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Memory Care
Memory Care Facility

Memory Care vs. Nursing Home: Comparing The Differences

John Trevey on Aug 10, 2023
Barton House Memory Care Sugarland

Figuring out what type of facility your loved one needs as they age can be a confusing and overwhelming process. However, some older adults don’t have as much need for hands-on care, and an assisted living facility meets their needs.

But many older adults who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or severe health issues will need a higher level of care at either a nursing home or memory care facility.

In this post, we’ll break down the difference between Memory Care vs. Nursing Home and help clarify which one is right for your loved one.

Nursing Home

Staff

Staff at nursing homes are trained in medical care and assisting with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as eating, getting dressed, and using the bathroom.

Nursing homes typically have 50 to 100 residents.

Privacy is limited since many residents need hands-on care.

In addition to daily meals and assistance with ADLs, nursing homes also offer medication management, IV therapy, respiratory therapy, and therapeutic services such as physical therapy, speech therapy, and occupational therapy.

Activities

Nursing homes also offer a range of activities for residents, such as movies, music, and games.

Facilities & Security

They offer 24/7 security of the building to keep residents safe and often have outdoor grounds available to residents who can walk or go outside in a wheelchair.

Estimated Costs

The cost of a nursing home depends on many factors and varies from state to state, but most short-term care at nursing homes can be covered up to 80% by Medicare.

Long-term stays can be covered up to 100% by Medicaid if you qualify financially.

If you’re paying out of pocket, the average cost for a private room in a nursing home facility in the U.S. is about $8,500 per month.

A nursing home is a good option for your loved one if they need rehabilitative care, cannot walk on their own, or need help managing severe health problems.

Suppose your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease, dementia in the mid to late stages, or other memory issues, as well as a chronic illness or disease that has left them bedridden or needing hospital-level care. In that case, a nursing home could be a good fit for them as well. But be aware that nursing home staff is not required to be trained in memory care. While some of them might be, many won’t be specially trained on how to deal with specific memory loss symptoms such as agitation, disorientation, sundown syndrome, etc.

If your loved one has memory loss, a memory care facility will probably be his best fit.

Memory Care Facility

Barton House Memory Care Sugarland - Music and fun
Staff

Memory care facilities cater to residents with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of memory loss.

Because of this, memory care facilities have highly skilled and trained staff equipped to offer care to residents with specific memory loss issues.

They are also designed to promote the health and safety of a senior with Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Our philosophy at Barton House Memory Care is that everyone on staff is a caregiver.

Trained nurses, administration, kitchen staff—everyone is trained on how to care for our residents.

At a nursing home, memory loss residents run the risk of eviction because if a nursing home staff isn’t properly trained in deescalating agitation or helping a resident reorient himself, they might consider that resident a risk they cannot properly care for.

At a place like Barton House, our job is to provide care, reassurance and guidance to patients who have these specific needs.

Activities

Like nursing homes, memory care facilities offer programs and activities for residents every day. Still, these activities will be more focused on improving memory and are scheduled to help keep residents in a routine, which is helpful for residents with memory loss.

Art, music, gardening, and exercise classes are popular with our residents because they promote social activity and mental and physical health.

Facilities & Security

Because Alzheimer’s and dementia can cause many persons to suffer from disorientation, memory care facilities should be designed in a unique pattern and flow catered to its residents.

At Barton House Memory Care, we have extra security in place to make sure residents don’t get lost or leave the facility without someone accompanying them.

Because we don’t want our residents to feel trapped, we’ve designed our facilities in a circular pattern. As a result, residents can safely move around the building, from their room to the garden to the kitchen to the living room, without getting lost or putting themselves at risk.

Estimated Costs

Because memory care facilities don’t provide the type of 24/7 physical care that residents in nursing homes require, the median price per room is much less.

However, Medicare and Medicaid do not typically cover costs for memory care facilities.

In the U.S., the median price for a single room at a memory care facility is about $5,250 per month.

Memory Care vs. Nursing Home Comparison Chart

Memory Care
Nursing Home

Cost

The average cost of memory care is $5,250 per month. However, depending on your location, you can pay between $4,000 to $8,000 each month.

