My family found a lovely AL place that offers some optional activities like crafts, yoga, bingo. Residents can have their own cars if they wish but there are also residents with high health needs. So the residents have a wide scope of functionality. There is also a dedicated memory facility but the residents there have significantly limited abilities.
My mom is 84 and has lived in her house for over 50 years. Has moderate Alz and very limited short term memory. No problems with mobility and in decent health. Needs no help with ADL. Needs some help with the independent living ones, like managing finances and taking meds. Very talkative and social. Goes to a memory care day care a couple of days a week that is filled with activities and outings and she loves it. She could potentially continue to stay in her home another year or two but she lives alone and causes problems for the ppl we get to help her. Also her house needs some repairs and the truth is we her children are getting a little worn out from managing the situation because she puts up so much resistance.
So she is going to an AL place that does not seem to have the level of organized activities like her day care place. But the memory care facility is not appropriate either. It seems to me that her needs are somewhere in between the two places. Does this kind of place exist and, if so, what is it called?
You are not going to get 100% 1 to 1 service in AL. If your mother still has most of her facilities she will go on her own.
There is no perfect in life, sometimes we need to roll with what is the best option.
https://www.morningstarseniorliving.com/find-a-community/
Make sure the one you click on has Memory Care too. They combine MC with AL for the residents which creates a unique experience.
Best of luck to you.
The types of care offerings can vary widely from place to place. My MIL was in an excellent faith-based facility that had a full-time activities director and had lots of things going on every day. There's not going to be a perfect solution, so maybe you can develop a list of "Must haves" and "Dealbreakers" as a filter.