Nurse assisting Brandon Wilde resident in wheelchair

Personal Care vs. Memory Care: Which Is Right for My Parent?

As you begin your search for a safe, trustworthy, enriching environment to become a home for your mom and/or dad, you’re probably hearing a lot of senior living jargon being tossed around, complicating what’s already a taxing process. Two of these terms are personal care and memory care. Which should you be looking into?

What is personal care?

Personal care is for those who need a little extra help with the activities of daily living (you may hear them referred to as ADLs), such as getting dressed, bathing, taking medication, and getting to and from, but the resident is largely independent. Your mom or dad will receive individualized care from compassionate certified nursing assistants. At Brandon Wilde, our personal care residences are in the same building as our independent living residences, so your loved one’s friends are nearby, and they have easy access to all the same amenities, like our wellness center, salon and day spa, library, and private dining room. They also receive ongoing wellness evaluations to ensure their care is always specified to their changing needs and to determine if they need additional care.

What is memory care?

Memory care is for those who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Brandon Wilde provides support for your loved one to go about their daily life in a safe, secure and relaxed family-like environment. We offer Heartfelt CONNECTIONS — A Memory Care Program®, which enhances your loved one’s lifestyle by focusing on what they’re still able to do. The program offers amenities like a certified music therapist, social activities, and secure outdoor spaces to enrich their quality of life, as well as integral services like medication management and our on-site 24/7 licensed nursing staff.

Which is right for my parent?

So the question remains: personal care vs. memory care? Which is right for my parent? Have you assumed the role of caregiver to assist with your parent’s ADLs, and you know it’s time to ask for help? Personal care might be the way to go. If your parent’s memory is starting to slip, making ADLs increasingly harder, you may need to consider memory care to secure your peace of mind that they’re receiving care specifically for seniors with memory problems and that they’re safe in a secure community. At the next doctor’s appointment, ask your parent’s physician what their impression of your parent’s needs is. Of course, since you likely spend the most time with them, you know what their daily behavior is like, so describe the dynamic of your situation to your parent’s doctor, and see what they say.

Many people wonder what is the difference between personal care and memory care when they begin to consider options for their senior parent. Brandon Wilde aims to make the process as smooth as possible — we have a team of trained professionals here to assist you with navigating your loved one’s transition to health services at our community. Personal care and memory care are just two of the health services options in the continuum of care we have available at Brandon Wilde.