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Wondering are nursing homes and memory care unit in retirement home the same thing? My mother is going downhill fast with the dementia, she is living with me. I need to bath her and wash and dry her hair. She is not able to stand or walk on her own without falling, not able to dress herself. Gets very confused on who I am.

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A "nursing/retirement home" nowadays is an all-encompassing term for a place where elderly people go to live. There are different types of nursing homes -- skilled nursing (SNF) where people live who are bedridden, are rehabbing from things like surgeries or strokes, and are unable to care for themselves in any way. Mainly they deal with medical issues.

There's also Assisted living (AL) where folks can still get around on their own for the most part but need help bathing or dressing or taking their medications. Your mom is not a candidate for that.

Memory care handles dementia patients in a locked facility, but it's understood that they'll have medical and mobility issues as well. I'd say this is where your mom needs to be.

Make sure you find a place that'll take her all the way to the end of life, because not everyone needs to go to skilled nursing at the end. Memory care should be able to handle your mother's issues.
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I can only speak to nursing homes also categorized as skilled nursing. From your description that seems to me what your mother needs.

My mother has been in 2 such facilities as well as 2 AL facilities. The AL facilities had sections just for residents requiring memory care. I am sure others will speak to this. From my understanding people with memory care issues may not be bedridden which is often the case for SN and the situation with my mother. Most residents were in wheelchairs at most. Some were mostly in bed. I don't think I have even seen residents with walkers in either SN facility nor recalling past visits with other relatives.

Hoping you find the solution you need.
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You are new on the site – Welcome! If you click on Care Topics at the top right of the screen, you get an alphabet list. Click on N for Nursing Homes, M for Memory Care, D for Dementia, etc etc. It’s an easy method to find your way around a very complicated situation! Best Wishes, Margaret
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In my experience, nursing homes are for people with physical and/or medical issues. Memory care is for people with dementia (probably moderate to severe) and is a form of assisted living.

Find a place with both, if possible. And have them evaluate her and see what they recommend for the appropriate level for her placement.

Good luck.
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For help in your area contact the Area Agency on Aging. They are a grant funded agency.

https://www.tjcog.org/aging
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