Assisted Living
Best for seniors who need help with tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management, but who remain cognitively stable. They can make decisions about their day, remember their routines, and engage independently.
Memory Care
At Memory Support Neighborhood, our designated memory care unit, care is tailored specifically to seniors with Alzheimer's or any other form of dementia. Our skilled staff supports your loved one with dignity and sensitivity, addressing their emotional and cognitive needs as well as their physical requirements.
Care built around memory
What Is Memory Care?
Memory care is a specialized form of residential care designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, and other forms of cognitive decline. Unlike general assisted living, it addresses both the emotional and cognitive needs of residents as their memory and reasoning abilities change.
What sets memory care apart is the environment and the approach. Secure settings prevent wandering and keep residents safe. Staff are trained specifically in dementia behaviors — the confusion, the anxiety, the need for predictable routines. Care plans are built around cognitive needs, not just physical ones. At The Berkeley, that means a space where your loved one feels secure, understood, and part of a community, even as their memory changes.
Which fits your loved one?
Memory Care vs. Assisted Living
Both offer support for seniors who need help with daily tasks. The difference lies in who they're designed for and what that support looks like.
Memory Care
For seniors experiencing cognitive decline from dementia or Alzheimer's. It adds secured spaces to prevent wandering, higher staff-to-resident ratios, dementia-specific programming, and behavioral support for challenges like sundowning, agitation, getting lost, and repeated questions.
Still weighing both options? Learn more about our Assisted Living services, and our team can help you determine which setting suits your loved one's needs.
Knowing when
Signs It May Be Time for Memory Care
If you're noticing changes in a parent or loved one, these are common signs that memory care may be the right next step. If several resonate, it isn't a failure — it's recognizing that they need a higher level of specialized support.
Wandering or getting lost
Your loved one leaves home without a plan or gets disoriented in familiar places.
Missed medications or appointments
They forget to take medications or don't remember when appointments are scheduled.
Declining personal hygiene
Bathing, grooming, and changing clothes become tasks they resist or forget to do.
Increasing confusion or agitation
They're more confused about dates, people, or places, and become frustrated or anxious more easily.
Difficulty with complex tasks
Cooking, paying bills, and managing the home becomes unsafe or overwhelming.
Safety concerns at home
They leave the stove on, forget to lock doors, or wander at night.
Caregiver burnout
As the primary caregiver, you're exhausted and losing sleep worrying about their safety when you're not there.
Worried about a parent's safety at home?
Promoting safety,
well-being and a
sense of belonging
Secure grounds, familiar faces and predictable routines keep memory care residents feeling safe and reassured. With our compassionate care, our residents thrive.
Emotionally
Our warm, family-like ambiance fosters a sense of belonging and well-being, which is crucial for your loved one at this stage.
Cognitively
Daily activities are planned with a focus on memory enhancement. We utilize lots of music and hands-on activities to keep everyone stimulated and feeling secure.
Physically
All residents at The Berkeley receive full support for Activities of Daily Living (equivalent to Level 3 Assisted Living Care).
“Memory care at The Berkeley isn't just about managing behavior. It's about honoring who your loved one is, even as their cognitive abilities change.”
Our approach
How Dementia & Alzheimer's Care Works at The Berkeley
We honor who your loved one is, even as their cognitive abilities change. Everything we do is built on five simple commitments.
Person-centered care
We get to know each resident’s history, preferences, and personality, then build activities, routines, and interactions around that person, not around a diagnosis.
Consistent caregivers
Your loved one works with the same staff members regularly. Familiarity reduces anxiety, trust develops, and our team learns their non-verbal cues, triggers, and comfort.
Validation-based communication
When someone with dementia says something that doesn't match reality, we don't argue or correct — we validate the feeling behind it. That simple shift reduces agitation and builds connection.
Predictable routines
Structure and consistency combat the confusion dementia brings. Because your loved one always knows what to expect, the day itself becomes a source of safety.
Specialized programming
Reminiscence work and sensory engagement are designed to reach the parts of memory and emotion that dementia doesn't erase, keeping residents connected.
To understand the philosophy and the people behind this approach, learn more about our community and care team.
A day in the life
What Daily Life Looks Like in Memory Care
A day at The Berkeley flows around rhythm and connection — consistent faces, predictable transitions, and the patience that keeps your loved one safe, engaged, and cared for.
