When caring for a loved one with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease at home becomes onerous, you may wish to explore memory care. Memory care is a type of residential long-term care that offers extensive, specialized care to those who have memory problems. There are separate memory care communities for dementia patients in many assisted living communities, continuing care retirement communities, and nursing homes. There are also specialized memory care centers. If you are considering memory care options, read on to find out all about memory care and how much it costs.
Understanding Memory Care
Memory care is meant to provide a safe, controlled living environment with established routines to reduce stress for individuals with dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other memory-related conditions. The activities are intended to improve cognitive function and engage residents at various stages of the disease. Team members prepare meals and assist patients with personal care activities in the same way as team members at an assisted living home would, but they are also highly educated to deal with the unique challenges that frequently occur as a result of dementia or Alzheimer’s. They visit patients more regularly and give more structure and support to help them get through the day.
Memory care communities often feature elevators that need a code, alarmed entrances, and enclosed outdoor areas to keep residents on site because patients with dementia are prone to wandering. Many facilities include monitoring wristbands, which allow residents to wander while still allowing team members to monitor their position.
Deciding on a Memory Care Community
Some assisted living memory care communities are unable to provide complicated medical treatment. Find out what health issues or behaviors may necessitate your loved one leaving the institution or being transferred to a more expensive level of care within the community.
Cost of Memory Care
The increased degree of care and monitoring in a memory care center, unsurprisingly, comes at a cost. Costs differ by state and are influenced by the amount of care offered. According to 2021 NIC figures, the average monthly rent for memory care in the United States is around $7,000 per month. That is much higher than the average monthly cost of assisted living but significantly lesser than the monthly cost of a nursing home.
Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans normally do not cover room and board or personal care at an assisted living home, but they do cover medical care provided by the facility. Soldiers’ benefits often assist qualifying veterans and surviving spouses over the age of 65 to manage the expense. When your loved one’s assets are depleted, Medicaid may provide some coverage for long-term care, but only if the facility accepts it.
Choose Mariposa
Our community is happy to provide a variety of senior lifestyle alternatives that provide a solid foundation for exceptional living even if medical or care needs change in the future. We designed Mariposa to be a place where residents may enjoy independence and freedom when desired, as well as a qualified, helpful hand wherever and whenever it is required.
