The 2 most common questions we receive are:

• “What’s the difference between a Residential Care Facility and an Assisted Living Facility?”
• “Is a Residential Care Facility the same as a Memory Care Facility?”

There is a lot of confusion between these 3 different types of facilities, yet there really shouldn’t be any confusion. An appropriate analogy would be understanding the differences between a car, an SUV, and a truck. You see one and you immediately recognize what you are looking at. Residential Care Facilities, Memory Care Facilities, and Assisted Living Facilities can just as easily be distinguished from each other. While all 3 have several features in common, there are some important differences that should be obvious and carefully considered when determining which type of facility is most appropriate for a given situation.

Here is a general introduction to the 3 different types of facilities. The purpose of this section is to provide a simple, concise overview of these facilities and to clarify common misconceptions. If you are interested in obtaining more information about Sapphire Pacific’s Residential Care Facilities, we encourage you to contact us directly.

• Residential Care Facilities
• Memory Care
• Assisted Living

If you are interested in obtaining more information about Sapphire Pacific’s Residential Care Facilities, we encourage you to contact us directly.

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Residential Care Facilities are the smallest facilities and are also referred to as ‘Care Homes’ or ‘Board and Care’. Residential Care Facilities have the look and feel of a regular home with a kitchen, living room, backyard, etc. Residential Care Facilities serve up to 6 residents and staff 2 caregivers at a time. Residential Care Facilities will offer a ratio of 1 caregiver for every 3 residents. Neither Assisted Living Facilities nor Memory Care Facilities provide this level of care and supervision. (It is worth noting that a facility much larger than 6 residents may “claim” to be a Residential Care Facility despite not having the staffing ratio or home-like atmosphere of an actual Residential Care Facility. These “claims” are ridiculous and create unnecessary confusion).

The 2 biggest advantages of Residential Care Facilities will be their staffing and their home-like atmosphere. The most successful Residential Care Facilities have well-kept homes and very little turnover amongst the staff (some of whom may be live-in caregivers). The familiarity between the smaller staff and a smaller group of residents significantly improves both the flexibility of care and the quality of care that a Residential Care Facility can provide. A smaller, home-like environment ensures new residents don’t become intimidated and hesitant to leave their rooms. It is common for a resident to move from a larger Assisted Living Facility to a smaller Residential Care Facility and become more confident and social by simply moving to a smaller environment. When considering Residential Care Facilities, it is best to spend time observing the inside of the home. Look for odors, cleanliness of the kitchen and bathrooms, upkeep of furniture in the living room, etc. Residential Care Facilities are best equipped to cater to residents who value safety and assistance over social activities. Since Residential Care Facilities tend to keep residents until the end, ask about and listen closely to the facility’s philosophy on hospice care. The responses can be very revealing.

The primary disadvantage of Residential Care Facilities will be the overall lack of diversity in activity and social options, especially in situations where family and friends may not be a consistent social option. Since Residential Care Facilities generally tend to keep residents to the end, a percentage of the 6 residents may no longer be able to socialize. This obviously limits the social options that will be available at any given time. Basic activities should always be offered and available, but it will not be comparable to the wider range of activities available with other options. The answer to a simple question will go a long way in determining if a Residential Care Facilities is an ideal option. What is more important: safety and assistance with a daily routine, or socialization and activities? If safety and assistance with a daily routine is of primary importance, then a Residential Care Facility will be the best and most affordable option.

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Memory Care Facilities specialize in providing care for residents with a diagnosis of dementia. It is worth noting that both Assisted Living Facilities and Residential Care Facilities may also provide care for residents with a diagnosis of dementia as well. However, it is best to contact an Assisted Living Facility or Residential Care Facility directly to verify their admissions policies. That said, we will introduce Memory Care Facilities by placing them into 2 different categories (that are not necessarily mutually exclusive).

The first type of Memory Care Facilities specializes in activities and training that are specifically designed to slow down the progression of dementia. The staff has specialized training and the layout of the day is centered around these activities. This group of Memory Care Facilities best cater to residents with early stage dementia, who can still meaningfully participate in such specialized activities. While this group of Memory Care Facilities tend to be the most expensive, they are an ideal option for this specific group of residents. However, once the dementia progresses to the point where a resident can no longer meaningfully participate in these activities, it may be necessary to consider significantly less expensive options that can provide the appropriate level of care.

The second type of Memory Care Facility specializes in caring for residents with certain behaviors that would preclude them from peacefully residing in Assisted Living Facilities and Residential Care Facilities. An example of such a behavior would be a resident who is unable to sleep at night and constantly wandering into his/her neighbor’s room at all hours of the day and night. Another example of such a behavior would be a resident who is an “exit seeker” constantly trying to leave the facility at all hours of the day and night. These types of Memory Care Facilities have licenses that allow them to provide greater safety, such as more sophisticated locks and restrictions on doorways and exits in order to best serve this specific type of resident population.

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Assisted Living Facilities are typically the largest facilities, ranging from a dozen or so residents (less common) to several hundred residents (more common). The most successful Assisted Living Facilities have a bit of a resort-like feel to them. Resident living quarters are typically in one section of the facility. Other sections of the facility will include large dining areas or cafeterias, activity areas, exercise and fitness areas, outdoor gardens, etc.

The 2 biggest advantages of Assisted Living Facilities will be their dining options and their wide range of activities and outings. When considering Assisted Living Facilities, it is best to spend time researching the quality of meals and dining options (ask to eat a meal in the dining area), activity schedules, and overall social atmosphere. Assisted Living Facilities are best equipped to cater to residents who still have a relatively high degree of independence and who enjoy participating in social events.

The primary disadvantage of Assisted Living Facilities will be the level of care they provide once residents decline to the point of requiring more assistance and supervision. Assisted Living Facilities are an ideal option if assistance is limited to meal preparation, laundry services, linens, and medication management. However, once assistance increases to include more time-consuming activities, such as help with bathing, toileting, or eating, then Assisted Living Facilities are no longer the best option. Compared to other options, Assisted Living Facilities have lighter staffing (generally 1 caregiver for every 7 to 12 residents) and higher turnover amongst staff, which can lead to inconsistent levels of care. Lastly, as level of care increases, costs can suddenly sky-rocket as pricing at most Assisted Living Facilities will incorporate an a-la-carte model (i.e. charges are incurred each time “extra” assistance is provided).