Senior Care 101
Everything I wish I had known when I was figuring out care for my own mom. Written for North Atlanta families.
First, what the levels mean
Senior living comes in three levels. Everything else on this page makes more sense once these are clear.
Independent living
An apartment or cottage in a community built for older adults — dining, activities, neighbors, no house to keep up. For someone who's managing fine day-to-day but done with the yard work.
Assisted living
All of that, plus trained staff who help with the daily things — medications, bathing, dressing, meals. For someone who needs a hand through the day but not round-the-clock nursing.
Memory care vs. assisted living →Memory care
A secured neighborhood, usually inside an assisted living community, with staff trained specifically for Alzheimer's and dementia. Built so someone who wanders or gets confused is safe — and still has real days, not just supervision.
What memory care really is →Not sure which level fits? That's normal — it's usually the first thing families and I figure out together. And I'll be up front: memory care is my specialty. My own road with my mom went through it, so if dementia is part of your family's story — now or someday — you won't have to explain it twice.
That's also why most of the guides below go deep on memory care — with assisted and independent living guides on the way.
When my mom needed memory care, I read everything I could find — at midnight, after my kids were asleep. Most of it was generic, written by people who'd never set foot in a community. What was missing was the local, specific, honest information that would actually help a family in Roswell, or East Cobb, or Alpharetta make a decision.
These pages are my attempt to fill that gap. They cover the questions families ask me most often. None of them are a substitute for a conversation — but they're a place to start.
Memory Care Basics
Memory Care by City (North Atlanta)
When and How to Decide
Paying for Memory Care
Choosing a Placement Advisor
Have specific questions about your family's situation?
Reach out to Amy