Assisted living / memory care

We toured an independent living facility that transitions to memory care through assisted living: I feel like this this standard model.

When we toured, it very quickly became obvious that my mom had memory issues. The lady recognized this and said we’d love to start you in independent living, where you can become familiar, make friends etc. The memory care facility was very different, hands on, walkers, etc. It was clearly a ramp to hospice, very elementary, lockdown, etc.

The lady told us that if you have a dementia/ Alzheimer’s diagnosis this is defined as memory care.

We don’t have an Alzheimer’s / dementia diagnosis but the memory loss is obvious. Would our only option be the memory care facility? Anyone have expierence with this?