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Independent Living vs. Memory Care: Two Sides of the Senior Living Spectrum

15 minute readLast updated August 26, 2024
Written by Marlena Gates

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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Key Takeaways

  1. Independent living communities are for independent seniors without care needs, while memory care is for seniors with dementia care needs.
  2. Memory care provides care services with caregivers trained in dementia care therapies, while independent living only provides services for convenience like housekeeping and meal services.
  3. Independent living is less expensive than memory care because the former is basically a senior apartment complex and the latter is a senior care facility.
  4. Sometimes independent living and memory care share a campus, though the two communities will be in different wings and managed differently.

Independent living is for seniors who don’t require care services

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.

Independent living services provide convenience and comfort

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:

  • Dining services. Even older adults who enjoy cooking may not want to spend time preparing meals every day. Independent living communities often offer three meals daily. Plus, private living spaces usually include full or partial kitchens for times residents feel like fixing a favorite recipe.
  • Home maintenance and housekeeping. On-site staff handle home repairs, lawn care, and even light housekeeping. This lessens the load of chores, leaving more time for activities they enjoy. Some communities even provide linen services.
  • Social activities. Creating connections among residents is important in an independent living community. Activities are usually resident-run and might include things like movie nights, group fitness classes, book clubs, or off-site excursions.
  • Safety features. Things like security systems, security patrols, and gated entries are common in these communities. Plus, living spaces are often equipped with emergency alert systems.
  • Transportation. Independent living residents may choose to keep driving, but their communities often offer scheduled transportation services for outings, errands, or medical appointments.

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Memory care is for seniors with advanced dementia care needs

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:

  • A secure setting. As dementia progresses, seniors encounter an increasing number of safety risks in their homes. Memory care communities provide measures to help ensure senior residents don’t injure themselves or get lost.
  • Specially trained staff. Responding to the unique needs of seniors with dementia takes specialized dementia care training, which caregivers undergo.
  • Higher staff-to-resident ratio. You can generally expect staff to provide more individualized attention and develop detailed memory care nursing plans.
  • Uniquely designed facilities. Some memory care communities include human-centered design, which takes into account the way a resident thinks, behaves, and feels to help them feel at home. Some communities even have secured wandering paths around the community to help seniors with dementia safely wander.
  • Coordinated care. Memory care staff can collaborate with other medical care providers to meet the physical and mental health needs of residents.
  • Everyday care needs are met. Staff in these communities are trained to ensure the daily hygiene of residents as well as make sure dietary needs are met.

Memory care provides specialized services and therapies

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:

  • Music therapy. A person’s music memory can remain even as they’re experiencing cognitive decline. Integrating familiar music into a resident’s daily life can lower stress, enhance memory, and reduce agitation.
  • Pet therapy. Some memory care facilities may also have a resident pet, typically a dog or cat, for companionship.
  • Art therapy. Creative activities like painting, illustration, or ceramics can slow cognitive decline and improve quality of life.
  • Reminiscence therapy. The use of sight, touch, taste, smell, and sound can help seniors with dementia recall people, events, or places.
  • Aromatherapy. Using scent to evoke memories can reduce agitation in older adults with memory loss.

Memory care costs more than independent living

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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Is independent living with memory care available?

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.

Finding the right senior 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:

  • Assisted living. These care communities provide a supportive environment with general care services. However, staff may not be trained in advanced dementia care needs, and facilities may not include specialized cognitive therapies.
  • In-home care for dementia. Aging in place may be the preference of some seniors with dementia and their families. Make sure a potential in-home care provider offers memory care-trained staff. In-home care may not offer many of the same services and amenities as a memory care community.
  • Nursing homes. This senior care option provides the highest level of medical care outside of a hospital. Some include dedicated wings for seniors with dementia. Assess the level of care needed by a loved one to determine whether this level of skilled nursing care is an appropriate option.

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.

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  1. A Place for Mom. (2024). A Place for Mom proprietary data.

Written by
Marlena Gates
Marlena Gates is a senior editor at A Place for Mom, where she's written or edited hundreds of articles covering senior care topics, including memory care, skilled nursing, and mental health. Earlier in her career, she worked as a nursing assistant in a residential care home for children suffering from severe traumatic brain injuries. Marlena holds a master's degree in nonfiction writing, plus a degree from the University of California, Davis, where she studied psychobiology and medical anthropology. While there, she worked as a research assistant in the psychobiology department.
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Danny Szlauderbach is a Video Producer and a former Managing Editor at A Place for Mom, where he's written or reviewed hundreds of articles covering a wide range of senior living topics, from veterans benefits and home health services to innovations in memory care. Since 2010, his editing work has spanned several industries, including education, technology, and financial services. He’s a member of ACES: The Society for Editing and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Kansas.
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