Is Memory Care a Nursing Home?

Memory care is not synonymous with a nursing home, and it is important to note that not all memory care services are offered within a nursing home environment. Memory care facilities can exist as stand-alone facilities, as an assisted living amenity or within a nursing home setting. Memory care is a type of care intended to provide specialized care and support for people with Alzheimer’s disease and other progressive cognitive disorders.

Memory care facilities support people with dementia in a combined social and clinical setting. Communities commonly have increased safety and security features, such as wander guards, enclosed grounds and locked doors and windows. Nursing homes are also medical settings that provide skilled nursing and rehabilitative services to individuals with diverse illnesses and injuries. All types of 24-hour supervision residences for older adults with varying forms of dementia have around-the-clock staffing and supervision.

Both memory care within nursing homes and memory care communities assist residents with personal care and daily activities, such as bathing, dressing and transferring. Nursing home staff has medical or therapeutic training and commonly includes registered or licensed nurses, certified nursing aides, rehabilitation therapists and medical social workers. Memory care units and communities may have in-house or contracted nurses and therapists, as well as caregivers with specialized training to work with people living with dementia. Training typically includes behavior management and communication methods, enabling staff to provide compassionate and effective person-centered support through all stages of disease progression.

Although the skilled care units within nursing homes may offer limited enrichment activities, memory care units and communities usually provide a wide range of research-backed programs to support cognitive and overall health, stimulate the senses and maintain life skills. Memory care programming is also typically designed to encourage social interactions, promote dignity and enhance quality of life. Therapeutic interventions in nursing homes may focus on health and rehabilitative needs, such as physical, occupational and speech therapy. Additionally, memory care programs may include animal-assisted, music, reminiscence and art therapy.