Memory care is a dedicated level of senior living built for people with Alzheimer's, dementia, or other memory-related conditions that make independent living or standard assisted living unsafe. It combines the personal help you'd get in assisted living (bathing, dressing, medication management) with a secured environment, structured daily routines, and staff trained specifically in dementia behaviors like wandering, agitation, and sundowning. Matthews has 7 communities offering this level of care, ranging from standalone memory care neighborhoods to dedicated wings inside larger assisted living campuses.
What to look for
Staffing ratio and staff training matter more here than almost anything else. Ask how many caregivers are on shift overnight, not just during the day, and whether staff hold dementia-specific certifications rather than just general aide training. Walk the actual memory care unit, not just the main lobby: check for secured exits, enclosed outdoor courtyards residents can access safely, and whether the layout is simple enough for someone with cognitive decline to navigate without getting disoriented. Ask about their approach to behavioral episodes (redirection versus medication), how they handle care plan changes as a resident declines, and whether there's a point at which they'd ask a resident to leave for a higher level of care.
How we score these communities
Our rankings weigh licensing history, staffing and training claims, resident-to-caregiver ratios where available, security and safety features, and family feedback. See the full breakdown of criteria on our methodology page, and compare all 7 Matthews communities side by side, including several offering memory care, in our ranked guide to assisted living facilities in Matthews.