Senior living communities are an excellent way to help a loved one in need. They offer services like skilled nursing and memory care which allow your loved one to enjoy their time doing the things they love while receiving care every day. But what is the difference between memory care and nursing homes? How are they different?

Memory care is tailored toward older adults living with cognitive decline, memory impairment, and dementia. On the other hand, nursing homes—also known as skilled nursing communities—focus on supporting seniors with serious medical conditions by providing easy access to licensed nurses and advanced healthcare services such as customized rehabilitation programs.

What is Memory Care?

For seniors with memory problems, dementia, or Alzheimer’s, memory care communities offer a safe and supportive living option. These places help residents stay independent as long as possible in a familiar and comfortable setting.

When receiving memory care, a team of specially trained caregivers provides compassionate care designed to improve your loved one’s quality of life and preserve their cognitive abilities. This includes:

• Activities to keep your loved one mentally active
• Amenities to keep things interesting
• A structured environment to keep your loved one safe

Memory care offers a way for your loved one to enjoy every day in an encouraging environment tailored to meet their unique needs. It’s an excellent way to aid a loved one living with memory impairment or cognitive decline.

How to Tell if Someone Needs Memory Care

Recognizing when a loved one needs memory care can be challenging. Dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other types of memory impairment often develop slowly, and can easily be mistaken for natural age-related memory problems.

However, there are some key signs that indicate that it might be time for a move to memory care, such as:

• Wandering or getting lost in familiar places
• Increased frequency of forgetfulness and confusion
• Difficulty managing daily tasks or personal care
• Changes in mood or behavior, such as agitation or aggression
• Decline in judgment and decision-making skills
• Neglecting household responsibilities and hygiene
• Social withdrawal and isolation from friends and family

If you’ve noticed these signs in your loved one, it may be time to talk about memory care, and Kingston Residence of Sylvania can help.

What is Skilled Nursing?

What if your loved one needs more advanced medical care, but isn’t living with cognitive decline? Maybe mobility is a problem, or they’re experiencing a chronic and long-term illness?

If this is the case, skilled nursing is often ideal. Skilled Nursing provides hospital-style medical care and customized rehabilitation programs, offering a place to call home that can still provide your loved one with complex healthcare.

These communities are staffed with a team of licensed nurses and caregivers and offer access to advanced medical care. This means that your loved one can still enjoy a home-like atmosphere that doesn’t put their health at risk. 

Kingston Healthcare operates two separate communities in Sylvania, ensuring that your loved one can receive the exact level of care they need. At Kingston Residence of Sylvania, we’re proud to offer Independent Living, Assisted Living, Short-Term Stays, and Memory Care, in a comfortable, community-focused residential setting. If your loved one does require a higher level of care, Kingston Care Center of Sylvania is a better fit. The Care Center offers access to skilled nursing care, customized rehabilitation programs, and emotional support, with professional nursing staff on-site 24/7. 

Who is Skilled Nursing For?

Skilled nursing is ideal for older adults living with complex medical needs who could benefit from being surrounded by a team of licensed caregivers. It’s best suited for individuals requiring a higher, more involved level of care than is provided in assisted living or memory care settings. It’s an excellent choice for seniors who are:

• Recovering from a major surgery
• Experiencing chronic illnesses
• Dealing with severe mobility issues
• Needing frequent medical treatments or therapies
• Living with serious conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or respiratory illnesses
• Requiring round-the-clock medical supervision and support

Alongside medical care, communities like Kingston Care Center of Sylvania often provide customized physical and occupational therapy programs to either encourage recovery or maintain physical abilities. The homes are designed to create a caring, loving, and supportive environment where seniors can focus on healing and improving their health—while still enjoying seamless access to quality health treatment.

Why Choose Skilled Nursing?

Choosing skilled nursing ensures that your loved one has access to reliable medical care and aid at all times. With round-the-clock care, your loved one can receive immediate attention in case of emergencies, reducing the risk of complications and promoting faster recovery.

That said, this isn’t just about medical attention, though. Skilled nursing gives you and your loved one the peace of mind of knowing that your loved one is well taken care of. The entire atmosphere is tailored to meet the unique challenges often posed by complex health conditions, all in an environment that feels just like home!

Skilled nursing is an incredible blend of hospital-style support and rehabilitation, offering a place to call home that can truly meet your loved one’s needs at any time.

How Senior Living Can Help

Choosing between memory care and skilled nursing depends on your loved one’s specific needs. Each option can be an excellent choice depending on your loved one’s unique situation.

At Kingston Healthcare, we take pride in offering all levels of care between our two communities in Sylvania. Kingston Residence of Sylvania offers Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care in a comfortable, community-oriented setting. Kingston Care Center of Sylvania takes care a step further, offering round-the-clock on-site nursing care and customized rehabilitation programs for our senior community members who need more than they’d receive in other residential care environments.

In our communities, your loved one can enjoy making the most out of each and every day—in an environment designed to cater to them as the unique person that they are. Schedule a tour with us today to learn how we can help your loved one!