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Assisted Living: What Is the Difference Between Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care?

During National Assisted Living Week (September 11-17, 2022), we’re reaching out all week to local experts to answer frequently asked questions about assisted living.

Join us for today's episode of Home Helpers Water Cooler Chat for a brief chat with sales counselor Gina Brockman of Water’s Edge of Bradenton. Thank you, Gina, for assisting us in providing helpful information to our community, especially seniors.

To reach out to Gina Brockman or to learn more about Water’s Edge of Bradenton, there are a number of ways to get in touch:

Main Phone: (941) 748-7797

Property Address: 2015 32nd Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205

Website: www.nationalchurchresidences.org/communities/waters-edge-of-bradenton/

Contact Gina Brockman

Office: (941) 757 2335

Cell: (941) 209 2279

email: GBrockman@nationalchurchresidences.org

#NationalAssistedLivingWeek #AgeInPlace #SeniorCare #WatersEdgeofBradenton #AssistedLiving #IndependentLiving #MemoryCare

Transcript:

[Jonathan] It's National Assisted Living Week. And to celebrate this week, we checked in with local experts to answer some frequently asked questions about assisted living. In this episode of "Home Helpers Water Cooler Chat", I had the opportunity to chat with Gina Brockman, a sales counselor with Water's Edge of Bradenton. Are you ready to learn more about assisted living? Let's go.

Thank you so much, Gina, for joining us today for this edition of "Home Helpers Water Cooler Chat". How are you doing today?

[Gina] I'm doing great. How are you, Jonathan?

[Jonathan] I'm doing great. Great to see you. So the question I have for you today is “What is the difference between independent living, assisted living, and memory care?”

[Gina] So that's a great question, Jonathan. So when it comes down to independent living, assisted living, and memory care, there are all different types of what I refer to as service lines within the senior living realm. Independent living is truly what it is. You're independent. A lot of times, I truly consider it a lifestyle.

So folks, residents, can move into an independent living community, and a lot of times they get access to amenities. A lot of different independent living communities offer dining, fitness classes, kind of all the different amenities that are out there. And they also, one of the biggest things is that of socialization. Many independent livings will have some sort of activity program where they put on activities, and the residents themselves partake in these activities and it allows them socialization and interaction and to continue to be active. So that's the biggest thing about independent living. Again, I consider it more of a lifestyle. We take care of... We, as in Water's Edge, but also all the other independent livings tend to take care of maintenance, and yard work, and things like that. So the residents don't have to worry about those day-to-day needs.

Then, assisted living is where... We talk about it, where we want the resident to still be as independent as possible, but within assisted living, there are more hands on services. So that comes from aides, nursing aides, or nurses themselves. So they start to help manage and take care of personal needs, activities of daily living. So anything from medication management, helping with dressing, bathing, the list goes on. And what's nice about assisted living, it is all that of the independent living and more. So, they... Assisted living adds on the care needs. A lot of people even go into assisted living, and sometimes they don't even need care. They just like people to be around 24/7 and have the security blanket and the safety, knowing somebody's there for them should they ever need anything.

And then we proceed onto memory care. And memory care now is a step of assisted living. And what I mean by that is, it is everything assisted living has to offer, but it is in a secure environment. That meaning the resident themselves usually has dementia, Alzheimer's, and it is a secure environment where the resident does not put themselves at risk of wandering where they were to, if they were to leave the community or the building that they're in, would they be able to get back safely. So memory care helps prevent those issues from arising. And even within memory care, they have more specific programming for the needs of dementia and Alzheimer's residents.

So that's pretty much the difference in a lump sum, between independent living, assisted living and memory care. And out of all of that, every independent living, assisted living, and memory care, they're all kind of different in the way they function, what they offer, things like that. So if you are still curious or you still don't know where you or your loved one may fall, what is the best environment for them, I encourage you to reach out to those communities and they themselves, like myself, would be able to help steer you in a better direction, come up with ideas and really see what may be the best fit.

[Jonathan] Thank you so much, Gina. I think that was an excellent description of the three different types. The independent living, assisted living, and memory care. And two words that really stuck out for me are lifestyle and security. So as we age, you know, one of those three options could be a great option for us as we do age. So I just want to commend you for that. And thank you for that information. So Gina, can you tell us a little bit more about Water's Edge of Bradenton?

[Gina] Sure, absolutely. I'd love to tell you a little bit more about Water's Edge of Bradenton. We are a senior living community that does offer all those different types of service lines that I just spoke of. So we offer independent living. We actually have villas, independent living villas, independent living senior apartments, and then we also offer assisted living and memory care. So it is a great community to move into and you can move in at any one of those stages. And we love having all three options within our community to allow somebody to age with us. And we offer many amenities, the activity, programs, everything I touched on. So if you are ever interested, curious about what we have to offer, I invite you in and just let me know.

[Jonathan] And that being said, so how can our viewers reach out to you if they'd like to reach out?

[Gina] Sure. I am available on all-- Text, phone, email. I will send you my information here on the screen. So take a picture of it, write it down and give me a shout.

[Jonathan] And thank you so much, Gina, for joining us today. Is there anything else you want to add before we leave?

[Gina] No, that is all. I appreciate you having me today. And like I said, if you have any questions, Jonathan himself, he is around in this area. He knows a lot as well. So use him absolutely as a resource too.

[Jonathan] All right. Thank you so much. And to our viewers, thank you so much for joining us for this episode of "Home Helpers Water Cooler Chat". And until next time, we'll see you soon. Take care.

[Gina] Bye bye.

HOME HELPERS OF BRADENTON

Home Helpers of Bradenton is one of the region's leading home care franchises specializing in comprehensive services for seniors. Home Helpers' sole mission is to make life easier for clients and their families. Based in Bradenton, Florida, the company serves all of Manatee County, including the communities of Anna Maria, Bradenton, Bradenton Beach, Ellenton, Holmes Beach, Lakewood Ranch, Longboat Key, Palmetto, and Parrish. For more information or to request a free in-home care assessment, contact our office at (941) 499-5946 or visit our website atwww.homehelpershomecare.com/bradenton

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