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Posted in: Memory Care Senior Housing Types

Everything You Need to Know About Memory Care

TABLE OF CONTENTS

As of 2019, more than 5.8 million people live with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. There are millions more suffering from other forms of dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, someone new develops the disease every 66 seconds. With a disease so widespread, there is bound to be professional care and resources available. If your loved one suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia, memory care homes are an important resource for senior care.

What Is A Memory Care Home?

Memory care homes are long-term care options for seniors who struggle with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. These facilities are specialized communities staffed with skilled professionals who cater to the needs of these individuals, a majority who are unable to live on their own. Although many assisted living facilities and nursing homes have areas that are specialized care units dedicated to memory care, memory care homes are different because they are standalone communities that focus on patients suffering from these diseases. These residencies are created and specifically designed to house patients with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The homes may be uniquely mapped out to ensure a resident’s safety and familiarity, and to maintain a good quality of life. 

There are many forms of long-term senior care such as assisted living homes and nursing homes, but they may not be the best option for a senior with a serious medical condition and special needs. Memory care centers, however, are meant to care for patients who specifically struggle with memory and have staff closely monitoring the patients and the facility’s exits. All accredited memory care centers are required to meet the following criteria:

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    • Care coordination: Staff collaboratively assess, plan, and provide care that is consistent with current advances in dementia care practices.
    • Staff knowledge and competency: Staff have the qualifications, skills, training, and education to assess and provide care for a patient or resident population with memory impairment.
    • Activity programming based on abilities: Staff provides activities that match the patient’s or resident’s cognitive ability, memory, attention span, language, reasoning ability, and physical function.
    • Behavior management: The organization emphasizes the use of non-pharmacological interventions as an alternative to antipsychotic medications.
  • Safe and supportive physical environment: The organization modifies the physical environment to promote safety and minimize confusion and overstimulation.

 

medical assistant with senior citizen

Services Provided In Memory Care Homes

Memory care provides a variety of services to fulfill the physical and mental needs of its residents. The skilled medical staff is trained to help the residents with everyday functions such as their activities of daily living. With brain diseases such as dementia, the person can have trouble remembering where they are, what day is it, what they were doing, what they have done, and such. Forgetfulness impairs their ability to take care of their most basic day-to-day needs for a healthy life. Memory care staff are trained to take care of these and provide assistance with: 

Activities of Daily Living

With brain diseases such as dementia, the person can have trouble remembering where they are, what day is it, what they were doing, what they have done, and such. Forgetfulness impairs their ability to take care of their most basic day-to-day needs for a healthy life. Memory care staff are trained to take care of these and provide assistance with: toileting, (going to the bathroom, helping with incontinence, and such) grooming, daily hygiene, bathing, getting dressed, and other basic maintenance. These homes will also offer dining services where residents are served three meals a day. The dining area is also arranged accordingly for dementia patients. Meals will also be planned with dietary restrictions kept in mind.

Medical Assistance

In memory care centers, medical staff are available around-the-clock to support its residents and their health. The staff is trained to manage medication for patients battling dementia since many can lose their sense of time and will forget when to take their medicine. Staff members include skilled nurses and other professionals who have had an extensive medical background. Staff members also  keep tabs on treatment and how the disease is progressing. Certain types of therapy are often prescribed for dementia patients as a companion to their medication. Memory care centers will have trained therapists offering various services such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, and other forms of therapy to slow down cognitive decline.

Providing a Safe and Interactive Environment

Dementia patients require safety and accessibility more so than residents in of other long-term care centers. These communities are designed  to promote a quiet atmosphere (so residents will not be frightened or startled by loud noises), and safety. Rooms are arranged to be spacious with clear walkways, minimal clutter, and no obstructions as a way to prevent accidents from happening. Spacious rooms with wider door frames accommodate wheelchairs and ensure that residents do not feel claustrophobic.In a memory care home, residents also get personalized care from skilled caregivers. Each resident is assigned their own team of caregivers to ensure safety, familiarity, and consistency in medical services. The comfort and familiarity a resident will feel with their caregiver is one reason why personalized care is so important in memory care homes.

Memory care centers also plan activities for their residents for the purpose of enriching their lives. Physicians will evaluate a patient’s condition and will develop a personal activities plan that will meet their needs. These types of communities will schedule daily social activities such as music therapy, arts and crafts, senior outings, and more. These activities are planned to be slightly repetitive as a way to help residents ease into different activities without overwhelming them with too much information. When it comes to choosing the best memory center for your loved one, be sure to ask about the specific services they provide, any additional fees, and what options you can choose for your loved one. 

 

 

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How Is Memory Care Different From Other Options?

During the earliest stages of dementia, many will experience mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Symptoms of MCI include forgetfulness and a decline in cognitive skills. Those diagnosed with dementia at this stage often find themselves at a crossroads as they begin to see the disease’s progression and find that they are unable to live on their own. Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia progress in stages. Living with mild cognitive dementia is like living with any other disease: patients will need to take medication and need to stay active and eat well to maintain optimal levels of health. However, as the disease progresses, dementia severely impacts the wellness of an individual without the right resources and assistance. In its later stages, a person with dementia will not be able to live on their own. A person with dementia may mismanage their money, have declining hand-eye coordination, and may have problems with wandering. Depending on the stage your loved one is currently in, you may opt for different long-term care options. Here are a few one might consider assisted living or a nursing home.

Assisted Living

During the early stages of dementia when a person has not had other serious medical problems, an assisted living facility could be a suitable choice for a care home. Assisted living facilities are designed to make senior living easier in the day-to-day needs. Assisted living homes will primarily provides help with activities of daily living such as preparing meals, grooming, bathing, general housekeeping, and taking care of transportation and social activities. Many of these facilities will have a special care units that can help with patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s. These care units may be best suitable for those who are in the early stages of their disease or for those who have less severe symptoms. However, one should be aware that assisted living facilities will have a limited medical services, which are only available when medical staff is present. 

