Independent living and memory care communities land on nearly polar opposite sides of the senior living spectrum. Independent living communities are for seniors who are still active, independent, and in control of their own care needs. Memory care communities are for seniors with dementia who require caregiver assistance and 24-hour supervision. The former is considered a senior living community, while the latter is a senior care community. The two environments are drastically different, with different on-site amenities, services, and activities. Read on to learn more about these two different types of senior communities.
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Independent living communities are basically senior apartments with convenient on-site services and amenities that support a senior’s active lifestyle. Seniors in these communities don’t require help with daily tasks and can maintain their own health and wellness needs. Independent living on-site services and amenities are designed to make the lives of residents easier as they age.
Convenience and comfort are key components of independent living communities. As a result, these communities typically provide services designed to create a hassle-free environment. Here are a few examples of services you might find at an independent senior living community:
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A senior with progressive dementia can benefit from memory care communities, especially if the senior has developed challenging behaviors or family caregivers are experiencing burnout. Caregivers at memory care facilities are specially trained in dementia care to ensure that residents are safe and their symptoms are managed effectively. Facility grounds are also secured so wandering behaviors typical of sundown syndrome are safely managed.
Memory care communities provide a safe and calming setting to reduce stress on families and their loved ones with dementia. Benefits of memory care communities typically include:
Memory care communities offer services comparable to assisted living, though more specialized. Services include help with activities of daily living, like bathing and dressing, with specific dementia care techniques to help ease the senior through these activities. Dining services, medication management, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation services for medical appointments are also provided.
What sets memory care services apart from assisted living services is the person-centered dementia care, memory-enhancing activities, and supportive cognitive therapies. Memory care therapies may include:
Because memory care communities provide advanced care services to residents, you can expect their monthly costs to be much higher than an independent living community. The national median monthly cost of memory care is currently $6,200 and the national median monthly cost of independent living is $3,100, according to A Place for Mom’s 2024 proprietary cost data.
However, median costs between both types of communities vary widely depending on location. For instance, the median monthly cost of memory care in South Dakota was $3,210 compared to $9,670 in Maine. And the median monthly cost for independent living in South Dakota was $2,999 compared to $3,434 in Maine.
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Not necessarily. However, sometimes the two types of communities may share a campus.
For instance, one side of the campus might be independent living while the other side is for memory care. This is typically done for two reasons — when partners want to live close to each other but have different care needs, or if a senior in the early stage of dementia wants to age in place. In the latter case, a senior may not yet show signs of dementia and still be independent, but they worry they may develop symptoms requiring care services down the road. This enables seniors to get settled into an environment they’re comfortable with so when the time comes they need care, they won’t have to relocate to a whole new community.
When you’re searching for the most appropriate senior community for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to learn about all of your options. In addition to independent living and memory care, there are other senior care community options:
Finding the right senior community can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are resources to help guide you. A Place for Mom offers a free consultation service that’s helped thousands of families find local senior care and senior living options. Contact a Senior Living Advisor to talk about the needs of your family member and the available options near you.
A Place for Mom. (2024). A Place for Mom proprietary data.
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