What is Memory Care?

Growing older affects our physical and mental abilities. Creaky joints, arthritis and forgetfulness are all common signs that we’re not as young as we used to be. However, if your loved one is showing signs of memory problems then there may be something beyond the natural effects of ageing going on.

This is where memory care comes in - providing housing and 24-hour care for those living with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

In this article, we’ve taken a look at what memory care is, the benefits, memory care facilities, how it differs from other types of elder care and how much it costs.

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What is memory care?
What does a memory care nurse do?
What are the benefits of memory care?
Who needs memory care?
Memory loss and other symptoms of dementia
Memory care facilities
How to choose a memory care facility
How is memory care different from other types of elder care?
How much does memory care cost?
Is memory care right for my loved one?
Are you looking for memory care?

Key Takeaways

Memory care is when a care home, often a nurse, provides specialist care for those living with memory loss, including people living with a form of dementia such as Alzheimer's
A memory care facility can be a care home that just provides care for those with memory loss, or it can be a wing of a regular residential or nursing home
Specialist care for memory loss tends to cost more than non-specialised care fees: on average, between £1,430 and £1,585 per week

What Does Memory Care Mean?

Memory care is a specific type of care intended for those living with memory loss disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia, and is one of the fastest-growing forms of elderly care. Specialist memory facilities and nurses provide safe and tailored care for these needs.

Memory care can also be referred to as assisted living with memory care, dementia care, residential memory care or Alzheimer's care. Plenty of nursing homes, residential care homes and assisted living communities have special units for dementia residents, and there are stand-alone memory care facilities. There are also memory clinics which assess potential memory loss and treatment options.

Some of the key services provided by these facilities include:

24-hour care which can focus on the individual needs of residents
Specialised staff who lead activities such as brain games to help seniors remain stimulated
Memory-enhancing therapies that vary from music and art therapy to sensory stimulation and aromatherapy
A secure and safe setting with keypad entrances for family and staff, along with carefully designed layouts

What Does a Memory Care Nurse Do?

A memory or dementia care nurse’s job is to provide skilled nursing care to residents with dementia. These specially trained nurses will supervise and support these residents by creating a stable routine and filling their day with stimulating activities, usually organised by an activity coordinator.

Memory care home staff will be well-versed in recognising potential triggers for dementia and can work to calm or distract residents if they become distressed.

Along with providing meals, medication and helping with personal care tasks, these specialist nurses will also check in with residents on a more frequent basis. Doing this is what allows staff to add better structure and support to the daily lives of someone living with a form of dementia such as Alzheimer's.

To ensure that a high level of care is provided, there should be more care staff per resident when compared to other types of care.

Memory care nurse and resident

What are the Benefits of Memory Care?

Memory care offers several benefits for elderly residents living with dementia or Alzheimer’s. This approach to dementia care helps residents maintain their skills for much longer, while providing fulfilling activities that stimulate cognition.

Here are four of the main benefits:

1. It promotes a safe environment

Memory care facilities are well-equipped to prevent wandering - a common behaviour displayed by those living with a form of dementia such as Alzheimer’s. People who wander may become lost or get hurt.

Other safety features include locked exterior doors, keypads or doorbells at entrances/exits and enclosed gardens or courtyards, all of which allows residents to spend time outdoors safely.

These settings also aim to minimise confusion, with thoughtfully designed homes and clearly identified spaces making disorientation much less likely.

2. They offer specialised, 24-hour care for people living with a form of dementia

Staff are given thorough and regular training to provide an excellent degree of care for elderly residents with memory loss. A low staff-to-resident ratio allows for more social interaction and a greater focus on every resident’s individual needs.

The staff are also trained to manage dementia symptoms. These can include difficult and aggressive behaviour. Staff aim to do so in a kind and compassionate manner, using specific dementia care techniques.

3. They provide person-centred care and support therapies for dementia

Person-centred care means a personalised approach to dementia care, and involves understanding someone’s preferences, past experiences, abilities and care needs. This allows a relationship to develop between staff, residents and family members, meaning a personalised care plan can be created which will better support your loved one’s unique needs.

