What is the Difference Between Memory Care and Dementia Care?
When an elderly loved one is afflicted by dementia or a memory disorder, it is vital that they receive the care and support they need. While you may want to care for your loved one, you may not have the capacity to do so. Fortunately there are a wide range of care options available for the elderly. In this blog, we discuss care options for the elderly struggling with memory disorders or dementia. We look at memory care vs dementia care to give you a better idea of which type of care would be better suited for your loved one.
What Does Memory Care Involve?
The widely accepted memory care meaning are care programs that are designed to cater to seniors with memory-related conditions. Unlike general elderly care services, memory care services are focused on caring for the elderly that are afflicted with neurodegenerative conditions that affect their memory. These conditions may include Alzheimer’s and dementia.
So are memory care and dementia care different? Dementia is a broad term used in healthcare to describe a decline in brain function as the patient grows older. This often affects memory but may include other symptoms. It is therefore crucial to choose the right care to address the needs of your loved one.
Companion Care’s Memory Care Programs Can Provide Several Benefits Including:
- Access to the medical support that your loved one needs 24/7
- A wide variety of options for treatments and activities to help improve your loved one’s memory
- Participation in cognitive behavioral therapy that is specifically designed to meet your loved one’s unique needs
- Participation in a wide range of physical activities designed to encourage physical wellness as well as an active lifestyle
- Guidance in the installation of physical safety features around the home to account for mobility and reduce the risk of your loved one wandering off.
What is the Difference Between Memory Care and Dementia Care?
As mentioned earlier, dementia is a degenerative condition. It may affect memory, but also often comes with various other symptoms. Dementia care therefore typically involves much more than memory care. In fact, many consider memory care the care that would be appropriate for the elderly during the early stages of dementia. Dementia care however, would be required following a formal diagnosis with dementia or when the patient is in the later stages of the condition.
It should be noted that elderly patients that receive memory care early enough have a higher chance of not requiring dementia care later on. This is because early intervention can help to reduce the progression of the condition. Leaving an elder without the support they need can worsen their condition.
Providing your elderly loved one with memory care early can help to manage their condition. They will be able to enjoy a mostly independent lifestyle. Dementia care on their other hand can impact the daily life of your loved one. They may no longer have the independence they once enjoyed.
What Type of Care Does My Loved One Need?
You may now be wondering what type of care would be best suited for your loved one. If your elderly loved one’s condition is advanced and their ability to perform everyday tasks has been affected significantly, they would be served best by a dementia care program.
If your elderly loved one needs support with everyday tasks but still has the capability to handle many of these tasks on their own, they could benefit from being in a memory care program. At Companion Care Inc. we provide memory care Woodinville programs designed to meet the specific needs of each and every client. We will help your loved one have the highest level of independence possible and ensure that they can enjoy their everyday life more.