, to avoid having to make a decision under stress, schedule tours and evaluate your options well before you need them.
Evaluating your options
Whether you’re looking at long-term or memory care, thoughtfully considering the options in Cooper City, FL, is essential. With several options, you’ll want to evaluate which community makes the most sense for your loved one. Consider things such as specific location, safety measures, staff training and qualifications, and opportunities for engagement and cognitive stimulation.
While all care options will assist with activities of daily living and engaging programs, there may be variations in how these are provided. Advanced planning for your loved one’s future care needs can allow you more flexibility in choosing your options.
No matter where you and your loved one are on your journey, it’s not too early to explore your future care needs. Visiting memory care neighborhoods, such as the Evergreen neighborhood at Arbor Terrace Cooper City, can help you visualize life in a memory care community. Our trusted team can help you determine if memory care may be the right fit for your loved one.
