Remember that Medicare only covers nursing home costs for a short time after the person with Alzheimer’s has been in the hospital for a certain amount of time. You want to find out if long-term care insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare will pay for any of the costs. Find out what they think about the place.įind out about total costs of care. Talk with other caregivers who have a loved one at the facility. How does my loved one get to medical appointments?.Is there a safe place for the person to go outside?.What is a typical day like for the person with Alzheimer’s disease?.Is there a doctor who checks on residents on a regular basis? How often?.Does the facility have a special unit for people with Alzheimer’s? If so, what kinds of services does it provide?.How many people in the facility have Alzheimer’s disease?.How many staff members are at the facility? How many of them are trained to provide medical care if needed?.What activities are planned for residents?.How do staff members speak to residents-with respect?.Is the facility clean and well-maintained?.How does the staff care for the residents?.Make several visits at different times of the day and evening. Visit Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes Make a list of questions to ask about the facility.Ģ.Check resources, such as Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare, and the Joint Commission’s Quality Check ®.Talk with your support group members, social worker, doctor of the person with Alzheimer’s, family members, and friends about facilities in your area.Below we list steps you can take to find the right place: 1. Next Steps: Gathering InformationĬhoosing the right place is a big decision. Also, long-term care insurance may cover some of the nursing home costs.įor more information about long-term care facilities, visit Residential Facilities, Assisted Living, and Nursing Homes and Choosing a Nursing Home. Most nursing homes accept Medicaid as payment. In many cases, you will have to pay for nursing home care. These units are often in separate sections of the building where staff members have special training to care for people with Alzheimer’s. Some nursing homes have special Alzheimer’s disease care units. Nursing homes-a place for people who can't care for themselves anymore.Remember that these homes may not be inspected or regulated, but may still provide good care. You will need to pay the costs of the person with Alzheimer’s living in this kind of home. At least one caregiver is on site at all times. Group homes-a home where several people who can't care for themselves and two or more staff members live.You will need to pay for the cost of the room or apartment, and you may need to pay extra for any special care. These units have staff who check on and care for people with Alzheimer’s disease. Some assisted living facilities have special Alzheimer’s units. Assisted living facilities-a facility with rooms or apartments for people who may need some help with daily tasks.An advantage is that residents may move from one level of care to another-for example, from more independent living to more supervised care. Some of these places are for people who can care for themselves, while others are for people who need care around-the-clock. Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs)-a home, apartment, or room in a retirement community where people with Alzheimer’s can live and get care.The following overview of options, along with questions to ask and other resources, can help you get started. It will give you greater peace of mind knowing that the person is safe and getting good care.Ĭhoosing the right place is a big decision. You may feel guilty or upset about this decision, but moving the person to a facility may be the best thing to do. When that happens, you may want to look for a long-term care facility for the person. You may not be able to meet all of his or her needs at home anymore. Or, he or she may be incontinent, aggressive, or wander a lot. The person may need around-the-clock care. Sometimes you can no longer care for a person with Alzheimer’s disease at home.
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