Seniors with dementia often require specialized care and constant supervision that family caregivers may find challenging to provide on an ongoing basis. As your loved one’s condition progresses, dementia symptoms and behaviors may worsen, and there may come a time when you need extra help.

Two of the most common supportive care options for seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia include memory care communities and home care services. While each of these options can provide specialized care for seniors, it’s important to consider the differing ways in which they can support your family’s individual needs and budget.

What is home care?

Seniors with dementia will often require assistance from professional caregivers in order to live safely. Home care provides services to assist seniors in their homes. Home care may be offered by independent caregivers hired as contractors, or by home care agencies that employ professional caregivers. These caregivers offer companionship, assistance with daily activities, and dementia care, usually for an hourly fee. Levels of care provided can vary from a few hours of weekly housekeeping to 24-hour daily supervision, based on each person’s needs and individual care plan.

While home care aides are trained to offer different care services, they are usually not licensed to provide skilled nursing or medical care. Various helpful services, however, can be offered by home care agencies:

  • Companionship
  • Transportation
  • Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing
  • Meal preparation
  • Light housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Basic dementia care

Types of home care

If you decide home care is the right option for your family, you’ll need to choose the type of care your loved one needs. You may be able to choose from several different services:

  • Homemaking — Home care providers can support family caregivers and seniors with dementia by helping with tasks or chores around the house, such as cleaning, laundry, or meal preparation.
  • Companionship — In the earlier stages of dementia, seniors who live alone may benefit from companion care and having someone to regularly check on them. Companion care offers opportunities for conversation and socialization, help with errands and appointments, medication reminders, and more. Some companions may also perform basic household chores.
  • Personal care — As dementia progresses, your loved one may increasingly need assistance with daily tasks, such as bathing, dressing, and toileting. Some home care providers are trained to provide these personal care services for people with dementia.
  • Respite care — Respite services provide temporary relief for primary caregivers. Services can be arranged for as long as needed, typically ranging from a few days to a month. Many caregivers use respite care when they need time to go on vacation or just need a break from caregiving. Building regular respite into a care plan is an excellent way to help manage caregiver burnout. Respite care can also make it easier for caregivers to quickly arrange back-up care plans in emergency situations.

Some home care agencies and registries specialize in providing higher levels of care, such as skilled nursing care. However, these services typically cost a premium due to the training that caregivers must receive. There are two common options for higher-level in-home care:

  • Nursing care — In-home nursing connects families with a registered nurse who may administer medical care, such as wound dressing or pain management, to seniors who require a higher level of support. Nurses will work with a doctor to establish a care plan that meets your family’s needs. In addition to offering medical services, a nurse can monitor the general health of a senior in case of a medical emergency. A nurse providing in-home care may work with a home care aide to provide a full spectrum of services.
  • Home health care — Home health care provides temporary medical assistance for seniors recovering from an illness, an injury, or a procedure. Home health care is typically prescribed by a doctor and the care is often coordinated by a registered nurse. Home health professionals can help with wound care, insulin injections, medication management, and various medical services that other in-home caregivers aren't licensed to provide.

Read: Differences Between Home Health Care and Non-Medical Home Care Services

What memory care services do home care agencies provide?

Some home care agencies specialize in providing memory care services to seniors with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. Typically, home care aides for seniors with dementia will receive special training to provide certain services, including:

  • Assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing or dressing
  • Sensory or reminiscence therapy
  • Assistance in managing symptoms of sundown syndrome, such as wandering, aggression, and agitation

What are the benefits of home care for seniors with dementia?

Home care services that focus on dementia symptoms allow seniors to safely age in place. Aging in place is when a senior lives in a single environment for as long as possible. In-home care allows seniors with early- to middle-stage dementia to age in the comfort of their own homes and to live independently for as long as possible.

Familiar surroundings

Dementia often impairs a senior’s ability to plan and execute activities. This means that changes to a senior’s surroundings can leave them feeling confused or agitated as they try to process new information. Home care allows seniors with dementia to remain at home and benefit from the familiarity of living in the same environment. Familiar routines and surroundings can help seniors feel calmer and more comfortable.

Support and respite for caregivers

In-home caregivers can help alleviate some of the stress faced while trying to juggle caregiving responsibilities with having a personal life. Having the support of an in-home caregiver can give you time to take care of yourself and focus your attention on other important areas of your life, such as your work, family, and health. Families looking to take time off to go on vacation or simply needing a break can also hire an in-home caregiver to provide respite care in the interim.

Flexibility

Home care allows families the flexibility to hire providers to support their unique needs, ranging from a few hours a week to 24-hour or live-in care. Personalized in-home care plans also allow seniors and their families to pay only for the services they require. By contrast, memory care communities offer comprehensive residential care that can be expensive. Many families choose to wait until their loved one with dementia requires more supportive care, before moving them to a memory care community.

One-on-one interaction

In-home aides can interact with seniors one-on-one, while memory care staff may have to care for multiple individuals simultaneously. The personalized nature of in-home care means that seniors and caregivers can get to know each other better than they might in a group setting.

What is a memory care community?

At some point, caregivers may find that moving a senior to a memory care community will be beneficial as their dementia progresses. Memory care facilities provide long-term care for seniors with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. This type of residential community typically offers specialized memory care services that meet the particular needs of its residents. The services in these communities are designed to improve the quality of life for seniors with memory loss by reducing confusion and stimulating cognitive function within a secure setting.