Supportive activities and therapies for dementia that aim to increase relaxation and reduce agitation may include:

Pet therapy - Pet therapy involves using a resident pet - usually a cat or dog - for companionship
Art therapy - This is believed to slow cognitive decline
Reminiscence therapy - This uses sight, touch, taste, smell and sound to help residents remember people, events and places
Aromatherapy - This uses scents to evoke memories
Music therapy - Listening to soothing music can improve cognition and reduce aggressive behaviour
Occupational therapy - Residents are taught coping strategies to compensate for memory loss and cognitive decline

Memory care nurse and older adult

4. They coordinate care for memory care residents

Care coordination is one of the most important services offered at a residential memory care facility. Community staff work closely with residents to assess and plan activities according to their needs and abilities.

The staff may also work with other healthcare providers to ensure all residents receive the care they need.

We’re here to help you find the right dementia care home for you or your loved one. You can request a free list of dementia care homes from our care experts, who will then share homes matching your budget and location. You can also search for a dementia care home through our easy-to-use directory.

Who Needs Memory Care?

If a family member starts to display several of the following symptoms, then they may be a candidate for memory and dementia care services:

Wandering off on their own
Forgetting where they are (becoming disoriented)
Problems with judgement and decision making
Forgetting who family and friends are
Difficulty with performing otherwise familiar tasks
Behavioural problems such as aggression and agitation, along with sudden mood shifts
Depression or anxiety
Experiencing severe confusion or hallucinations

Ultimately, it’s time to seriously think about a loved one’s care needs when memory issues mean that they’re a potential danger to themselves or others. At this point, you should start to look into specialist care services that can help.

Memory Loss and Other Symptoms of Dementia

Some of the most common symptoms of early stage dementia - which are often present before a formal diagnosis - are:

Difficulty concentrating
Confusion regarding daily tasks, dates and times
Memory loss
Struggling to follow a conversation
Sudden mood changes

Memory jigsaw

Memory Care Facilities

Memory care facilities have been specially designed to have a dementia-friendly layout and offer residents dementia-focused memory care programmes/activities to help them manage the symptoms of their condition.

A residential memory care facility will include many of the following:

Circular hallways for residents to walk around, without becoming frustrated at dead ends or locked doors
Safe outdoor spaces that can be freely wandered
Smaller communal areas that create a calming atmosphere
Naturally well-lit rooms with pleasant views from the windows
Consistent patterns and colours around the home
Memory-focused activities and therapies

While some of these facilities may sound a bit much, they’re necessary to ensure residents remain safe and receive an amazing level of care. Dementia residents are prone to wandering off, so locked doors and enclosed spaces mean that residents can enjoy the freedom of exploring their surroundings, without ending up in danger.

How to Choose a Memory Care Facility

Trying to find the right setting for your loved one can be overwhelming, especially as services and amenities will vary from memory unit to memory unit. So where to begin?

Your loved one’s specific needs will play a huge role in guiding your decision. For example, if they’re prone to wandering, safety is a big priority.

Once you’ve narrowed down your choices to a handful, we’d then recommend you visit each residence a handful of times, including one unannounced visit in the evening when staffing will be thinner.

There’s no substitute for actually visiting a memory care facility in person and experiencing a typical day, as this is what’ll allow you to see the building’s layout, how staff interact with residents and what activities are offered. Virtual tours are usually an option if in-person visits aren’t possible. Don’t forget to ask about safety measures, features and staff training when on these visits (more on this below).

Next, we’ve gone over a few of the most important factors you should consider when choosing residential memory and dementia care.

1. Care layout and safety features

The majority of dementia and Alzheimer’s care facilities are designed to feel like a home. Floor plans are easy to navigate, while exits are marked and rooms are labelled. Some facilities will even include soundproofed walls to help reduce agitation and confusion for residents.

Other things to consider are enclosed outdoor areas with walking paths, circular hallways (so residents don’t become frustrated by dead ends) and the overall cleanliness of the facility.

Be sure to keep an eye out for all these details. Though they might seem minor, a well-thought-out design can make your loved one’s transition into a memory care facility much more seamless.

2. Staff expertise and the staff-to-resident ratio

You’ll want to know how staff members interact with their residents. It’s worth finding out what kind of dementia-specific training employees are given, how they’d manage a person who becomes aggressive (it should involve plenty of compassion) and what memory care programmes/activities they provide to residents.

3. Dementia care plans, programmes and activities

Does the facility provide activities that will keep your loved one engaged? What strategies do the staff use to encourage their residents to eat? How are dementia care plans developed and do staff take the time to get to know their residents? How often are care plans updated and are residents’ interests taken into consideration when planning activities?