The monthly median cost of a state-owned nursing home is $7,513, while that of a private-owned nursing home is $8,517.
The average cost of nursing home care is $7,000 per month.

Activities

The activities in a memory care facility are directed towards helping the patients improve their quality of life. 

For example, at Barton House Memory Care, we encourage social outings and exercises to help the home residents maintain a routine.

Nursing homes have fewer activities, mainly because of the health of the patients. 

Socialization is encouraged amongst healthier patients. Also, games, movie nights, and mini-musical events happen once in a while.

Staff Training

The staff in a memory care facility undergo professional training to know how to care for simple to complex challenges faced by people living with memory loss.

Nursing homes have different medical practitioners, including registered nurses and physiotherapists.

Who is it for?

Memory Care facilities provide care for people with dementia and Alzheimers, typically at the middle and later stages of these conditions.

Nursing homes are for older adults who require full-time nursing care and also have medical issues.

Level of Care

Care is provided for people in every stage of dementia or Alzheimer’s, including assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs), medication management, and effective therapies with music.

Nursing homes provide mid-level assisted care that they cannot get at home. This includes custodial care like helping with ADLs like eating, dressing up, and getting out of bed.

Freedom of Movement

Because of their condition, dementia patients cannot move around the facility without a staff’s guidance. 

Also, the doors and exits are kept shut to stop patients from wandering off.

As long as a patient is not bedridden, they can move around the facility freely. They can visit their loved ones as they please.

Average number of residents

A memory care community usually has fewer than 50 residents. At Barton House Memory Care, we limit our homes to just 24 residents at a time.

Typically, memory care communities have from 11–25 people, which allows the trained staff to give patients the best attention and care.

A nursing home houses more people than a memory care community. The average number of residents in a nursing home is 50–200 people or more.

Which is Right for My Loved One?

Barton House Memory Care Sugarland - Gardening

This is the big question. Ultimately, the choice between a nursing home or a memory care facility comes down to several factors. The most important one is the nature of your loved one’s illness. 

For people with dementia, a memory care facility like Barton House Memory Care is the ideal option because it provides specialized care, including memory-enhancing activities that improve the quality of your loved one’s life. 

When Should You Choose A Nursing Home?

If your family member is suffering from memory loss and chronic illness or medical issues, look into nursing homes with a higher number of trained staff in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. 

When Should You Choose Memory Care?

If your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or mid-to-late-stage dementia but doesn’t have other serious medical issues causing them to be bedridden or unable to walk, a memory care facility will probably be the best fit. Not only will you know your family member is safe, but you can be confident that they are being taken care of by a staff specially trained to care specifically for your loved one’s memory loss needs.

Summary

Understanding how memory care facilities are different from nursing homes is the first step in providing the best care for your loved ones. For patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s, memory care communities offer all the support they need as they navigate this phase of their lives. 

At Barton House Memory Care in Sugar Land, Texas, we provide thoughtful and consistent care for your loved ones with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Our facility is simple, friendly, and welcoming to help residents live the best quality of life. 


Contact us today to learn more about our community and vision.

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Covid Information

Continuing an Environment of Caring in Times of COVID-19


Safety of Residents and Staff

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, our communities are focused on keeping our Residents and staff safe while also maintaining Resident engagement and daily fulfillment. We are taking a cautious approach, balancing the highest level of safety within the least restrictive environment.

We will continue to follow and augment State and C.D.C. safety recommendations:

Screening: We screen every employee every day. We require our staff to complete a questionnaire (inquiring about possible symptoms, recent travel and exposure), have their temperature and oxygen level checked before entering the building. Staff are also required to clean their cell phones, keys and wash their hands while being observed. We monitor our Residents’ health closely with temperature and oxygen level checks at least twice a day. We help our Residents wash their hands throughout the day and encourage them to wear a mask or face covering.

Cleaning: We have enhanced our cleaning products with regard for their effectiveness in killing COVID-19 particles and proper sanitization and disinfection, using the EPA’s specific list of disinfectants for use against the coronavirus. We are using this list and training staff on how long cleaning solutions must be kept on a surface before wiping it off to ensure its effectiveness. We prioritize cleaning high-touch areas and horizontal surfaces, cleaning them several times a day.

