Memory Care in Los Angeles

Memory care communities are specially designed to meet the needs of those with memory issues, such as patients with Alzheimer’s disease, memory loss, or other forms of dementia. They can be facilities that exclusively house patients with memory impairment, or they can be dementia care or Alzheimer’s care units within larger skilled nursing or assisted living facilities.

We know you aren’t looking for just specialized facilities; you’re looking for a place your loved one can call home, full of compassionate and highly trained staff that give your loved one the quality care they deserve with dignity.

Factors to Consider

Finding the right place for your loved one to live can be difficult. However, knowing what to look for in a quality memory care program or facility can help make the process easier.

Comprehensive Services

Comprehensive memory care and assisted living services to look for include:

• Medication assistance and management
• Regular assessment and service planning
• Bathing, dressing, grooming, and similar activities
• Mobility and escorts
• Dining, social, or activities assistance
• Care coordination and other healthcare management assistance
• Various floor plans and multiple kinds of single or communal living options
• Many communities offer care for special budget concerns, including state assistance programs for independent living, assisted living, and memory care

The Foundations of Quality Memory Care Facilities

• Social Roles – The facility takes great care to ensure each individual has a role within the community.
• Improving Skills – Through repetition, residents can learn and even improve certain skills.
• Progression and Setting Goals – By working on long-term projects, residents stay engaged and achieve success in their personal goals.
• Focusing on Remaining Skills – Staff should encourage the maintenance of remaining skills in addition to cultivating new ones.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Brushing teeth, toileting, and getting dressed may seem like mundane tasks to many people. However, sometimes people require extra help completing these sorts of tasks, known as activities of daily living, or ADLs. ADLs are so named because people need to complete them to have a decent quality of life when going about day-to-day activities. When someone can’t complete these tasks on their own, finding an assisted living, memory care, or other sort of retirement community is necessary. At these locations, people can receive personalized care services adjusted to the level of care they require.

Memory Care vs Continuing Care Retirement Community

In some cases, a continuing care retirement community is the right choice for you or your loved one. Also known as CCRCs or life plan communities, these senior residences are great for older adults who want to stay in a single location in their golden years. In other words, a CCRC is a singular community that offers a variety of senior living options—from skilled nursing services to independent living programs—all without requiring the resident to move to a new facility or new city to receive the care they need.

Pricing varies widely depending on the specific community and what financial resources are available in your area.

Pricing

It’s no secret that healthcare costs in this country are high; that fact is especially true for those receiving nursing care. Unfortunately, Medicare only covers short-term costs associated with skilled nursing facilities. For financial help with long-term senior care services, it’s better to invest in additional insurance plans or look into what your state’s Medicaid program covers.

Medi-Cal (California Medicaid)

Medicaid is a healthcare option for low-income, disabled Americans. Depending on the needs of the insured and the state they live in, Medicaid can cover a significant portion of the costs associated with stays in skilled nursing facilities. In other states, though, Medicaid may not cover assisted living and memory care expenses.

Medi-Cal is California’s Medicaid program. In some cases, it may help cover costs associated with assisted living facilities, caregiving services, or memory care services. Specifically, if a senior can receive the level of care they need in an assisted living facility or at home, but at a lower cost than what a skilled nursing facility (i.e., nursing home) and other types of medical centers offer, Medi-Cal may offer financial assistance. In these cases, eligible applicants can apply for aid via an assisted living waiver.

Medicare

Medicare is government-sponsored health insurance for older adults. Unfortunately, it typically does not cover long-term stays in residential care facilities. Specifically, Medicare will only pay 100% of the costs for a stay in such facilities if there is a medical need, such as for rehab following an injury, and only then for 20 days. After those 20 days are up, Medicare will cover 80% of the costs for 80 days. The program will not offer assistance for stays exceeding 100 days.

Mealtime & Nutrition

Senior citizens have different nutritional needs than younger adults do. As such, it’s important to check that your loved one‘s senior care facility crafts menus with nutrition in mind. Nutrition isn’t the only mealtime factor to keep in mind, though.

Just as important is taste and how meals are served. Namely, for older adults—especially those with memory issues—having tasty comfort foods available can work wonders for their morale. Additionally, meals served in a restaurant-style dining room allows memory care residents to socialize with each other, which can further boost their mental health.

Wellness & Recreational Activities

Many people are averse to living in retirement communities for fear of boredom. Fortunately, plenty of senior care centers host recreational activities, such as bingo night or having a billiards room.

Memory care facilities tend to offer more limited selections, however, in order to better ensure the safety of their residents. For example, residents of a senior living community might plan weekly outings downtown, while such activities would not be possible for memory care patients with advanced dementia. In these cases, caregivers might offer more suitable recreational activities like game nights.

Location

With a vibrant setting like L.A., it’s no wonder many people want to find residential neighborhoods and senior care homes that capitalize on the gorgeous backdrops available. Ask your loved one if it’s important for their room or facility to have a grand city view or are able to watch sunrises against the surrounding mountains.

Caregiver Resources

As our parents and loved ones grow older, we have to consider what’s in their best interest. While some people will opt for care in a senior living facility, others will become the primary caregiver for their loved one. The following resources can help you make the best decision in such cases.

• Alzheimers.gov 
  • The official government website on Alzheimer’s disease.
• Lotsa Helping Hands
  • This site is perfect for helping those dealing with caregiver burnout find the respite care and help they need.
• MedlinePlus
  • Another government database that’s filled with plenty of useful information for caregivers.
• National Institutes on Aging
  • From COVID-19 planning to finding long-term care, this government database has plenty of information for family members with questions on how to care for aging loved ones.

Healthcare Resources

• COVID-19 Resources
  • Since older adults are at greatest risk from COVID-19, it pays to know more about precautions caregivers can take to protect themselves and those in their care.
• Eldercare Locator
  • This tool from the U.S. Administration on Aging can help family members find eldercare resources available in their area.

Memory Care Communities in and around Los Angeles, California

You don’t want your loved ones living in nursing homes; you want them welcomed into senior care communities.

Your loved one deserves a facility that does more than simply offer services and amenities; they deserve a location that they can call home. There are plenty of high-quality memory care facilities in Los Angeles and the surrounding area that are dedicated to enriching the lives of their team, residents, and community partners.

Discover memory care communities in and around the Los Angeles area today!