Deciding to move a loved one to a long-term-care facility is never easy. Finding the right facility may be even harder.
You may spend months wrestling with the decision to move your loved one to a facility providing 24-hour care. The time you take in researching facilities is well worth it because you will find the right facility
A loved one with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other disability may someday need to move into a long-term-care facility. Many Americans needing care receive are fortunate to receive home care from family or friends while those with Alzheimer’s are more likely to receive care in a nursing home. A2012 Alzheimer’s Association states 75% of people diagnosed with the disease will be admitted to a nursing home by age 80 versus 4% of the general population. Knowing how to choose the right care facility for an Alzheimer’s patient is essential in providing proper care for an Alzheimer’s patient.
1: Determine Needs
Understanding the sort of care an individual with Alzheimer’s requires comes before selecting a care facility for that individual. Facilities typically provide several levels of care:
Assisted living for those requiring support with one or two daily living activities such as dressing or bathing.
Skilled nursing for those requiring the attention of a nurse every day including those bedridden or exhibiting more complicated behavior issues.
Memory care for those demonstrating dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
A facility may provide varying levels of care under one roof offering the option of first moving to a senior-care residence then moving on to another level of care as the need arises.
Matching a facility’s location to a loved one’s desired location is important. Will an urban or suburban setting be the right choice? Will the city of current residence or somewhere else nearer the family be the right choice? Will the facility allow pets and accommodate special dietary needs? These are the sort of considerations to take into account before starting a long term care facility search.
2: Assess Ability to Pay
Financial considerations such as the lack of long term care insurance may limit options. Assisted living on average costs about $3,600 a month and memory care on average about $4,700 a month. Skilled nursing facilities cost an average more than $6,700 a month with some costing as much as $10,000 a month.
Health insurance and Medicare do not cover this level of care. Veterans may qualify for assistance for long term care through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Be aware Medicaid rules vary by state. Generally, the government programs pay for long-term-care services such as nursing home care. Remember that assets must first be exhausted before becoming Medicaid eligible. Medicaid covers assisted living in more than half of the states if the cost is less expensive than a nursing home. The Medicaid waiting list for assisted living is long.
3: Start the Search
After determining the sort of facility and services needed, the search begins. Professionals, doctors, friends and family are all good information resources. Other resources such as the U.S. Administration on Aging’s