Memory Care

Memory Care

Memory Care Communities in Houston, Texas, can be a great option for seniors suffering from Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or other dementia related diagnosis and may require specialized care along with more assistance with day-to-day activities. There is also a separate certification for facilities that provide care to patients with Alzheimer's and related diseases in the state of Texas.

These communities are setup similar to an Assisted Living and could be a distinct option for those who have been diagnosed with a memory impairment, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy Bodies, Huntington’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Frontotemporal Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or other forms of dementia.

A memory care community is either a large or small community, private or shared, that accommodates people with Advanced-stage dementia . At this stage, the person is very difficult to deal with, often wanders, and demonstrates aggressive behavior. People who exhibit these signs need constant monitoring, one-on-one care, or 24-hour care, which a typical assisted living, large or small, would not be able to safely provide. In Texas, a Memory Care community is Alzheimer’s dementia certified and focused solely on dealing with dementia residents.

Memory care communities are very secure communities that focus single-handedly on assisting people with severe dementia. They have the highest staff-to-resident ratio, which means more personalized and comprehensive care.

Caregivers and staff are also required to have initial and ongoing dementia training to ensure they can provide appropriate care and support to residents at all times. Providing consistent, high-quality dementia care is perhaps the most challenging calling for caregivers as not all residents will experience dementia in the same way and at the same pace.

Typically, the training is geared towards understanding why the person behaves in certain manners, how to deal with everyday emotional challenges, and how to effectively communicate with the residents. Caregivers receive training to fully support the activities of daily living, give proper nutrition, deliver personalized care, and adopt meaningful approaches at every point of interaction with the person with dementia.

Most communities have specialized dementia care programs for people who can no longer age in place and need state funding to help cover the cost for long-term care in a memory care community. These programs aim to support a person with dementia to maintain the highest physical health and quality of life while living with the condition.

Specialized care dementia services can include:

  • 24-hour care and supervision by caregivers specifically trained for dementia cases
  • Set of activities tailored to the person's interests, preferences, and abilities
  • Especially secure and dementia-friendly outdoor environment
  • Individual-centered care and support services
  • Coordination with the families

Some of the best features of memory care communities are:

  • Very secured outdoor spaces that protect wanderers, sundowners, and exit seekers
  • 24-hour immediate care assistance
  • Specially trained nursing and caregiving staff
  • Emergency call response systems
  • Safe environment with secured and locked doors that only open using keypad or keycard
  • Structured activities, like games
  • Home-like areas for socialization
  • Healthy meals and housekeeping services
  • Cognitive therapies
  • Assistance with daily activities including hygiene, mobility, dressing, and bathing

In addition to this, memory care communities have special dementia care programs for residents.

Certified Advisors at Senex Memory Advisors offer assisted living advising for families who have loved ones who are prepared to live in different care settings. This option is not for everyone, we will guide you through the process so you are able to weight the options and make an informed decision. Check out my recent article on 10 Common Causes of Memory loss.



What is memory care community?

Memory care communities, licensed as Assisted Living facilities, care for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other dementia related diagnosis and may require specialized care along with more assistane with day-to-day activities.

Memory Care facilities in Houston, Texas provide round the clock care to residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking or wheeling, and transferring into and out of bed. Laundering of personal clothes, towels and bed linens, trash removal, housekeeping is provided. Social and cultural activities, wellness programs and daily exercise classes focused on brain & memory stimulation, are also available.

Services of visiting physicians, registered nurses, podiatrist, dentist, and home health professionals are also available. There are skilled nursing staff on site with visiting psychiatrists or psychologists who specialize in dementia treatment and alleviation, and who can advise regarding appropriate medications as no dementia patient is the same, and getting the combination of medications right can be a challenging trial and error pro.

Memory care communities are often attached to or integrated within assisted living communities although some are free-standing. Memory care communities are typically secured and designed to prevent a person with memory impairment from being able to wander.

How much assisted living and memory care cost?

Base rates fluctuate depending on the unit size: studio, one or two-bedroom apartment. Base rates cover room and board and two to three meals. Additional charges can include entrance fees up to one month’s rent, deposits, and fees for other services like housekeeping and laundry, though many providers include those services as well. In Texas, assisted living costs can range from $3,000 to $6,000 per month or more. Memory care assisted living is often more expensive as well.

What Services Are Available In Memory Care?

Memory care communities, licensed as Assisted Living facilities, care for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other dementia related diagnosis and may require specialized care along with more assistance with day-to-day activities.

Memory Care facilities in Houston provide round the clock care to residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking or wheeling, and transferring into and out of bed. Laundering of personal clothes, towels and bed linens, trash removal, housekeeping is provided. Social and cultural activities, wellness programs and daily exercise classes focused on brain & memory stimulation, are also available.

Services of visiting physicians, registered nurses, podiatrist, dentist, and home health professionals are also available. There are skilled nursing staff on site with visiting psychiatrists or psychologists who specialize in dementia treatment and alleviation, and who can advise regarding appropriate medications as no dementia patient is the same, and getting the combination of medications right can be a challenging trial and error pro

Memory care communities are often attached to or integrated within assisted living communities although some are free-standing. Memory care communities are typically secured and designed to prevent a person with memory impairment from being able to wander.

