For many of us, as our parents and loved ones enter the age of retirement, they require extra help that we may not be able to provide. This is especially so if they start to experience symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease, other forms of dementia, or a general decline in memory and cognitive abilities. For family members who are untrained and often also unpaid, they can start to experience caregiver stress and burnout.
Although you and other family caregivers are trying your best in most cases to provide the care your loved one needs, the toil of round-the-clock care and constant supervision can have a detrimental effect on anyone’s physical and mental health. One of the best solutions for this problem is to consider a placement in a memory care community.
Unlike other forms of senior living options, memory care isn’t necessarily a place of care, but rather a type of care that is targeted at supporting individuals suffering from memory loss progression. There are programs, activities, therapies targeted at enhancing memory, and specialized staff who are uniquely trained in the art of helping individuals with memory loss.
How Much Does Memory Care Cost?
This varies greatly from community to community depending on the level of assistance provided, type of accommodations, quality of medical support, facilities offered on-site and other factors. On average it would cost about $5,745 every month of a private room within a memory care community. Costs of living generally range from $3,700 to $7,000 per month in 2016 and will change depending on the community you work with and the state that you live in.
For people who are familiar with different senior living options, you might notice that this runs higher than other types of senior communities. This is largely because in the later progressions of dementia and other memory loss-related illnesses, a secure unit and skilled nursing staff will be required to prevent and address common symptoms like wandering and aggression. This means that the extra costs can be attributed to greater security, more comprehensive supervision as well as the special staff training that is provided.
How Do You Pay for Memory Care Costs?
If the costs of living in a memory care community are holding you back, it might be time to consider if there are ways to obtain subsidies or alternative funding for your stay. Available options will change depending on if you choose a skilled nursing community or not. In other words, unless your loved one has medically intensive care needs on top of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, chances are that the costs will have to be funded privately. However, it might be possible that memory care can be considered a tax-deductible medical expense depending on your area.
Other alternatives that you can consider to fund your or your loved one’s stay in a memory care community is to consider tapping into any appropriate Veteran’s benefits or possibly selling or renting your parents’ home to help pay for their care.
Memory care isn’t just about having assistance with the daily care and maintenance of you or your loved one, it is also about having peace of mind that the best possible care is now accessible round-the-clock. For more information on how memory care can help your family, contact us today.
