Community Types
Assisted Living
Assisted Living communities provide care, comfort, socialization and supervision for seniors. No more need for shopping, cooking, and cleaning. These communities provide three meals a day plus snacks, housekeeping, linen laundry, activities, and transportation. They also have caregivers on staff that can assist with medication management, bathing, dressing and grooming assistance, incontinence care, escort help for those with walking and/or balance difficulties, etc. Assisted living communities are usually somewhat large and therefore have many social opportunities and events for the residents. The residents are sure to make many friends in this environment, and the family can rest assured that their loved one is being well cared for.
Board and Care Homes
Board and Care homes provide a smaller, more intimate environment and a high level of care. Most are licensed for six residents for which there are two caregivers to assist them. Board and Care homes are great for those who are frail, fall-risks, in need of more supervision and hands-on care, as well as for those who just prefer a smaller, more relaxed home-like environment.
Secured Dementia/Alzheimer’s/Memory Care
Dementia/Alzheimer’s units or communities provide a secured (locked) environment in order to protect those who may wander. They have caregivers trained to assist those with dementia, and they provide activities developed to stimulate the residents’ mental functions. They also provide all the care found in assisted living communities.
Assisted Living/Memory Care Combo Communities
Many assisted living communities also have secured dementia areas, which makes it convenient should a resident’s mental function decline to the point where he/she needs a secured unit, and also when one member of a couple needs memory care and the other does not. Unfortunately, dementia almost always progresses, so to prevent having to move a loved one in the future to a completely different community, these combo communities offer a very practical option.
Important note on Memory Loss
If a physician diagnoses a senior with MCI (mild cognitive impairment), the person can live in any type of community. Should the senior be diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer’s, he/she must be placed in a secured memory care unit.
