What Is a Memory Care Facility?

A memory care facility is a long-term care residential facility where seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia receive specialized care. The provision of memory care isn’t restricted to stand-alone memory care facilities, as many assisted living communities and nursing homes also offer memory care services, usually in specialized memory care units.

Memory care facilities are designed to keep seniors with Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia safe from harm while providing set routines and structure to help lower their stress levels. Memory care reduces a senior’s risk of being hospitalized and provides purpose-driven programming that enhances quality of life, with the end goal of slowing the progression of the disease. Different facilities may offer different services, but the basics are the same. Usually, seniors reside in private or shared rooms.

Services include assistance with activities of daily living, such as cooking, cleaning, bathing and dressing, housekeeping, laundry services, scheduled transportation, nursing services, fitness programs, regular meals and recreational activities. Staff is available 24/7 and trained to effectively communicate with residents and reduce distressing experiences through the use of therapeutic and meaningful redirection for people with cognitive disorders.

Facilities may also offer special programs such as art therapy, music therapy and pet therapy to bring joy to residents and help improve memory function. Many memory care facilities have secure outdoor areas that allow residents the freedom to move about outside without the risk of unsafe wandering.

Although most seniors in memory care require assistance with activities of daily living, their routines are more structured, and they’re monitored more carefully by staff than those in assisted living. Assisted living residents have much greater autonomy and usually manage their own time, participating in the activities they choose and showing up for meals without needing reminders.

When a memory care facility can no longer meet their needs, many seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia will require a skilled nursing home level of care, usually in the late stages of their disease. Nursing homes provide 24-hour care to bedridden and non ambulatory patients who don’t need hospitalization.