Arbor Hills is a residential community designed for people with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias
Arbor Hills Memory Care Community is a residential facility that provides housing, meals, activities, and staff support for older adults living with memory loss. Unlike assisted living or independent senior housing, memory care communities are built around the specific needs of people with dementia — staff are trained in dementia care, the physical layout is designed to reduce confusion and wandering, and daily routines are structured to support people who may not remember recent events or recognize familiar faces.
The community operates as a private-pay facility, meaning residents or their families pay out of pocket rather than through Medicaid or Medicare. The cost, what is included in that cost, and whether the community can meet a specific person's care needs all depend on the individual resident's stage of dementia and medical situation.
Key Takeaways
- Arbor Hills is a residential memory care community, not a hospital or nursing home, and serves people with Alzheimer's and other dementias.
- The community is private-pay, meaning families cover the cost directly rather than through government insurance programs.
- Memory care communities provide 24-hour supervision, structured activities, and staff trained in dementia care, but the level of medical care available varies by facility.
- Visiting the community in person, speaking with the care director, and asking about staff training and daily routines are the most useful ways to understand whether it is the right fit.
- Many families explore memory care communities after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's or another dementia, but the timing of a move depends on the individual's needs and family circumstances.
What daily life looks like in a memory care community
Memory care communities typically offer a structured day with meals, activities, and one-on-one or small-group engagement. Staff help residents with personal care — bathing, dressing, toileting — and with taking medications on schedule. The physical environment is usually designed to be calming: find outdoor spaces so residents can move around safely, consistent routines so the day feels predictable, and visual cues like color-coded doors or large clocks to help orient people who are confused about time or place.
Activities vary by community but often include music, art, gardening, reminiscence groups, and outings. The goal is not entertainment alone but engagement that draws on a person's interests and abilities, even as memory declines. Some communities also offer family events, support groups for adult children, and regular updates so families stay involved in care decisions.
How memory care differs from other housing options
A memory care community is not the same as assisted living, independent senior housing, or a nursing home. Assisted living typically serves people who need help with daily tasks but do not have significant cognitive impairment; memory care is built specifically for dementia. Independent senior housing is for people who can manage most tasks on their own. A nursing home (skilled nursing facility) provides medical care for people with serious illness or injury and is usually covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Memory care sits between independent living and nursing care. It offers 24-hour supervision and help with daily tasks, but the focus is on safety, routine, and quality of life rather than medical treatment. If a resident develops a serious medical condition — a stroke, pneumonia, a broken bone — they may need to move to a nursing home temporarily or permanently.
What to ask when you visit or call
Before considering a move to any memory care community, it is worth gathering information about how the community operates. Ask about staff-to-resident ratios (how many residents each staff member is responsible for), how staff are trained in dementia care, and what happens if a resident's needs change and become more complex. Ask whether the community can manage behavioral changes, wandering, or aggression, or whether they have limits on the stage of dementia they serve.
Find out what is included in the monthly cost and what costs extra — some communities include activities and outings, others charge separately. Ask about visiting hours, whether family can eat meals with residents, and how often the care director meets with families. Ask what the community does if a resident becomes ill — do they call a doctor, take the person to the hospital, or manage it in-house? These details matter because they shape what the experience will actually be like.
If possible, visit in person and spend time in the common areas. Talk to staff and, if you can, to other families. A community that looks clean and organized on paper may feel rushed or cold in person, or it may feel warm and attentive. Your sense of the place and the people matters.
Cost and how families pay
Memory care communities are private-pay, meaning the cost comes directly from the resident's or family's resources — savings, pensions, long-term care insurance, or family contributions. The monthly cost varies widely depending on location, the size and amenities of the community, and the level of care provided. Some communities charge a single monthly rate; others charge more if a resident needs more hands-on help or has behavioral needs that require extra attention.
Unlike nursing homes, memory care communities do not accept Medicaid in most states, though a few communities have Medicaid beds or can help residents transition to Medicaid-covered care if funds run out. Long-term care insurance, if a person has it, may cover part of the cost. Some families use a combination of the resident's own funds, family contributions, and insurance to pay.
When families consider memory care
There is no single right time to move to a memory care community. Some families make the move early, when a person is newly diagnosed and still relatively independent, because they want the person to adjust while they can still understand the change. Others wait until the person needs more help than family members can safely provide at home — when they wander at night, when they no longer recognize family members, or when a spouse or adult child is exhausted from caregiving.
The decision often comes after a crisis: a fall, a hospital stay, a behavior that feels unsafe. It can also come gradually, as family members realize that the person is no longer safe alone or that the caregiver's own health is suffering. There is no shame in either path. Memory care communities exist because some people need more support than family alone can provide, and recognizing that is an act of care, not abandonment.
Questions to ask yourself before exploring options
Before you contact a memory care community, it can help to think about what matters most to your family. Is proximity to family important? Do you want a large community or a smaller, more intimate setting? Are there specific activities or programs that would matter to your loved one? Is cost the main constraint, or are there other factors — location, philosophy of care, religious affiliation — that matter more?
Also think about what you hope the move will accomplish. Are you looking for relief from caregiving stress? Safety and supervision? Social engagement? A better quality of life? Different communities emphasize different things, and knowing what you are looking for makes it easier to evaluate whether a particular place is a good match.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between memory care and assisted living?
Memory care is designed specifically for people with Alzheimer's or other dementias and includes staff trained in dementia care, a find environment, and routines built around memory loss. Assisted living serves people who need help with daily tasks but do not have significant cognitive impairment. Memory care communities typically provide more supervision and structure.
Can someone move to memory care early in their diagnosis?
Yes. Some people move to memory care shortly after diagnosis, while they can still adjust to the change and form relationships with staff. Others wait until they need more help than family can provide. The timing depends on the person's needs, the family's situation, and what the community can offer.
What happens if someone's needs change and become more complex?
Memory care communities have limits on the level of care they can provide. If a resident develops a serious medical condition or their dementia progresses to a stage the community cannot manage, they may need to move to a nursing home. Ask the community about their policies on this before admission.
Do memory care communities accept insurance or Medicaid?
Most memory care communities are private-pay and do not accept Medicaid. Some long-term care insurance policies cover part of the cost. A few communities have Medicaid beds or can help residents transition to Medicaid-covered care if private funds run out. Ask about payment options when you contact a community.
How do I know if a memory care community is right for my family?
Visit in person, talk to staff and other families, and ask detailed questions about daily routines, staffing, activities, and what happens if needs change. Trust your sense of the place. A good fit feels safe, respectful, and aligned with what matters most to your family.