These are all questions worth asking to get a better understanding of how well a memory care unit can cater to your loved one’s individual needs.

Older adults playing jenga

4. Availability of continuing care

Some units can't provide complex medical care. You should find out what health conditions or types of behaviour may require your loved one to be moved to a different facility or a more expensive level of care within the facility.

How Is Memory Care Different From Other Types of Elder Care?

Memory care is one of the fastest-growing forms of senior care. While specialist facilities for memory loss patients broadly offer several of the same services to other care types, there are several big differences.

Memory care vs. nursing homes

Memory care and nursing care are similar in that both offer long-term housing, meal services, medication management and assistance with daily activities.

The main difference between memory care homes and nursing homes is that nursing homes haven’t been specifically designed with dementia residents in mind. A nursing home can have confusing layouts, patterned walls or furniture that may be distressing to dementia patients. Many dementia residents initially suit life in a care home, but then move to a specialist unit or home as their condition develops.

Memory care places a greater emphasis on mental health and welfare, while a nursing home will often focus more on physical care.

Memory care vs. assisted living

Assisted living communities are similar to memory care facilities as they also provide housing, meal services, supervised care and help with daily tasks. Memory care differs from assisted living as it specialises in caring for people with memory loss.

This means that memory-focused care spaces and staff are better equipped to accommodate the unique needs of dementia or Alzheimer’s residents. This usually includes 24-hour care, supervision and monitoring, a secure environment for residents and staff that are well versed in dementia care techniques.

How Much Does Memory Care Cost?

Currently, people living with dementia have to completely fund the cost of their care, unless they have assets and savings less than their country's threshold. In some cases, these thresholds are lower if you need home care, rather than memory care in a care home. Our article on self-funded care explains whether you or your local authority will pay for care.

In the UK, the cost of dementia is £34.7 billion every year. This works out at an average annual cost of £32,250 per person with dementia. Right now, two-thirds of this cost is being paid by people with dementia and their families.

Costs vary from home to home though. The services within a memory care facility, such as 24-hour care, specialised staff, memory-enhancing activities, a secure environment, meals, housekeeping and assistance with daily chores can all add to the cost. Our data shows that the average cost of a self-funded residential dementia care home in the UK is £1,430 per week, while nursing dementia care costs £1,585 per week.

Is Memory Care Right For My Loved One?

Whether your loved one has only just received their dementia diagnosis or is now showing significant signs of memory loss, recognising the need for memory care is key for the wellbeing of the whole family.

While some people with early to middle-stage dementia will initially be fine in an assisted living community, many families will opt for memory care, particularly as symptoms increase. The structured environment helps residents feel more comfortable in coping with their declining cognition.

Those with much more cognitive decline will often need a level of assistance beyond what can be provided at a typical care home or assisted living facility. People with late-stage dementia become unable to care for themselves and need round-the-clock support, with memory care offering a lower staff-to-resident ratio, meaning residents can get the attention they need.

Older adults in a memory care facility

When is it time for memory care?

As dementia progresses, providing a loved one with the support they require can become increasingly difficult. Memory care aims to support the unique needs of elderly people with memory loss while offering enriching activities and therapies.

It may be time for specialised support and care if:

Trying to manage dementia behaviour like aggression is becoming increasingly difficult
Your loved one’s daily hygiene needs aren’t being met
Sleep problems are becoming unmanageable
Your loved one regularly wanders off
You’re unable to adapt your home to keep your loved one safe
You’re unable to properly manage your loved one’s medications
You’re a caregiver that needs a break and is concerned for your own health

Are You Looking For Memory Care?

When looking for a memory care unit for yourself or a loved one, we’d recommend visiting a handful of times first, to make sure it’s the right fit.

A loved one receiving a dementia diagnosis can be a distressing and difficult time, but rest assured that nursing care homes and memory care units are there to help.

If you require more information, advice or support on finding the right care home for you or a relative, then get in touch with one of Lottie’s care experts to start your care home journey.

We offer dementia care homes throughout the UK, many of which specialise in memory care:

Lottie matches care seekers with the best dementia care homes for their needs. You can also request a free care home shortlist from our care experts, who will share homes matching your budget and location.

What is a Memory Care Home?