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Memory Care

In-Home Care Vs. Memory Care – Which Is the Best Fit?

Image by Rudy and Peter Skitterians from Pixabay (2)

What is a Memory Care Facility?

Memory care is a special kind of care for seniors with memory issues like Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Many communities worldwide offer special services to meet the needs of individuals dealing with the effects of memory loss.

There are different types of memory care options. AARP states, “Many assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes have special memory care “neighborhoods” for dementia patients. There are also stand-alone memory care facilities.” Another option for memory care is a senior day care center like Aspen Senior Day Center in Provo, Utah, which offers memory care services throughout the day but still allows seniors to remain in the comfort of their own homes. 

Professional staff help residents with activities of daily living and help manage medication, provide meals, transportation, housekeeping, and other social activities. Memory care units maintain a higher staff-to-resident ratio than a typical senior living community. The staff is trained in caring for dementia patients, and common areas and units are protected with an access code to avoid wandering.

Memory Care Facilities

  • Special staff training to meet the mental and emotional needs of residents.
  • Intense supervision and safety protocols to prevent wandering.
  • Good staff to resident ratio.
  • Uniquely designed living spaces to ease agitation, anxiety, and disorientation.
  • Safety features like an emergency call system and alarmed doors.
  • Simple navigation and building layout to avoid confusion.
  • Social programs and activities to encourage socialization.
  • Secure fences, gardens, and courtyards for sensory stimulation and exploration in a safe space.

What is In-Home Care?

Many seniors wish to spend their later years at home surrounded by the companionship of their loved ones. For many seniors, in-home professional care may offer practical help along with peace of mind. In-home care allows seniors to remain comfortably in their own homes while receiving aid from professional caregivers. It’s also a cost-efficient option for family caregivers to receive additional respite care.

In-home care caregivers offer help with activities of daily living or “ADL’s.” The intensity of care may vary based on the senior’s needs. Typically care can range from a few hours a week spent preparing meals and housekeeping to round-the-clock supervision.

 In-Home Care 

  • Assistance with ADLs like bathing, personal care, dressing, and more.
  • Ongoing caregiver and family companionship and assistance.
  • Ease of transportation to appointments and everyday errands.
  • Help with housekeeping, dishes, and laundry.
  • Respite care for family caregivers. 
  • Specially trained caregivers who can help seniors dealing with memory loss.

How to Choose Between In-Home Care and Memory Care Facility? 

Consider how much care and help is available in the senior’s home and how much additional support is needed. It’s good to jot down a list of things your elderly loved one needs help with on a weekly, monthly, and daily basis. These notes will help you see the bigger picture to pick the right level of care. Be realistic about how much your family members and friends can help. Keep in mind the long-term, ongoing care during this stage.

Once you’ve drawn this comparison, you’ll have a better idea of how to proceed. Sometimes, creating this list clarifies that in-home care might be the best option. However, there are times where picking from memory care facilities for seniors is a clear choice. So, before you go ahead with either of these living arrangements, you should weigh their offered services along with critical pros and cons.

In-home care

The most significant advantage of in-home care is that seniors get to live out their days with family and friends in the safety of their own homes.

Pros

  • Tailored care based on the senior’s personal preferences and needs. Even the most luxurious senior living communities do not give the same one-on-one attention that a home care agency can provide.
  • The ability to stay at home surrounded by familiar faces as they age.
  • Cost may be flexible based on the hours of necessary care.
  • You get to pick the caregiver based on their credentials, competence, and personality fit to the senior.
  • Seniors develop a personal bond with the caregiver rather than working with multiple caregivers.
  • There’s more room for flexible care arrangements. For example, caregivers can help at different times throughout the day or week to help with specific needs like meals, showers, or errands. 

Cons

  • The cost can be considerably high if you need around-the-clock care.
  • Social isolation is a potential issue as seniors may not interact with peers. Isolation could fuel cognitive decline, health issues, and even depression.
  • You may have to modify the home to ensure safety, such as wheelchair accessibility, potential fall risks, etc.
  • You will have to take care of home maintenance and personal care while regularly stocking household supplies and groceries.

Memory Care

Memory care communities are designed to promote safety and avoid wandering clients. There are caregivers with special training and memory-specific therapies to promote cognitive health.

Pros 

  • Seniors receive 24/7 care.
  • Special community programs and activities to improve quality of life.
  • The living arrangements are comfortable, safe, and welcoming. They are uniquely customized to avoid confusion and disorientation.
  • Several memory care units deploy therapies and technology to ensure positive stimulation so that residents can thrive.
  • Seniors get to interact with people of their age every day. Peer interaction prevents isolation and depression.
  • Family members can visit their loved ones to offer ongoing support.