- Morning
Residents wake to a familiar caregiver who helps with grooming and getting dressed. Breakfast in the dining room is a social time, with staff on hand to offer assistance and encouragement.
- Mid-morning
A music session, a hands-on craft, a reminiscence group where residents share memories, or a small outing to the courtyard. Programming is designed to engage without overwhelming.
- Midday
Lunch is served, followed by quiet time or rest. Some residents nap; others enjoy one-on-one time with staff or a visiting family member.
- Afternoon
More activities, perhaps an off-site outing to a familiar place or a community event. Staff stay present, keeping things calm and structured.
- Evening
Dinner and wind-down activities ease the transition toward bedtime. Familiar routines signal that night is coming, and staff watch for sundowning, offering extra reassurance when it’s needed.
Off-Site Outings
We keep things exciting with regular off-site excursions to destinations of cultural, culinary and scenic interest.
Community Events
We're a known presence in Richmond, joining community events and inviting the public to join ours. Multi-generational events keep us young!
Nursing Assistance
We manage medications and keep tabs on every person's general health and wellness. We're available 24/7 with our emergency pull cord system.
Transportation
We arrange transportation and escort residents to and from medical appointments.
How Much Does Memory Care Cost?
Memory care typically runs 20 to 30 percent above standard assisted living rates. Specialized staffing trained in dementia care, secured environments, higher staff-to-resident ratios, and around-the-clock nursing support all account for the difference.
What's included varies widely from one community to the next. At The Berkeley, we keep it simple with an all-inclusive Rent & Care model — one transparent monthly rate with no surprise bills. You'll see exactly what that covers below.
The Right Care at the
Right Cost
In our Memory Care Community, all assistance with Activities of Daily Living is included at no additional cost. The rates below are all inclusive for Rent & Care.
For both Assisted Living & Memory Care, Three Meals Per Day, along with snacks, Utilities (except for Phone & Cable), Weekly Housekeeping, Weekly Laundry, Life Enrichment Programming, Maintenance Services, Transportation to Appointments, Emergency Pull Cord System, and 24/7 On-Site Nursing Personnel are included.
- One Time Community Fee:
- $3,000.00
- Companion Suite:
- $5,950.00
- Suite with Private Bedroom & Shared Bathroom:
- $6,895.00
- Private Suite:
- $7,795.00
Paying for care
Ways to Pay for Memory Care
Beyond private funds, several options can help families cover the cost of memory care.
VA Aid & Attendance
Veterans and their surviving spouses may qualify for monthly benefits that help cover long-term care costs.
Tax deductions
Long-term care expenses may be tax-deductible as medical expenses. Consult a tax professional about your situation.
Bridge loans & financing
Some families use home equity lines of credit or personal loans to bridge the gap while exploring other funding sources.
We encourage families to discuss financing with a financial or benefits advisor who understands their specific situation. Have questions about pricing? Contact our team for a transparent breakdown tailored to your family.
Memory Care FAQs
What is memory care, and how is it different from a nursing home?
Memory care is specialized residential care for people with Alzheimer's or dementia. Unlike a nursing home — which provides medical care for people with acute illnesses or complex medical needs — memory care focuses on safety, engagement, and quality of life for someone with cognitive decline. Staff are trained in dementia behaviors, environments are secured to prevent wandering, and programming is designed to keep residents engaged and connected.
How much does memory care cost per month?
Memory care typically costs 20 to 30 percent more than assisted living because of specialized staffing and programming. At The Berkeley, our all-inclusive rates range from $5,950 to $7,795 per month depending on suite type, plus a one-time community fee of $3,000. See the full breakdown above.
Is memory care available near Richmond and Short Pump, VA?
Yes. The Berkeley at Short Pump is located at 1800 Gaskins Road, Richmond, VA 23238, in the city's West End near Short Pump, just a short drive from downtown Richmond. We serve families across Richmond's West End and the surrounding communities.
Can a resident move from assisted living to memory care if their needs change?
Yes. Many families start in our assisted living community and transition to memory care as cognitive needs change. Staying in a familiar place with staff who already know them reduces the stress of moving during a difficult time. Contact us to discuss your loved one’s situation.
Ready to learn more about memory care?
Schedule a tour or call us at (804) 741-8880 to speak with our team about your loved one's needs.
Get in touch