Move to memory care now or later?

Is this memory care at the same facility? My bro's Assisted Living has a memory care area, and in looks is very similar. I would say only that often rooms are shared. Recently a woman there did move from bro's cottage to the memory care; she walked a lot and for a while could be seen looking out windows, but he says in just a few weeks she seems adjusted, and has friends there. So hard to say. Hard decision to have to make.

Well, my 92 y/o mother lived in Assisted Living for 5 years, came down with pneumonia recently and went to rehab, and they would not take her back at the ALF because she had declined too much, both physically AND mentally. I was dreading the day this would happen, too, as she loved the ALF and I'd already moved her a couple of times. The ALF offered to take her in their memory care annex (across the parking lot), so I had no other choice but to move her there.

The pros: She has WAY MORE care in Memory Care; the caregiver to resident ratio is MUCH higher. She's checked on hourly and taken to the bathroom for a Depends change or to use the toilet, etc.
There is much less confusion in Memory Care because there is much less stress on them......no microwave to deal with, no fridge, no dining room schedule, no worries about getting to said dining room on a different floor, etc.

The cons: My mother is the most cognizant resident there. Therefore, she calls the others 'stupid' and 'morons' and generally makes an ass of herself. The others who have worse dementia knock on her door, thinking it's 'their' room, and she has a total meltdown, screaming and cussing at them, calling the caregivers and making a Federal case in general. ADATT=All Drama All The Time. She complains constantly about 'why can't I go back' to Assisted Living, when she knows she was unable to handle it for 9 months PRIOR to moving to Memory Care.

The bottom line: Don't move mother to Memory Care until you are forced to do so. That's my opinion, from someone who's Been There Done That.

Best of luck!!!!

Talk to the director at the facility where she is. If possible bring in the person that is in charge of the Memory Care. The 3 of you can work out a plan that will ease your mom into a new routine and new living quarters.
As for the phone calls, voice mail...set a recording when she calls that will reassure her that she is safe and you will talk to her later.

Soon she won't know the difference, that is the sad part about this disease. Me, I would wait until it is brought to your attention by the staff, most AL's have the timing down pat.

Have you considered not answering all her calls? Seems to upset you too much. If there is an emergency the home will contact you.

Sometimes we care givers overdo the caregiving and that leads us down the path to the dark hole, we need to take care of us too.