An estimated 5 million Americans live with Alzheimer's disease every day. By 2050, the disease is expected to affect over 100 million people. Finding care for a loved one that allows them to maintain an optimal level of self care and independence for as long as possible requires some time and research.
There are typically three settings available for your family member who is no longer safe living at home. Assisted living centers and nursing homes often have dedicated Memory Care programs. They are secure units within the community that are specifically designed to meet the special needs and behaviors of persons living with dementia. Another newer option for care is a community completely dedicated to dementia. These are freestanding centers and tend to be licensed as assisted living.
In evaluating communities for dementia care, there are typically two areas experts agree that you should focus on: resident safety and supervision and if there is a structured routine for residents.
Safety and supervision go hand-in-hand in providing quality care for Alzheimer’s and dementia residents. Wandering is a part of the disease process as are other behaviors (i.e. decreased judgment, disorientation to time and place) that go along with memory impairments. A secure environment and adequate staffing are two essentials things to look for in a memory care program.
A structured routine is also important for persons living with memory loss. Structure activity all day long helps decrease agitation, as do things like consistent caregivers, consistent meal times and meal locations, and a physical environment that is structured to provide visual cues for residents. These cues can include photo cue cards, memory boxes with personal items outside a resident room, and more. Consistency and structure help to control the behaviors that sometimes come with memory loss.
How They Are Paid
The cost of dementia care depends upon the level of care you select.
For memory care in an assisted living, fees are typically paid for from private funds. There are a few exceptions. Some long-term care insurance policies cover licensed assisted living, and in a few states, Medicaid funds are available to help with assisted living costs.
Reimbursement for dementia care in a nursing home is either from private funds, long-term care insurance or Medicaid.
How They Are Regulated
Assisted living is regulated at the state level. Because of that, every state has their own policies that define and regulate what care and services are required for an assisted living community to meet the state standards.
Skilled nursing and rehab centers are regulated at both the state and the federal level. They are licensed and regulated by the Department of Public Health for the state, and are certified by both Medicaid and Medicare. In addition, there are licensing standards for the administrators and the clinical staff.