Physical Distancing: We encourage 6 foot distancing between Residents and with staff unless they are providing direct care to a Resident.

Testing: We test all Residents and staff for COVID-19 every three weeks, and more as needed. Our nurses utilize a PCR test, which we send to a private lab to expedite results.

Physical Changes: We have installed ultraviolet lights in our air conditioners that supply air to the common areas of the houses. This method is believed to be helpful in killing bacteria that is cycled through the systems and pushed back into the house. We’ve also enhanced our HVAC filters to near HEPA levels, trying to add additional layers of protection to keep COVID-19 out of the building. Most importantly, air purifiers have been added to common areas and each resident room.

PPE: Staff members wear masks at all times and we encourage Residents to wear masks when outside their rooms. We also encourage physical distancing between our Residents. Staff wears additional protective equipment when deemed necessary while caring for our Residents. Staff are continually trained on when and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE).

Individual Needs Stay Paramount

The uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 affects us all. At our communities, we are not letting it stop us from safely offering a life well-lived. Above all, we are providing the utmost attention to the safety and well-being of our Residents. Our Program has always revolved around the individualized needs of each Resident and this has not changed during COVID-19. Residents are still able to connect with each other and staff while maintaining a safe physical distance. Weather permitting, we enjoy the patio and large backyard. We continue to keep our Residents engaged through cognitive, physical, recreational experiences. We offer enjoyment and connection throughout the day even during these unprecedented times.

Visitors

Since early March we have restricted facility access to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Essential Visitors: Healthcare providers including physicians, home health, private duty services, physical therapy and hospice staff have not been allowed in the communities unless there is an acute, essential need for our Residents. These services continue as needed through FaceTime, tele-med and phone conversations. If physical access is absolutely necessary, the individual will complete our questionnaire and screening for temperature and oxygen stats. No one is allowed in the community if they fail to meet our screening criteria.

Families: We are happy to help schedule window visits, FaceTime, Zoom and phone calls with your loved ones based on what is allowed and prudent. To ensure the proper support from our staff, our visits are scheduled ahead of time.

Tours and Move-Ins

Tours: We recognize that regardless of the changes with COVID-19, your need for senior living hasn’t changed. For the safety of you, our Residents and staff, we are currently offering virtual tours where you can see our community, as well as meet our staff. Please contact our Community Relations Director to set up a virtual tour.

Move-Ins: We are accepting a limited number of move-ins (unless otherwise instructed by public health department). New Residents must be tested for COVID-19 prior to move-in. Upon admission, we will place a new resident in their room to quarantine as an additional precaution.

We will share community-specific information with residents and families as our quarantine measures continue to evolve with new information of COVID-19.

We are honored to care for your family member and loved one.

 

Comments we’ve received from our families during COVID-19.

“We appreciate all of your efforts. Your team clearly is a leader in the response to COVID. Thank you for keeping our loved ones safe.”

Joseph

“Thank you, thank you, thank you for ALL you have done and are doing to keep the residents and staff in a safe environment! The continuous learning and improvements empower caregivers and families to do better at home and in our communities.”

Tommy

“I appreciate you taking the time to update us and share them with my family living in AL, GA, VA, MD, FL…we are extremely grateful and comforted by your proactive and decisive measures! We’ll continue to keep you in prayer for health, safety and more.”

Rebecca

“In keeping with the parade theme you had, the employees there are super heroes. They are plowing forward in the midst of this horrible virus and taking care of their patients selflessly. I just wanted to acknowledge their bravery and dedication and thank them from the bottom of my heart for the goodness in their hearts and their dedication to their patients and jobs.”

Abigail

“Thank you! You locked down early & your diligence has paid well.

The Bader support group continues meeting once a month by Zoom. We all appreciate you so much. Everyone comments on how grateful we are that our parents are at Barton House!

We appreciate everything: sending us pictures, calls, alerts to bring supplies/clothes as needed, staying in virtual contact with hospice.
Blessings to each of you.”

Marsha

“Thank you for all y’all and all the staff are doing for my mom and the other residents. We truly appreciate your hard work.”

Carol

Memory Care Facility - Barton House Memory Care - Sugar Land, TX
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