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When you are looking for memory care services for a loved one, you might hope to find a single-source FAQ page that answers all your questions. Unfortunately, the range of questions that you seek answers for are wide and numerous. So today, we thought we’d start out by addressing five of the most common questions regarding memory care that we answer routinely. We hope this helps.

1. What is Memory Care?

Although its structure within a senior living model can differ amongst communities, what memory care offers can be easily explained. Memory care services are specially designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Communities with memory care services provide seniors with a structured environment, including set routines tailored to the individual resident’s needs and preferences, and safe environments to help residents feel secure. Memory care services include more security measures compared to standard assisted living communities, helping prevent residents from wandering too far away from home.

Seniors who need memory care enjoy specially trained staff to help with all their needs, including personal care tasks.

2. What’s the Difference Between Assisted Living and Memory Care?

There are many overlaps between professional memory care services and professional assisted living services. We provide both services and understand that people get confused when it comes to the relationship between the two.

Assisted living and memory care both provide residents with help with daily tasks like:

• Dressing


• Eating


• Bathing


• Walking


• Social activities

In addition to typical assisted living care, memory care residents get that extra level of supervision that helps them feel safe, and that reassures their loved ones. Memory care offers programming specifically designed to retain residents’ cognitive function. Communities also make sure that memory care residents can stay connected to loved ones while receiving the care they need.

3. Does Memory Care change as My Loved One Ages?

As assisted living residents age, their services often increase to include memory care. That’s why it’s smart, when looking at assisted living and memory care communities, to make sure the community you choose is prepared to provide both assisted living and memory care so that your loved one’s age in place. Studies reveal that comfort and stability is vitally important to every memory care patient.

When touring memory care communities, ask about how they’ll handle your loved one’s needs as they progress, and how that will impact the monthly costs of memory care. Ask specific questions about the availability of:

• Physical safety measures


• Specially trained memory care staff


• Enriching, memory-specific programs


• Areas for family visits

4. Do Memory Care Programs Ensure My Loved One is Engaged and Social?

Memory care programs should fill your loved one’s life with meaningful experiences that meet their needs. This helps to improve the quality of your loved one’s life, and it makes family visits and interactions more meaningful.

Quality senior living includes trained memory care specialists (like ours) who will talk to you and your loved one to assess their needs and strengths. This will help the community experts develop a structured experience that keeps your loved one’s interests and passions alive.

The best memory care programs will not just look at needs. They will also focus on your loved one’s existing abilities to maximize their strengths, rather than focusing on what they can no longer do. Top-tier memory care is all about making the most of what we have, and paving the way to an easier, brighter future.

If you’re touring a memory care community and the memory care services don’t seem to differ much from assisted living, keep touring different communities until you feel comfortable with the level of attention your loved one will receive. We’re confident to that end, all roads will lead you here to Gateway Gardens Assisted Living and Memory Care in Winder, GA! The right memory care program should know how to best communicate with your loved one, and it can provide meaningful therapeutic experiences including music, art, off-site outings, and more.

5. Does Memory Care Cost the Same as Assisted Living?

Professional care services, by nature, are more demanding upon staff, programs, and facilities than professional assisted living. Not surprisingly, memory care is more expensive than assisted living, but there is good news here, too. We have a tremendous track record for helping our resident family members successfully negotiate the fiscal transition to memory care. Time and time again our resident family members set aside their fear that memory care is simply unaffordable. Since your loved on is our loved on also, you will be amazed at the positive synergistic effect when determined family and professional care givers team to discover solutions that they can celebrate.

Call to Learn More

If you’d like to discuss these issues in more detail or work deeper into your personal FAQ list regarding Gateway Gardens assisted living or Gateway Gardens memory care services, we are ready to help. Call us today!