How much does memory care cost in Houston, Texas?

The rates fluctuate depending on the unit size: studio, one or two-bedroom apartment. Base rates cover room and board and meals. Additional charges can include entrance or community fees up to one month’s rent, deposits, and fees for other services like housekeeping and laundry, though many providers include those services as well.

In Houston, Texas, memory care monthly average costs can range between $5,000 to $8,000 or more depending on additional services. Memory care assisted living is often more expensive than regular assisted living or residential care home facility.

Is memory care covered by Medicare?

Medicare is a health insurance program which covers qualified healthcare costs while your loved one is living at a certain facility. Medicare does not cover the costs of Memory Care or similar long term care facilities. Medicare is more often used to pay for short terms stay at a skilled nursing facility or services provided by home health care agency.

How Much Does a Memory Care Community Cost?

Monthly cost consists of unit type & size (studio, one or two-bedroom apartment) and care charges also known as Level of Care (LOC). Base rates cover room and board and meals. Additional charges can include entrance or community fees up to one month’s rent, deposits, and fees for other services like housekeeping and laundry, though many providers include those services as well.

Some facilities offer an all inclusive rate which includes room and care costs but could turn out to be expensive if the resident ends up not using all services each month.

In Texas, memory care monthly average costs can range between $5,000 to $8,000 or more depending on additional services. Memory care assisted living is often more expensive than regular assisted living or residential care home facility.

What does memory care provide?

Memory care communities, licensed as Assisted Living facilities, care for seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other dementia related diagnosis and may require specialized care along with more assistance with daily activities.

Memory Care facilities provide round the clock care to residents with activities of daily living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking or wheeling, and transferring into and out of bed. Laundering of personal clothes, towels and bed linens, trash removal, housekeeping is provided. Social and cultural activities, wellness programs and daily exercise classes focused on brain & memory stimulation, are also available.

Services of visiting physicians, registered nurses, podiatrist, dentist, and home health professionals are also available. There are skilled nursing staff on site with visiting psychiatrists or psychologists who specialize in dementia treatment and alleviation, and who can advise regarding appropriate medications as no dementia patient is the same, and getting the combination of medications right can be a challenging trial and error process.

Memory care assisted living is ideal for people who lack safety awareness due to their declining cognitive ability. The staff are specially trained in working with people who have dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. For a person with memory impairment, a memory care assisted living program can greatly enhance their sense of independence and their quality of life.

What is the difference between assisted living and memory care?

Assisted Living promotes independence and emphasizes wellness in a warm, dignified, community setting. Residents live in their own private or shared apartment that they can be furnished and decorate as they choose. Residents are offered daily meals menu options in restaurant style dining rooms, and they have the freedom to decide which activities they want to participate in or how they want to spend their day.

In the state of Texas, Memory Care facilities undergo an additional certification to provide care to patients with Alzheimer's and related diseases. Memory Care, although licensed as assisted living, are unique because they have locked doors, which only open with keypad or keycard, rather than just alarmed doors when exiting, thus preventing folks from being able to leave when they want, though most have secured outdoor spaces. Memory care communities have a high resident to staff ratio. They are specifically designed to provide 24-hour supervision to those who need frequent redirecting or may wander. Memory Care Center provide sensory stimulation, cognitive therapies, and physical and occupational therapies as well as music & art which have been found to help reduce stress and anxiety.

Compared to Memory Care, residents in Assisted Living facilities are more independent and able to accomplish their daily routine without much assistance from care staff. Both Assisted Living and Memory Care facilities in Houston, Texas typically provided all meals, housekeeping and assistance with daily tasks (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, walking or wheeling, and transferring into and out of bed. Laundering of personal clothes, towels and bed linens, trash removal, housekeeping is provided. Social and cultural activities, wellness programs including daily exercise classes and organized outings.

What type of training has the staff received?

Staff and caregivers at Memory Care facilities are specially trained to deal with issues related to Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementias. They receive continuing education on how to engage, communicated, and build rapport with persons with dementia.

Is Memory Care considered skilled nursing?

Memory Care facilities are not same as skilled nursing facilities. However, some skilled nursing facilities do have a separate secured wing or area to take care of people with dementia who are sick and need round-the-clock skilled nursing care.

What is the average length of stay in memory care?

The length of stay depends on condition of person inflicted with dementia. Each person’s situation is different. Since most forms of dementia are irreversible, the person can expect to stay at a memory cafe facility for an extended period of time.

What are the signs it’s time for a move to a memory care community?

Seniors who are experiencing symptoms of Alzheimer’s like wandering, sundowners, venturing out of their place of residence and where a family member or hired caregiver is needed to accompany the person round the clock. If a person is no longer able to care for him or herself and cannot be safely cared for by an untrained family member or loved one because of Alzheimer or other forms of dementia, memory care may be a good option.

What kinds of dementia does Memory Care cover?

Memory Care Center are able to care for people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Lewy Bodies, Huntington’s, Creutzfeldt-Jakob, Frontotemporal Dementia, Vascular Dementia, Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) or other forms of non-specified dementia.

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