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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 nestled within larger skilled nursing or assisted living facilities.
All that said, 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 care and dignity they deserve.
Finding the right place for your loved one to live can be difficult. However, knowing what to look for in a memory care program can help make the process just a little easier.
Comprehensive memory care and assisted living services to look for include:
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 these day-to-day activities to have a decent quality of life. 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.
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 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 if the level of care they need changes.
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.
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 expenses related to memory care homes and assisted living communities.
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 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.
You can also use the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator tool to find more senior care resources in your area.
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, mealtime in a restaurant-style dining room allows memory care residents to socialize with each other, which can further boost their mental health.
Many people think living in retirement communities means nothing but boredom—but they couldn’t be more wrong! 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.
While some people will move their loved ones into senior living facilities, others will become the primary caregiver. The following resources can help you make the best decision in such cases.
You don’t want your loved ones living in nursing homes; you want them welcomed into senior care communities where their well-being is every caregiver‘s priority.
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 Sacramento and the surrounding area that are dedicated to enriching their community. Whether you want a location close to the American River or Sacramento River’s edge or a place nestled deep within the historic downtown, you’ll be sure to find a vibrant community in this Northern California location.
Discover memory care communities in and around the Sacramento area today!