Memory care communities can be a part of another senior living community that provides multiple levels of care, or they can be a stand-alone facility. Memory care often includes many of the same services as assisted living, such as assistance with activities of daily living, meal preparation, and medication management. They also offer unique services, activities, and amenities tailored to seniors with cognitive impairment. Communities that care for seniors with middle- to end-stage dementia may also be better equipped to handle the challenges associated with wandering, aggression, and other dementia-related behaviors.

Specialized services at memory care communities

Memory care communities meet the care needs of those experiencing cognitive decline and memory loss by offering various services:

  • Personal care that assists seniors who have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia with activities of daily living, such as dressing, bathing, or medication management
  • Safety features, which typically include security cameras, emergency call buttons, and locked doors to prevent wandering
  • Full-time supervision by staff trained to attend to the needs of seniors with dementia
  • Behavioral interventions to help with symptoms such as aggression
  • Activities, programs, and social events designed to stimulate cognitive function for seniors with dementia
  • Intentionally designed spaces that ease anxiety and agitation, and simplified building layouts for easy navigation
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What are the benefits of memory care for seniors?

Many seniors would prefer to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The reality, however, is that memory care communities are often better equipped to effectively help those in the later stages of dementia, especially if they need 24-hour supervision and specialized care.

Social interaction

Researchers from the University of Exeter have found that increasing the amount of social interaction for people with dementia can improve their quality of life. By combining at least one hour a week of social interaction with personalized care, researchers saw improved quality of life, reduced agitation, and reduced aggression in seniors with dementia. Memory care communities can offer seniors ample opportunity for social interaction in a safe and secure environment.

Soothing environments

Many memory care communities feature special designs to help ease the feelings of anxiety and agitation that are common in seniors with dementia. These are some common design features you might expect to find:

  • Textured or color-coded walls to help seniors navigate the community
  • Circular hallways that allow continuous wandering and help prevent residents from feeling trapped
  • Secure gardens and courtyards that allow seniors to explore and interact with nature
  • Simulated neighborhoods with storefronts, bus stops, and family-style homes
  • Controlled lighting to mimic sunrise and sunset
  • Multisensory rooms for relaxation and specialized therapy

Supportive therapies and activities

Memory care communities commonly provide special therapies and activities that are designed to help residents with all levels of dementia to feel comfortable and healthy. These structured programs often require oversight by a specially trained staff. There are several popular types of therapy found in memory care communities:

  • Art and music therapy — Art and music therapy allows residents to express themselves creatively in a safe and mentally stimulating way.
  • Pet therapy — Many seniors with dementia are no longer able to care for their pets. Pet therapy allows them to enjoy companionship without the responsibility of pet ownership.
  • Reminiscence therapy — This type of therapy uses auditory or visual cues from the past to help seniors reconnect with positive memories. Memory care communities may use old magazines, classic films, and music to stimulate thoughts.
  • Massage therapy — Many communities will employ licensed massage therapists who are experienced in working with seniors who have dementia.
  • Sensory therapy — Therapy that activates the five senses can offer positive stimulation. Common sensory therapies include aromatherapy, which utilizes smells to trigger memories, and light therapy, which uses soft lighting to stimulate the brain.

Person-centered care

Many memory care communities utilize a person-centered approach to providing care. This process focuses on building close relationships between residents and staff while promoting individuality. Person-centered memory care communities emphasize respecting and valuing seniors as individuals, regardless of their cognitive abilities.

Tips for choosing the right memory care community or home care agency

The care needs of seniors with dementia will evolve as their condition progresses. This means different types of senior care may offer the appropriate level of support at different dementia stages. Planning for care as your loved one’s needs evolve may mean home care and memory care can work in succession, like two links in a chain.

Home care may provide enough support for families with seniors in the early to middle stages of dementia. However, those in the later stages of the condition may require increased supervision and specialized therapies. Consider the following factors when choosing between home care and memory care for dementia.

Budget

One of the biggest determining factors in choosing between home care and memory care may be your budget. Depending on how many hours of care your family needs, home care may be more affordable than a move to a memory care community, especially if your loved one doesn’t need nursing services. As dementia progresses, however, you may find that it’s more expensive to administer specialized therapies or medical care in a family-home setting. Many families choose home care until the cost of care begins to keep pace with that of a nearby memory community.

Read: How to Pay for Home Care

Care needs

Many seniors with early- to middle-stage dementia may be able to continue to live at home. During these stages, home care aides and family caregivers often work together in an effort to ensure that a senior is cared for throughout the day. However, there may come a time when your loved one’s dementia care needs outpace what can realistically be provided in the home. Seniors in the later stages of dementia may require constant supervision and medical care due to symptoms such as wandering.

Safety and security

Seniors with dementia may exhibit symptoms such as wandering, agitation, or aggression that require behavioral intervention. If your loved one’s or your family’s safety is at risk, it may be time for a memory care community. Memory care communities are often well-prepared to safely handle behaviors like aggression, and usually come equipped with security measures such as alarms and GPS trackers.

Assistance with activities of daily living

It’s important for seniors with dementia to live as independently as possible in order to promote cognitive function. Based on each senior’s abilities, memory care communities let residents carry out daily tasks on their own for as long as they can. Meanwhile, home care providers can help seniors maintain their routines for as long as possible within the comfort and familiarity of a home setting.

As dementia progresses, your loved one’s care needs will likely increase. At some point, it may be challenging or unsafe for a senior with dementia to continue to live at home. Memory care communities may provide a secure environment, specialized care, and trained staff to help ensure your loved one feels safer and more comfortable.

How to find senior care

Deciding which type of care your loved one with dementia needs can feel like a daunting task at first. Learning about the differences between memory care communities and home care providers may be a good place to start. Our dedicated Care Advisors at AgingCare can help you navigate the different options to find the right type of care for your unique situation.