Cons

  • Based on the facility and the level of care required, the cost can be considerably high. Some luxury memory care facilities can cost upwards of $10,000 per month.
  • Often the transition from moving out of the home to memory care be overwhelming and stressful.
  •  It may be challenging to convince seniors to move from their homes.
  • No two communities are the same, which means you would have to do a large amount of research to pick the right fit.

Understand Your Financial Situation 

Sometimes, the cost of living arrangement is the single deciding factor regarding which option may be the best fit. 

The cost of regular memory care can be considerably high. For instance, it costs upwards of $6000/month to receive memory care in some states. In terms of in-home care costs, Genworth reported the cost of in-home in 2020 to be around $4500 for 44 hours/week.

The best way to understand the actual pricing for different living communities is to compare some of your top choices. You might also want to work with a financial planner to get a more accurate picture of a feasible option. Once you have a full-fledged comparison between the two, you will know which option is the best fit. 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to picking a suitable living situation for your loved one, knowledge is vital. So, ask around and do thorough research, read reviews, and ask for professional advice.

By Holly Klamer

Aspen Senior Care Contributor

Is There Such Thing As Too Old To Learn? New Research Might Surprise You

Photo courtesy of Pixabay(skeeze)

Kids are like sponges. They’re eager to absorb new information and they’re very good at catching on to new concepts, ideas, and skills. That’s important as they go to school and gain the skills and knowledge they’ll need during adulthood. But what about learning later in life? Is there such a thing as being “too old to learn?”

Sayings like “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” and stereotypes about older individuals’ capacity for learning have been around for decades. But these are largely misconceptions that have been disproved by new research.

Think You’re Too Old? Think Again

Contributed by Pexels (Startup Stock Photos) design-learn-pattern-247819

As a society, we often subconsciously put an age limit on learning. We encourage learning in kids, teens, and young adults, but often discourage older people from trying to learn new information and skills.

Fortunately, that attitude is starting to change. More people of all ages are seeking out new information and changing their lives. You’re never too old to learn. In fact, learning throughout your lifetime can have some major benefits for your health and well-being.

There’s a Ton of Retirees Heading Back to School

If you’re self-conscious about the idea of taking a class or going back to school because you think you’ll be the only one over the age of 50, you might be surprised to find that your fellow students are more like you than you’d expect.

These days, lots of retirees are heading back to school for many different reasons. Some people just want a fulfilling way to spend their time during retirement. Others want to keep their mind sharp, discover new interests, and socialize with other students. And of course, some older Americans want to continue working and take classes to hone their skills or change careers.

Many schools offer free or inexpensive tuition for retirees, typically on an audit basis. Students won’t earn credit, but they will get the opportunity to learn and engage with a community of like-minded people.

Benefits of Learning As You Age

The concept that learning is only for the young is damaging to people as they get older. Learning throughout your life is actually a great way to protect your brain and stay sharp.

Research shows that people who get a college education live longer, make more money, and enjoy mental health benefits. Men who hold a bachelor’s degree live 12.9 years longer on average than those without a degree. For women, the margin is 10.4 years.

Older men and women can also use education to adapt to the job market and enjoy better financial health later in life. Those with a bachelor’s degree earn more and are less likely to be unemployed than people with a lower level of education. In a rapidly-changing job market, more education can make a positive difference in employability long-term.

Learning Later in Life Can Help Against Depression

Mental health is a huge concern for people of all ages. Anxiety and depression are among the top mental illnesses afflicting Americans, affecting well-being, quality of life, and even influencing suicide in some cases. 18 million people struggle with depression each year in the United States, and although there are many resources to help those who need it, stigma and other factors mean that many people suffer in silence.

There are many ways to help reduce anxiety and depression, including exercise, medication, psychotherapy, and meditation. Some people also use remedies like cannabis extract to reduce their symptoms.

Because of the mental health benefits of lifelong learning, we now know that keeping the brain engaged is yet another way to help fight depression. People want to feel fulfilled, engaged, and like they’re doing something important at every stage of their lives. By continuing to learn and evolve, older Americans can help protect themselves against common mental health issues like depression and anxiety.

Unsure of What To Learn? Keep it Practical – Study What You Need to Know

You may understand all the benefits of learning at every stage of your life, but you also might be wondering: what should you learn?

Unless you’re interested in a specific subject or you want to pick up a new hobby, it can be hard to decide what to learn next. If that’s your dilemma, try keeping it practical. Even something as simple as learning better financial management strategies can help you stay sharp and allow you to gain the benefits of learning.

Don’t be intimidated! Taking a class, reading a book on a new subject, and even doing daily puzzles are all great ways to keep you learning and enjoying life.

Contributed by Patricia Monson. Patricia is the Research Coordinator at
Applied Nursing Research and enjoys sharing the latest high-level
research on senior health and care.