This for my 97 year old husband who has pretty severe dementia. I have visited both kinds of facilities and have not clearly seen much difference in the level of care.
Memory cares are typically locked up and/or gated, unlike ALs. Many memory cares will also put the person in an activities room where they share that plus dining.
Generally Memory Care is locked and a resident can not walk out of the building. Assisted Living a resident can leave the building with or without someone. Assisted Living a resident can wander the entire building, in Memory Care the area is a much smaller area so as to not confuse or cause a resident to get lost. Even a facility that is large will have several Memory Care Units or Wings that are self contained to keep a "smaller, homey" feel.
Actually there is a huge difference in the level of care in most facilities, and in the number of caregivers responsible for the care. If you are visiting in a facility you need to visit both areas with staff and ask this question. In assisted living the elder normally doesn't have dementia, or has it in very early stages. While the elder may need care with medications, with a bit of mobility, with bathing, and etc the elder is responsible to come to the "common areas" for meals and to be safe in their own room. Levels of care often go I through IV and start out with self care patients who are not having dementia, who are safe to leave facility on their own and return, who are able to give their own meds, etc being level one and level four perhaps needs help with shower, could be in wheel chair, may need help with incontinence supplies and so on. But there honestly needs to be a level of understanding of a level that rules can be remembered, understood and complied with. In memory care the rooms are smaller, more open to staff, often with two residents, and the doors are locked as there is a lot of wandering out and being lost without that. The patients are confused and may wander out, call out, interact with other residents inappropriately. The patients may require some help with meal set up and to get out to meals. There is often incontinence and an inability to deal with own incontinence supplies. Do discuss all of this, including levels of care, costs, staffing and etc. with the facility. Many here are not fans of such services as "A Place for Mom" but my brother, when finding a facility for his friend/ex partner for whom he was POA, found them wonderful and just loved them. They will take into account and gather information on your Mom INCLUDING what most dislike, a rundown of assets available for care. They will then take you and your loved one to visit facilities (some now use zoom until final decisions are close due to covid-19 restrictions). The fee is paid for by the facility. Many say that once you are on the list the phone calls become a constant, but another responder here said the answer to that is to say "I lied about the assets; she will be on medicaid". You are unlikely then to receive further calls. Just saying, this service may be for you or may NOT be....we all vary. Wishing you a lot of good luck.
If a person has a dementia, then Memory Care may be needed. Residents cannot leave the facility on their own.
In my mother’s MC, activities are geared towards an individual’s needs. There is a greater caregiver to resident ratio.
Assisted Living a resident can leave the building with or without someone.
Assisted Living a resident can wander the entire building, in Memory Care the area is a much smaller area so as to not confuse or cause a resident to get lost. Even a facility that is large will have several Memory Care Units or Wings that are self contained to keep a "smaller, homey" feel.
In memory care the rooms are smaller, more open to staff, often with two residents, and the doors are locked as there is a lot of wandering out and being lost without that. The patients are confused and may wander out, call out, interact with other residents inappropriately. The patients may require some help with meal set up and to get out to meals. There is often incontinence and an inability to deal with own incontinence supplies.
Do discuss all of this, including levels of care, costs, staffing and etc. with the facility. Many here are not fans of such services as "A Place for Mom" but my brother, when finding a facility for his friend/ex partner for whom he was POA, found them wonderful and just loved them. They will take into account and gather information on your Mom INCLUDING what most dislike, a rundown of assets available for care. They will then take you and your loved one to visit facilities (some now use zoom until final decisions are close due to covid-19 restrictions). The fee is paid for by the facility. Many say that once you are on the list the phone calls become a constant, but another responder here said the answer to that is to say "I lied about the assets; she will be on medicaid". You are unlikely then to receive further calls. Just saying, this service may be for you or may NOT be....we all vary.
Wishing you a lot of good luck.