Memory Care for Dementia Other Than Alzheimer's?

Is there a difference between memory care and dementia care? Or are they the same thing?

My dad and me party with his Parkinson’s Disease Dementia together. And I’m looking for professional care with someone who's on the same wavelength as my dad. I want to make an informed decision.

Memory care is commonly associated with “Alzheimer’s and other dementias”. Is there a type of care that’s intended for straight-up dementia? That is to say, is there a type of dementia care that’s just for dementia and not Alzheimer’s?

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Are Alzheimer’s and dementia the same thing?

To understand differences in care, let’s go back to the health condition. Back to brass tacks.

Alzheimer’s is different from dementia because Alzheimer’s is a disease and dementia is “a group of symptoms”. Trusted source Alzheimer’s Association resolves my confusion: ​​

Dementia is a general term for a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with daily life, while Alzheimer's is a specific disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia.
- Alzheimer’s Association

In fact, Alzheimer’s is the most common type of dementia. About 2 of 3 people living with dementia have Alzheimer’s. About 1 of 3 people living with dementia have a different type of dementia (non-Alzheimer’s).

What is the difference between memory care and dementia care?

Since Alzheimer’s is a subset of dementia, does that imply memory care is also a subset of dementia care?

No, the same relationship doesn’t hold true for memory care and dementia care. 

Memory care is a type of assistive care designed for people with memory loss. That’s inherent of Alzheimer’s, and very common for other less prevalent dementia.

Dementia care encompasses all types of care for dementia, not just those related to memory loss.

When people say memory care, does it apply to dementia?

Most people use the terms memory care and dementia care interchangeably.

One care provider calls it memory care, and another calls it dementia care, to mean the very same thing, and it’s so darn frustrating, and you just have to live with it.

Doctors may debate nuanced differences, but if you’re seeking care for a loved one living with non-Alzheimer’s dementia, memory care and dementia care are both valid options.

Does memory care work for people with non-Alzheimer’s dementia?

Memory care supports the memory.

Dementia care supports symptoms described as dementia.

Memory loss is one of the common symptoms experienced by people living with dementia.

Therefore, memory care is suitable for people living with dementia involving memory loss.

(Sound logic doesn’t stop health care providers from using the terms interchangeably, and use the work Alzheimer’s more often. In order to sell the care to the people with Alzheimer’s.)

Why do memory care services usually mention Alzheimer’s before dementia?

It usually goes “Alzheimer’s and other dementias”. Not the other way around. “Dementia and Alzheimer’s”.

Taking one step closer to the truth, we see Alzheimer’s is the most-well known type of dementia, simply because there are more people living with Alzheimer’s than there are people living with all other dementias combined.

That explains why memory care facilities and in-home memory care services talk about Alzheimer’s so much. Since there are more people with Alzheimer’s than any other form of dementia, there are more memory care customers with Alzheimer’s too.

It makes good business sense to approach the biggest customer base, and for memory care services, that’s Alzheimer’s.