While it’s true that memory care costs more than conventional assisted living, the unique person-centered care approach and purpose-built architectural details found in memory care communities offer a better quality of life to older adults living with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

For many families, the intrinsic value this specialized type of care brings cannot be put into words. Especially to the families coping with the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia symptoms, memory care communities provide an unprecedented level of reassurance and peace of mind that is simply unattainable in other long-term care settings.

How Much Does Memory Care Cost?

Many family caregivers are surprised to learn that Florida memory care communities only cost around 10% more than regular assisted living communities in Florida. According to DementiaCareCentral.com, an educational resource offered by the National Institute on Aging, the monthly cost of memory care in Florida ranges from $5,000 on the low end to as much as $9,000 in some cities. Surprisingly, memory care costs can vary by as much as 20% from city to city.

The most affordable memory care communities are located in the Tampa and Orlando areas, including Serenades Memory Care purpose-built memory care communities.

Just as each family’s situation is unique, so too are the needs of our loved ones and the care they require – especially those facing challenges associated with memory loss. Memory care facilities like Serenades Memory Care by Sonata are specially designed to address these specific needs, offering an environment that’s not only safe and nurturing, but also tailored to the unique needs of the individual.

Why Memory Care Costs Are Higher Than Assisted Living?

Monthly rent in a memory care community tends to cost slightly more than rent in an assisted living community because residents with Alzheimer’s and dementia require more comprehensive personal care and support from caregivers, which adds to the overall expense of operating the community.

As Alzheimer’s disease or dementia progresses, those affected may become increasingly challenged by activities that were once routine. Over time, brain cells lose the ability to transmit information effectively, leading to the deterioration of memory, thinking, problem-solving, and various other unwanted symptoms and behaviors.

Ultimately, because dementia causes cognitive decline, memory care community residents require more assistance with eating, bathing, dressing, and other daily activities.

In Florida, memory care communities are also required to maintain a special assisted living license that requires caregivers to have more training. Some communities, including Serenades Memory Care, go above and beyond state-mandated training to help caregivers become certified dementia practitioners. This specialized training equips caregivers with a deeper understanding of progressive brain disease and techniques on how to interact and support those with the unpredictable symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

In short, the increased support, security, specialized care and training all contribute to the slightly higher cost of providing memory care services in Florida.

The Value of Specialized Memory Care Assisted Living Communities

Science and research related to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease has been in the news recently, providing families with renewed hope. New innovations in memory care communities can now provide families access to technology and design solutions that vastly improve quality of life and care for their loved ones.

At Serenades Memory Care communities, the residents’ quality of life is at the heart of every decision – from the design of the physical spaces to dining and nutrition to the programs that encourage social interaction, safety, and independence.

Unlike a conventional assisted living community, the unique features of a purpose-built memory care community may include:

• Care plans and activities that focus on residents’ retained abilities to maximize engagement and reduce stress and anxiety.
• Activities that incorporate residents’ preferences to improve personal connections, independence and emotional well-being.
• Musical interventions and music therapy to ease negative symptoms and promote cognitive function.

Life enrichment programming, stimulating activities, music and memory therapies, and dementia-friendly dining services—all aspects of brain health are part of the cost equation.  

How is Memory Care Different From Traditional Assisted Living?

Memory care communities are specifically tailored to alleviate the negative symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These communities, including Serenades, go beyond conventional senior care facilities by embracing a unique approach to architecture, care and amenities that help the community look and feel like a traditional family home. The goal is to make the environment more comfortable and familiar to the person with dementia.

Serenades Memory Care embodies this philosophy with a specially designed or “purpose built” environment that reduces overstimulation, prioritizes safety, promotes familiarity, and facilitates easy navigation.

The Advantages of Purpose-Built Memory Care Communities

Every aspect of memory care communities, from architectural nuances to personalized activity-driven programming, is intentionally designed for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Serenades Memory Care at The Villages, Serenades Memory Care at Longwood and Serenades Memory Care at West Orange reimagine the traditional multi-purpose room and replace it with small group spaces and common areas that resemble a cozy living room in the family home. The décor is intentionally soothing and therapeutic, aimed at relaxing and comforting older adults who may become easily agitated. The concept extends to other areas like the dining room, which has been converted to an open, inviting family-style kitchen that leverages the powerful aroma of homestyle cooking to trigger the brain’s connection between hunger and food.

Purpose-built memory care communities like Serenades fulfill the instinctive human need to make personal choices. Despite the confusion and disorientation dementia causes, residents of a memory care community are permitted unrestricted but secure access to indoor and outdoor areas, preserving their sense of freedom and autonomy and supporting their desire to wander.

The strategic design of Serenades Memory Care has at least seven advantages over standard assisted living communities:

• A more intimate setting to minimize overstimulation
• Enhanced safety features to safeguard well-being
• Unrestricted access to an outdoor courtyard to encourage independence
• Homelike décor, furnishings and amenities to promote familiarity and comfort
• Visual cues and amber lighting to ease wayfinding and navigation challenges
• Research-based dining programs to improve nutrition and prevent weight loss
• Specially trained dementia-certified caregivers

Learn more about The Dementia Diet at Serenades Memory Care and how it affects appetite in the person with progressive brain disease.

Qualifications of Specialized Dementia Caregivers

The complexity of Alzheimer’s and dementia and their effects on the brain and behavior require a nuanced, sophisticated understanding of brain disease to provide a more sensitive, educated, and informed level of care.

The staff at memory care communities such as Serenades Memory Care have received specialized dementia care training to care for those with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. These unique skills may include understanding how to effectively communicate with individuals with severe memory loss or ways to navigate a sudden change in mood. These scenarios are more common in people with dementia and are all part of the specialized training dementia caregivers undergo.

Find out if it’s the right time to move to a memory care community.

Thriving with Memory Loss

At Serenades Memory Care, visual cues provide residents with the confidence to navigate their surroundings, helping them thrive even as dementia causes memory decline. Open floor plans encourage social interaction vital to residents’ overall well-being, and personalized music and memory programming enhance mood and cognition. Innovative safety features encourage residents to use their retained abilities, helping them feel more self-assured. The result is proven to dramatically improve quality of life in a fully supportive environment.

Having a loved one diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or dementia can be a challenging time for any family. Memory care communities like Serenades Memory Care can provide the specialized care your loved one needs while preserving their confidence and dignity. At the end of the journey, some families find it impossible to put a price on the peace of mind afforded by a memory care community.

If you or a loved one have been recently diagnosed, learn the five questions you must ask every memory care community.

To learn more about Serenades Memory Care communities, schedule a visit today.