Nursing Home

For patients with later stages of dementia and memory loss, and are dealing with other medical conditions, nursing homes are a suitable choice. These homes will provide 24/7  medical attention as well as help with eating, bathing, dressing, and other activities of daily living. Nursing homes have trained medical staff such as registered nurses (RNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) who look after the resident’s medical needs. Some nursing homes will also have specialized care units for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients with staff who receive specialized training for these diseases. These care units are generally located away from the rest of the nursing home so residents will have a safer environment.

When Is It Time To Move To A Home?

Although an independent living arrangement may seem feasible when a person has not shown any serious symptoms of dementia, the disease may become difficult to manage as symptoms progress. When should a one consider other living situations? Here are a few signs to look for:

1. Difficulty with transportation

A time will come when your loved one will no longer be able to drive. As dementia progresses, numerous factors arise making traveling and transportation especially difficult. The situation may become dangerous when wandering behavior increases. Typical problems may include remembering routes to familiar and important destinations, feeling overwhelmed by too many people around them, increasing forgetfulness and memory lapses, physical and cognitive decline which impacts mobility, slower reactions and responses to stimulus, loss of vision and perception, difficulty hearing, confusion, difficulty communicating, and inability to make quick decisions.

2. Problems managing money

As symptoms progress, those who struggle with forgetfulness and memory may themselves in difficult financial circumstances. Signs such as overspending, forgetting to pay bills, and erratic behavior when it comes to their personal finances can be a warning sign that your loved one may need help. Be watchful of how your loved one is managing their finances, as dementia leaves them vulnerable to risks such as financial abuse and elder abuse.

3.  Increased forgetfulness

In a normal situation where a person is forgetful, they may miss a schedule appointment because they forgot what time and day the appointment was set. In a nontypical situation where dementia may be progressing, a person can forget their own name or have difficulty remembering the directions to their house. Severe forgetfulness can become dangerous if the senior is in a location they no longer recognize or go missing because of wandering behavior.

4. Other problems

If your loved one has been diagnosed with dementia but currently lives with you, note if there are other problems that arise. For example, if your loved one accidentally locks themselves in a room that cannot be opened from the outside, which can endanger them if they are having memory issues. Another problem would be if your loved one forgets to take their medication or takes their medication too often, which can increase the risk of overdosing. 

Should you notice any of these signs, it is time to consider where your loved one can have the appropriate care they need for a safe and healthy life. Moving them into a care home would be the best way for them to receive around-the-clock support for their personal care and medical needs.

costs

Paying for Memory Care

Since memory care is a form of specialized care, the costs tend run higher than other forms of long-term care such as nursing homes or assisted living. The average monthly cost for a memory care home is around $5,400 in the United States. Although this number is the national estimate and average, the actual monthly cost of a memory care home can vary from state to state, with costs anywhere from $3,700 and $7,000 per month. With numbers this high, many people look for financial assistance from government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid. However, these programs have limitations that may force you to find alternative financial assistance. 

Medicare

A lot of people wonder whether or not Medicare will help pay for the cost of a loved one being in an assisted living facility and the answer is actually no. Medicare is for those who are 65 years old or younger if they receive disability benefits. In most cases, Medicare will not cover the expenses that come with long-term care and assisted living facilities. There are certain facilities however, that your loved one can stay in that qualify for medical cost help from Medicare. For the most part Medicare will not cover any “custodial care” costs but there are always exceptions and circumstances that allow for coverage. Medicare can be used to cover care that follows hospital stays, prescription home health care, physical, speech and occupational therapy, as well as short-term care. It will also help pay for medical equipment with the intention that it is for home use. Medicare will also cover hospice care in some cases such as someone with a terminal illness diagnosis or it their life expectancy is around six months or even less. Since dementia and Alzheimer’s disease falls under the same category as other health conditions like cancer or heart disease, Medicare may cover certain costs for treatment. Under certain circumstances, the program will cover doctor’s fees as well as up to 100 days of skilled nursing care. Medicare Part D can also cover prescription drugs for Alzheimer’s disease. 

Medicaid

Medicaid is a joint insurance program funded federally and by the state but is administered at the state level. This means that each state has different policies for their Medicaid program. Medicaid covers the medical costs of low-income seniors and people with disabilities. If you qualify for your state’s program, Medicaid can cover up to 100 percent of your costs for home care and stays at a nursing home.

There are several types of Medicaid programs that can help cover the cost of senior care. The most common are Medicare Waivers, of which there are two main types: 1915 Waivers, and Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers. These vary in availability from state to state, but are available in more states than not. There are a few states that have opted instead to move toward a “Medicaid managed care model” with a different overall structure and different sets of regulations.

There are forty-three states that have assisted living benefits under Medicaid. For assisted living that isn’t skilled nursing care, there’s been a general trend toward states increasing the amount that can potentially be covered. With that said, the benefits can be quite different from one state to another.

There’s a common misconception that Medicare covers assisted living. It usually does not, and can only cover skilled medical care. So for many assisted living residents, it doesn’t cover many costs at all. It’s actually Medicaid that can help pay for assisted living, not Medicare.

Paying Out-Of-Pocket or Through Insurance

Many people end up paying for memory care out-of-pocket or through long-term care insurance. If you decide to pay out-of-pocket, talk to the chosen facility about payment cycles and they’ll help you chose the most appropriate method for you.

To read more information on how to cover the costs of senior care, read our articles on our Help and Advice page, and stop by our blog.

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