When to Move From Assisted Living to Memory Care

Many older adults move into assisted living while they still manage much of their day on their own. Over time, if memory and thinking change, a general assisted living setting may no longer be the safest or most comfortable fit. Knowing the signs can help families make the move at the right time, before a crisis.

How memory care is different

Traditional assisted living offers help with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, meals and medications, in a setting where residents come and go fairly independently. Memory care is designed specifically for people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. It typically adds:

• A secure environment that lets residents move around freely without the risk of getting lost
• Caregivers trained in dementia care, communication and redirection
• More structure and supervision throughout the day and night
• Activities adapted to each person’s abilities and interests
• Calmer, simpler surroundings that reduce confusion

Signs it may be time to move

• Wandering or getting lost, including leaving the building or trying to go “home”
• Safety incidents, such as leaving the stove on, falls linked to confusion, or not using a call button
• Missed or mixed-up medications, even with reminders
• Increasing confusion about time, place or people
• Behavior changes such as agitation, anxiety, suspicion, sundowning or striking out
• Withdrawing from activities and other residents, or feeling lost in group programs
• Needing more help with eating, dressing, bathing or toileting
• Staff concerns. The assisted living team says they can no longer meet your loved one’s needs safely.

Why moving sooner can help

Families often wait, hoping things will stabilize. But a move made earlier, while a person can still adjust to new surroundings and get to know new caregivers, often goes more smoothly than a move after a fall, hospital stay or other emergency. Many families notice their loved one is calmer and more engaged once they are in a setting built around their needs.

Steps to take

• Talk with the doctor about changes in memory, behavior and safety.
• Ask the current assisted living team what they’re seeing and what they recommend.
• Tour memory care homes and ask about staff training, activities, safety features and costs.
• Review how you’ll pay. Ask about long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance and Florida Medicaid’s long-term care program.
• Plan the move with familiar furniture, photos and belongings to help the new room feel like home.

A smaller setting can make a difference

Some people with dementia do best in a small, homelike memory care setting, with fewer residents, consistent caregivers and quieter surroundings. Generations Senior Living’s three licensed homes near The Villages specialize in memory care, accept Medicaid, and accept long-term care insurance, with help filing claims.

Have questions about memory care for someone you love? Call Generations Senior Living at (352) 474-2696 or schedule a tour of one of our three homes near The Villages.