Assisted Living Memory Care
Can My Mom Go to Assisted Living Instead of Memory Care?
When choosing senior housing in Simi Valley for your loved one, you’ll quickly learn that there are many options to sort through. Senior living varies greatly in terms of level of care, amenities, staffing ratios and cost. Assisted living and memory care facilities are two popular options but they are distinct from one another.
Typically, memory care is more expensive than assisted living, but there’s a reason for this. Memory care facilities specialize in caring for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s and other cognitive disorders. This around-the-clock support is what makes this type of care more expensive.
As you consider senior housing options for your loved one, here are some ways to determine what’s best: assisted living or memory care.
What’s the Difference between Assisted Living and Memory Care in Simi Valley?
It’s easy to get assisted living and memory care confused because they offer many of the same services such as housing, meals and help with activities of daily living (ADLs). But memory care takes things a step further by providing a safe, secure living environment where people with dementia can live independently.
Let’s cover some additional differences you can expect between the two types of care.
- For seniors with memory loss, increased safety is a top priority. In addition to in-room emergency alert systems and daily check-ins, memory care facilities have locked entrances and exits, secure outdoor areas and an environment that is easy to navigate.
- Staff training. Staff members at memory care centers receive regular training to provide 24-hour support and supervision to people with memory problems. They also understand dementia behaviors like wandering and aggression.
- Memory care centers have various amenities for their residents, including enclosed courtyards and gardens, a relaxing spa and arts and crafts studios. Many activities are planned, including memory-enhancing therapies.
What Type of Senior Housing in Simi Valley is Right for My Parent?
There is no “right” type of care for your loved one. It all comes down to their needs as well as their expectations for what the next chapter of their life should look like.
To help select the best care for Mom, it’s important to be honest about her needs and capabilities. Can Mom make good decisions? Is she able to take care of herself? Does she sometimes forget to do things like lock the doors and turn off the stove?
Most assisted living facilities conduct an assessment to ensure the family is choosing the appropriate level of care. For example, Varenita of Simi Valley provides a wellness exam for each resident to assess their condition and abilities.
Generally speaking, the people who do best with memory care are those who are in the mid-to-late stages of dementia and require assistance with medication management and activities of daily living. These individuals also tend to have trouble making good decisions and may wander or be incontinent.
How to Decide on the Best Level of Care for Mom
It’s important to point out that just because Mom has dementia does not mean she has to automatically go into dementia care in Simi Valley. Some people in the early stages of dementia do very well in assisted living. As their disease progresses, they can move on to a higher level of care. This is an option at Varenita of Simi Valley because we offer both assisted living and memory care.
To determine the best fit for Mom, here are some questions to ask yourself. Does Mom:
- Wander frequently?
- Require a secure facility with a unique layout to avoid confusion?
- Show aggressive behavior at times like yelling or hitting?
- Need a lot of supervision and direction throughout the day?
- Experience sundown syndrome (restlessness that occurs at night)?
- Get lost in familiar places?
- Have impaired judgement?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it’s definitely worth considering memory care. The best approach is to be honest about what Mom needs to be safe, healthy and engaged and then follow up with your Simi Valley retirement community. Remember, most facilities will do their own assessment to ensure you’re choosing the right level of care.
Memory Care in Simi Valley
Varenita of Simi Valley is a retirement community that offers both assisted living and memory care. Our secure memory care neighborhood is built for those who want to remain independent and engaged but also have memory impairment. Our community is safe, comfortable and designed to feel like home.
As a resident of our memory care community, Mom will receive:
- Assistance with daily tasks
- Housekeeping and laundry services
- Safe, comfortable studio suite
- Caring, compassionate team members
- Opportunities for families to create new memories
Take a Virtual Tour Today
If you are helping Mom choose a senior living community where she will feel comfortable and at home, we invite you to take a Virtual Dementia Tour of our facilities. This tour lets people with dementia and their families view our facilities from the comfort of home.
Along with being a part of an active, engaged community, our residents also enjoy luxury amenities like private studio apartments, scheduled transportation and social, educational and spiritual programs.
To learn more about our dementia care community in Simi Valley, contact Varenita of Simi Valley.