For many seniors, assisted living offers a way to preserve independence without compromising on quality of life. However, it’s important to note that senior living communities aren’t universal; every community is different and offers its own unique benefits. There are different levels of assisted living, each providing a different level of care.
At Sommerset Neighborhood, our assisted living program can be broken down into 4 levels:
- Level 1: General Care
- Level 2: Assistance Care
- Level 3: Progressive Care
- Level 4: Memory Care
So what are the differences?
Level 1: General Care
General care is the standardized form of assisted living in our community. This level focuses on providing your loved one with any necessary support to maintain a comfortable, safe, and independent lifestyle.
In general care, your loved one receives a customized care plan tailored to their unique capabilities and needs. There are plenty of benefits to general care, including:
- Medication management
- Housekeeping
- Mobility support
- Laundry services
- Nutritious meal options
- Monthly physician visits
- Engaging social opportunities, programs, and events
This level of care is ideal for seniors who can stay mostly independent but need some help with minor daily activities. It’s an excellent option for those who want to maintain their lifestyle while having access to essential support services.
Level 2: Assistance Care
In assistance care, your loved one still retains access to all of the benefits of general care. However, this level includes additional services designed to preserve your loved one’s quality of life. If your loved one is struggling with some daily tasks but still wants to remain independent, assistance care may be the right choice.
Our assistance care program helps provide support with activities including:
- Personal grooming
- Bathing and hygiene two times per week
- Dressing
- Support getting to and from community events
- Medication administration
The focus of assistance care is to provide in-depth support to your loved one, giving them care when they need it to stay independent and autonomous. Your loved one receives a custom care plan that clearly outlines their needs to make sure they’re well taken care of, with easy access to any needed support.
Assistance care is ideal for seniors who need more help than general care, but don’t need more advanced medical, physical, and cognitive support. It’s an excellent choice for those who require regular assistance with personal tasks and want to maintain as much independence as possible.
Level 3: Progressive Care
Progressive care offers more advanced one-on-one care for your loved one, while still offering a comfortable and supportive environment in our community. It’s designed for seniors who need more in-depth assistance with their daily tasks, and includes:
- A higher staff-to-resident ratio
- Assistance with dressing and undressing every day
- Bathing and grooming services 3 times per week
- Around-the-clock care
- Support for any daily activities
The primary benefit of progressive care is that it allows your loved one to stay in assisted living for a longer time. Rather than transition to a skilled nursing community or more medical-focused setting, your loved one can remain in a comfortable, home-like environment while still having their needs met.
This level of care can make a significant difference in your loved one’s quality of life while reducing stress for your family. Progressive care is suitable for seniors who need more advanced care and round-the-clock access to caregivers.
Level 4: Memory Care
Sometimes, conditions like dementia and other types of memory impairment can cause unique complications in your loved one’s everyday life. However, this doesn’t mean they need to move to a new community; instead, our team can transition your loved one into our memory care program so their needs can still be met.
This is a specialized level of care specifically designed for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and any other type of cognitive decline. Memory care offers a secure, safe, and supportive environment where your loved one can enjoy life in a comfortable setting—without putting their well-being at risk.
In memory care, your loved one gains easy access to:
- Specially-trained caregivers
- Personalized therapeutic activities
- Support with their everyday activities
- Specialized memory support tailored to individual needs
- Regular assessments to adapt care plans as necessary
- 24/7 supervision to ensure safety and assistance at any time
- Social and recreational programs focused on cognitive engagement
Even the physical environment is tailored to support your loved one! With clearly laid-out floor plans, visual cues, maps, and more, your loved one can enjoy every day in an environment truly suited to meet their needs. Memory care promotes a dignified, supported lifestyle, and it’s an incredible way to support seniors living with memory impairment or cognitive decline.
What Level of Care Is Right for Your Loved One?
Finding the right level of care for your loved one is crucial. Their needs are unique, so it’s essential to find a community that values your loved one as the individual person they are—and our team at Sommerset Neighborhood can help. Book a tour with our community today, and let’s find the perfect fit for your loved one. We’re here to help!
