A place to consider for long-term care for a family member is one that provides memory care services so is memory care considered skilled nursing is one of the questions people ask. Both services are for the elderly, but cater to other medical and personal needs. It’s important to know the difference when selecting the appropriate level of care for someone with Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
At Soteria Lifestyle, we feel that informed decision-making results in better outcomes for seniors and the families of seniors. This guide clarifies whether memory care is considered skilled nursing, the distinction between the two types of care and when they might be appropriate.
Is Memory Care a Skilled Nursing Facility?
The answer is very simple: NO. One common question regarding memory care is whether or not it is a skilled nursing facility. But memory care is a special type of residential care designed for individuals who have cognitive changes, like Alzheimer’s disease, dementia or other memory-related issues. Skilled nursing, however, is not about medical care and must be delivered by licensed health care providers.
While skilled nursing facilities may provide around-the-clock medical care, memory care communities do provide medication reminders, medical assistance, structured activities and secure environments. To help families determine the right care for their loved one when deciding on memory care, it’s important to understand is memory care considered skilled nursing?
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is a specialized type of senior care that’s geared towards people who suffer from memory loss. These communities offer residents a safe place to live, trained staff to care for them, individual schedules and activities to stimulate their minds, and a place where they can be independent and still stay safe.
These are typical aspects of memory care services:
- Help with bathing, dressing and grooming.
- Medication management
- A well-balanced diet is encouraged and water is available.
- Enclose living areas to stop wandering
- Cognitive stimulation programs
- Participation in social and recreational activities.
- To provide emotional support to residents and families.
These services are mainly designed to enhance the quality of life and do not necessarily provide intensive medical care.
What is Skilled Nursing?
A skilled nursing facility is a place that offers licensed medical care to those who are recovering from illness, surgery, injury or who have severe chronic health conditions. Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, physicians and rehabilitation specialists supervise care.
Examples of skilled nursing services are:
- Twenty-four-hour nursing supervision
- Wound care
- IV therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Speech therapy
- Post-surgical recovery
- Complex medication administration
- Medical monitoring of chronic diseases.
Skilled nursing is different from memory care facilities.
Read More: What is Memory Care vs Assisted Living?
What’s the Difference Between Memory Care and Skilled Nursing?
When examining the differences between memory care and skilled nursing, the bottom line is that there are significant distinctions in the goals they share. Through structured routines and specialized dementia care, memory care helps to support people with memory-related conditions, while encouraging independence.
Memory care facilities and skilled nursing facilities, on the other hand, have differences based on medical care. A skilled nursing facility has all the required staff trained to handle complex medical care needs that have to be administered by a licensed nurse and physician on a 24-hour basis.
Memory Care Compared to Skilled Nursing
Families need to take cognitive and physical care needs into account memory care compared to skilled nursing. A person with early or moderate dementia and who is not very sick will likely benefit from the special care and environment provided by memory care.
Memory care compared to skilled nursing, it might be found that some people with high-level medical conditions, frequent hospital visits or rehab needs may need both skilled nursing and dementia care.
Read More: What Is the Average Monthly Cost for Memory Care?
Who Should Select Memory Care?
Memory care might be a good option for seniors who:
- Suffer from Alzheimer’s or another disease of the brain that impairs mental faculties
- Frequently become confused or disoriented
- Need supervision to prevent wandering
- Needs help with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Take advantage of set schedules and routines.
- Have access to a range of cognitive and social experiences.
Specifically designed to provide safer places to live with dignity and independence maintained.
Why Skilled Nursing?
Skilled nursing may be more appropriate for seniors who:
- Need continuous medical surveillance
- Requires rehabilitation following surgery.
- Have complex chronic disease(s)
- Need IV medications or wound care
- Requires multiple nursing evaluations throughout the day/night
- Rely on licensed health care professionals all day long
In some cases a senior may be admitted to skilled nursing before moving to memory care when their health condition is no longer at a critical level.
Choosing the Right Care with Soteria Lifestyle
The selection between memory care and skilled nursing depends upon the individual’s health, cognitives abilities and the medical requirements. Therefore before making any decision families should consult physicians, specialists and senior care professionals.
At Soteria lifestyle we also believe that every senior journey is unique. Residents living with the memory challenges can enjoy the highest quality of life through our compassionate approach which focuses on providing personalized support, meaningful engagement and a secure environment.
So families can confidently choose the care setting that offers both comfort and long term well being by carefully evaluating each individual’s needs.
Conclusion
When planning a long term care for a loved one, understanding is memory care considered skilled nursing is very important. Both options serve different purposes by providing valuable support. Memory care focuses on dementia support, safety and daily living assistance while skilled nursing delivers advanced medical treatment and rehabilitation. Families can navigate these important decisions with confidence and compassion by working with experienced professionals like soteria lifestyle.
FAQs
Is memory care considered skilled nursing?
No. Memory care focuses on supporting individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, while skilled nursing provides licensed medical care and rehabilitation services.
Can someone with dementia live in a skilled nursing facility?
Yes. If they require ongoing medical treatment in addition to cognitive support individuals with dementia can live in skilled nursing facilities.
Which is more expensive, memory care or skilled nursing?
As skilled nursing includes continuous medical supervision, licensed nursing staff and other healthcare services it is generally more expensive.
Does memory care provide medical treatment?
With daily living memory care communities provide medication management and assistance but they do not offer advanced medical treatments available in skilled nursing facilities.
How do I know which option is right for my loved one?
Whether the memory care, skilled nursing or combination of both is the right choice a healthcare provider evaluates your loved ones medical and cognitive needs.
