Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care Communities:

Independent Living Communities:

Independent Living Communities are designed for seniors whom no longer want to live alone, and are looking for social interaction and activities.  They want a sense of home and security and would like their meals provided for them.  Many Communities also offer housekeeping, laundry, local transportation, and basic care assistance.

Assisted Living Communities:

Assisted Living Communities are designed for seniors who require assistance, but want to remain as Independent as possible.  In addition to meals, they can benefit from 24-hour caregiving assistance including: medication management, bathing, dressing, and toileting assistance, if needed.

Social interaction and activities are included.  24-hour staffing also provides a sense of home and security.  Many Communities also offer housekeeping, laundry, and local transportation,

Memory Care Communities:

Memory Care is Assisted Living designed for seniors whom require assistance, but are also living with Alzheimer's and/or other forms of Dementia.  Staff are specifically rained to provide  care and specialized programming designed to help residents strengthen their cognitive abilities. Memory Care Communities can offer secured environments which can also include enclosed courtyards where staff can closely monitor them.  Many Communities also offer specialized memory care activity programs such as: music therapy, art therapy, mind and body sensory stimulation, one on one question and answer, along with housekeeping, and laundry.

Different types of Dementia:

Alzheimer’s disease- Most common form.  It is believed to be caused by plaques and tangles that form in the brain that destroy both the brain cells and neurons and the synapses which connect between the neurons to allow communication between them.  May exhibit steady progression of memory loss over several years.

Vascular dementia- Second most common form. Occurs when blood flow and oxygen is blocked off to part of the brain damaging the neurons, usually resulting after a major stroke of a series of TIAs..  Early on may exhibit difficulties with language, lack of judgment and poor planning, and inappropriate  outbursts.

Lewy body dementia- Lewy bodies(proteins) build up in the nerve cells, thus affecting memory and motor control.  May exhibit hallucinations and delusions. 

Lewy body dementia is related to Parkinson’s disease, The proteins initially accumulate in the part of the brain that controls movement and may spread later to affect memory.

Frontotemporal dementia-different proteins can attack the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, which are responsible for and can affect behavior, mood, ,ability to speak, and motor function.