What’s Included in Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities?

Supportive living communities help adults shed the burden of owning and maintaining a home after they retire while providing some welcome assistance and amenities. Many adults who make the move later in life look back and wish they’d made the change earlier.

Two of the options you’ll come across most frequently, however, are assisted living and memory care. Assisted living and memory care are pillars of supportive living, with each serving residents in unique ways. Here’s what you’ll see in each type of community.

Base Inclusions in Assisted Living and Memory Care Communities

While assisted living and memory care differ, the goal of both is to support adults through a safe, enjoyable and engaging long-term living environment. To accomplish that, assisted living and memory care communities both provide:

• Private or shared housing
• Meals personalized for specific dietary needs
• 24-hour security
• 24-hour health monitoring services
• Health, wellness and activities programs

These options are then tailored to residents and the community itself. For example, the activities offered in assisted living may be different from those offered in memory care.

What’s Included in Assisted Living Communities?

Assisted living communities are designed to support adults that want assistance with common tasks in order to enjoy their lives more fully. The most common type of support provided is help with the activities of daily living (ADLs), including:

• Eating
• Bathing
• Dressing
• Toileting
• Transferring (moving from place to place or changing positions)
• Maintaining incontinence

Help with ADLs is always customized for each resident to maximize their abilities. For example, many residents want help with getting dressed in the morning and changing in the evening, but have no trouble with other tasks. The best assisted living communities provide the assistance you need while empowering you to handle the tasks you want.

Other benefits and options included in assisted living are:

• Assistance with instrumental activities of daily living: Most assisted living communities provide services for instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) as well as ADLs. IADLs include tasks like preparing meals, managing medications and transportation. With IADL services, assisted living residents experience less stress and have more free time to pursue hobbies or visit with friends and family.
• Private space: While shared rooms are common in assisted living areas, private rooms or apartments, along with plenty of space to be alone and relax, are offered.
• Safety measures: Security monitoring through an automated system or private security guards is frequently provided by assisted living communities. Services are designed to make both residents and their visiting friends and family feel comfortable.
• Personalized dining options: Many communities include multiple dining options, such as community dining rooms and space for private meals with relatives or friends that are visiting. These spaces can typically be reserved in advance for celebrations such as birthdays and holidays.
• Housekeeping and linen services: Assisted living is designed to help residents enjoy their time. To do that more effectively, common chores such as cleaning and doing laundry are taken care of by staff.
• Transportation and events: Assisted living communities have a regular social calendar filled with events such as art classes and movies. These events are often hosted in shared spaces within the community, but it’s also common for the community to plan trips to events in nearby areas, such as hiking, going to a shopping mall or seeing a movie.

What’s Included in Memory Care Communities?

Memory care is more specialized than assisted living – it caters to residents with memory impairments such as dementia. Since memory impairments come in different forms, each with different effects on residents, staff and spaces in memory care communities are specially trained. They understand how to keep residents comfortable and healthy. Additional benefits of a memory care community are:

• Privacy: Residents are given private or shared rooms that ensure they have the space they need but aren’t isolated. Private meeting spaces are also available for any family visits or gatherings.
• Personal care assistance: Memory care units have 24/7 personal care services to help the individual dress, shower and go to the bathroom if assistance is needed. This is similar to the support provided in assisted living communities but may be more comprehensive depending on resident needs.
• Medication control: Caregivers in a memory care community ensure all residents take their medicines as directed. Assistance with other IADLs is typically provided as well.
• Safe environment: Memory care units are designed with mobility and safety as top priorities. They have a 24/7 emergency response system in place and staff members will prevent the resident from wandering into unfamiliar areas.
• Calming atmosphere: Memory care communities are designed with calming esthetics to help residents relax and enjoy their time. Members of the community will usually spend plenty of time outdoors in landscaped areas that can bring more joy.
• Individualized care plans: A memory care community will assess the resident’s needs and tailor a plan to help him or her meet their wellness goals. For instance, memory care staff can assist with the resident following a special diet to account for any medications they may be taking.
• Dining: Scheduled meals provide a calming routine, while all-day dining options give residents access to fresh and healthy meals when they’re most likely to want to eat.
• Housekeeping: Part of assistance with IADLs, resident areas are cleaned and sanitized for them. All laundry is also done on their behalf.
• Financial ease: Finances become difficult when a person is living with a memory impairment. He or she may forget to pay important bills. When residing in a memory care community, all utilities and maintenance costs are included in one price, making it easier for residents and their relatives to handle finances.
• Activities: As part of memory care services, a resident will have access to numerous community activities. Many times, caregivers will plan out activities to help stimulate memory, improve cognitive function and keep the physical body healthy. All activities are designed to be engaging and fun.

Assisted Living and Memory Care at The Atrium at Boca Raton

The Atrium at Boca Raton provides comfort and safety for all our residents. Located in beautiful Boca Raton, Florida, residents become like family to our support teams. Our assisted living and memory care communities provide all the benefits and inclusions above, along with additional amenities, such as concierge services.

Our memory care community measures success using premium standards, with specialized programs that keep residents active and engaged. For more information on our assisted living and memory care communities, contact our team. We’re available to answer any questions you may have and help you find the right community for your lifestyle.