What's the Difference Between Assisted Living and Memory Care?
Assisted living communities cater to those who want to enjoy an active community and need a little extra help with activities of daily living. Memory care primarily focuses on those with Alzheimer's or dementia that need enhanced care throughout the day in a secure environment.
Let's take a deeper look into both of these care levels.
What is Assisted Living?
Assisted Living is for seniors looking to receive a bit of help with a few activities of daily living such as bathing, managing medication and dressing. Our assisted living communities offer a vibrant lifestyle with a packed calendar of events and lots of opportunities to create meaningful connections.
Who Can Benefit From Assisted Living?
Assisted living may benefit you the most if you’ve noticed slight changes in your ability to complete activities like bathing, dressing, laundry or other daily chores and are in need of some assistance. Everyone’s needs are different—we provide a personalized care assessment upon arrival that can help you receive the care specific to your needs.
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is a type of senior living designed specifically for people living with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. It’s more than a place to live—it’s a thoughtfully built community where your loved one can feel known, valued and supported each day.
At Brookdale, memory care means comfort, familiarity and connection in a setting built with your loved one in mind.
A closer look at memory care
Brookdale’s memory care communities offer 24/7 support in a secure, welcoming space. From morning to evening, your loved one can experience meaningful routines, warm relationships and peace of mind.
Here’s what memory care may include:
- Engaging daily programs: Six daily activities designed to spark joy, boost confidence and create connection
- Dementia-informed team: Kind associates trained in memory support, redirection and personalized care
- Secure design: Keypad entries, enclosed courtyards and easy-to-navigate spaces that offer the chance to explore with confidence
- Personalized routines: Care plans that reflect your loved one’s preferences, personality and abilities
Memory care is about more than managing memory loss. It’s about helping your loved one thrive—emotionally, physically and socially—in a place that feels like home.
Who Can Benefit From Memory Care
If you've noticed that your loved one's security or well-being has been compromised at home due to memory loss, memory care could be the solution. Our dedicated staff are specially trained to provide intentional care and establish familiarity with each resident. Their well-being and comfort are our top priorities, and we're here to provide support and assistance.
Factors That Affect Cost
Pricing varies depending on location, level of care needed and specific amenities offered by each community. Understanding the cost can help you plan and make an informed choice. Let's dive into the pricing details and explore what factors contribute to the overall cost.
We understand that everyone has unique needs—we offer services tailored to you. The amount of care required may impact cost—we work closely with you to try to find a balance that suits your lifestyle, needs and budget.
Basic rates can vary depending on your location due to factors like cost of living. To get accurate and up-to-date information about the prices in your community, reach out to one of our friendly senior living advisors.
We offer a range of apartment options that vary by community to suit your preferences: from cozy studios to spacious two-bedroom apartments. Keep in mind that the room type you select impacts the overall cost.
There are a range of amenities tailored to your needs and preferences at each community. While many of these are included, we also offer optional add-ons that may impact the overall cost.
Still looking for more information regarding the cost of senior living? Take a closer look at each type of care to understand how factors contribute to the cost.
Cost of assisted living at Brookdale →
The costs of assisted living or memory care are dependent on several factors including location, floor plan, and care needs. To better help manage your finances, we have created a few resources that can guide you through this process—explore our Financial Planning page.
At our select continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), we provide three or four levels of care at one location. Some of our other communities also offer more than one level of care.
We encourage you to have visitors—spending time with family is key to living a full and rich life. Invite them over and share a chef-inspired meal or participate in a community activity together.
We know how crucial proper nutrition is in maintaining overall health and wellness. In order to meet your loved one’s nutritional needs, both of our assisted living and memory care communities have services available to provide assistance for your loved one as assessed in their service plan.
There are a wide variety of amenities that are provided in assisted living. Many of our amenities are included, such as housekeeping and maintenance, social engagement opportunities and more. Other amenities can be added for your specific needs, such as clinical services and personal assistance with a range of daily activities. Each community is different, so make sure you check with your local community to see which amenities are provided.