Assisted Living

Misconceptions about Alzheimer’s Disease and Their Dangers

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People grow old – that’s a fact. We tend to forget things as we grow old – not necessarily. Even someone as young as twenty can start forgetting about things. It’s this line of thinking – that forgetting comes with age – can be quite damaging when trying to determine diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Before looking into Alzheimer’s care facilities, it’s important to consider the misconceptions of Alzheimer’s and dementia to better inform any future decisions.

 

 

Alzheimer’s Misconceptions 

Many people have long held this belief that forgetfulness comes with aging. Since Alzheimer’s affects the senior population and has to do with memory loss, many seem to think one will eventually to the other. However, that line of thinking really should change.

 

Yes, being old is the biggest risk of developing dementia, with Alzheimer’s being one of the kinds that can develop. However, Alzheimer’s doesn’t just affect someone who is old. The disease has affected patients as young as forty.

 

People need to be more aware that Alzheimer’s is caused by damage to the brain, which can affect a lot of things, including a person’s memory. It’s also a disease that gets worse as time goes by. The early stages can be manageable, with a patient suffering from lapses in memory. However, the condition gets progressively worse over time. In such times, families can look to help Alzheimer’s care facilities with memory care services for assistance.

 

Another of the biggest misconceptions about Alzheimer’s is that it cannot be treated. This isn’t completely accurate, especially considering the advances made in this age. Yes, the disease continues to have no cure, but those who suffer from it can take medications to help deal with its associated symptoms.

 

 

The Dangers of Not Correcting Misconceptions

Accepting what you hear from others as fact without verifying with people with actual knowledge of the situation does a lot of harm. It doesn’t take long for you to type out a few words on a search engine to get the answers you want.

 

The whole point of mentioning that is this: many people will cling to a “fact” long after new evidence has proved that it isn’t the case anymore. A lot of things have changed in this world over the years. For a certain generation, Pluto used to be a planet but that isn’t the case anymore.

 

You owe it to your loved ones to know what Alzheimer’s disease truly is. When they start exhibiting symptoms like memory loss, don’t dismiss that immediately as having to do with them getting old. More frequent episodes of forgetting can point to something much worse than losing one’s memory as one gets older. When that happens, there are Alzheimer’s care facilities that can help you out.

 

The same goes for treating Alzheimer’s. You are not left alone to deal with a loved one who is exhibiting symptoms. You can always turn to medication that can lessen the impact of symptoms. However, Alzheimer’s disease still remains without a cure.

 

Educating yourself about Alzheimer’s disease can make a difference. It’s easy to believe what others say but searching the truth for yourself can be of great benefit to you and your loved ones.

 

 

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

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The Realities of Dementia and How Memory Assisted Living Can Help

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Forgetting has long been part of the aging process. When a loved one is exhibiting memory loss, it’s usually chalked up to getting old. As such, this has made spotting dementia early on quite a challenge for families. To this day, there remains no single test that can outright give a dementia diagnosis. A doctor needs to perform a series of tests to diagnose a patient with dementia.

 

Learning that a loved one has dementia isn’t the hardest part. Dealing with what’s to come can be quite the challenge as it forces families to make certain changes in their lives. This will require some adjustment but help is always there, one in the form of memory assisted living.

 

 

Determining Dementia

Wading through a lot of memory related medical terms can be confusing. However, being more familiar with the terms and what they truly mean can help in the long run. So in order to really understand dementia, you have to start with knowing the basics.

 

You can think of dementia as an umbrella term used to describe different conditions that involve the loss of memory or other abilities that affect daily living. You are already most likely familiar with the most common kind, Alzheimer’s disease.

 

Now that you know what dementia is, the next crucial thing to learn is spotting the disease. This is going to be a difficult task since one could easily brush off a memory loss episode as a sign of getting old. Or as some think of it, becoming “senile.”

 

The dictionary definition of senile describes it as an adjective used to indicate a person showing weaknesses or diseases of old age, which may include mental faculties. Many people tend to confuse senility with dementia, but there’s a way to avoid confusion. Senility has to do with getting old. Dementia occurs when brain damage has occurred.

 

Someone with dementia will have difficulty with a lot of things. They will find it challenging to communicate. They will frequently confused and disoriented. They will find it difficult to complete complex tasks. They will also find it daunting to plan and organize.

 

Those detailed above are just on a cognitive level. Changes are going to occur on the psychological level as well, and this includes personality changes, depression, inappropriate behavior, and hallucinations.

 

Having outlined the above, it’s easy to see how helping someone suffering from dementia can be a challenge. This is where assisted living facilities with memory care services can be of great service.

 

 

Memory-Focused Assisted Living

A memory assisted living facility is specifically focused on helping residents who have dementia and other memory related issues. This is different from a regular assisted living center which usually helps elders manage daily life better. Although that is still the goal of a facility with memory care services, it is primarily focused on helping residents suffering from memory conditions.

 

Living with and caring for a loved one with dementia is going to be a challenge. They have to be encouraged to do a lot of activities on top of taking medication. This can be difficult but centers like Fallbrook Assisted Living can help ease the burden.

 

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

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4 Things That Make Skilled Nursing Homes the Best Place for Long-Term Care

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The world’s population is growing old and with it comes the need for long-term care for the elderly. In fact, approximately 1.7 million Americans live in one of the 15,000 nursing homes around the country in a year, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. These facilities offer a wide range of services depending on the type of care and the amount of time needed by the patient. One of the best options for long-term care is a skilled nursing home and here’s why:

 

 

Skilled Nursing Homes offer Specialized Services that you won’t find at a Regular Nursing Facility

 

Aside from offering meal preparations, senior care, and non-medical assistance, skilled nursing homes specialize in a variety of rehabilitation services and have specialized staff lie audiologists, pathologists and therapists to help patients recover following an emergency hospital stay. Skilled nursing homes also have licensed medical practitioners on site to assist patients with their needs.

 

 

Skilled Nursing Facilities are Covered by Medicare

 

Medicare covers up to 100 days of a patient’s stay in skilled nursing homes. This includes a semi-private room, skilled nursing care, meals, speech-language pathology, medications, medical supplies and equipment, physical and occupational therapy and dietary counseling. The first 20 days of stay at a skilled nursing facility will be completely free of charge while day 21-100 will be charged $167.50 daily, which will be paid by either insurance or the patient. For stays of more than 100 days, all costs will need to be shouldered by the patient.

 

 

A Skilled Nursing Facility has a Team of Professionals Providing Care

 

One of the biggest differences between a typical nursing home and a skilled nursing home is that the latter has a team of professionals offering care to patients unlike the non-medical workers in a nursing home. Here, you will find registered nurses, medical doctors, vocational nurses and rehabilitation specialists providing all the services needed by the patient to transition from the hospital to their home after full recovery.

 

 

A Skilled Nursing Facility offers Transitional Care

 

Most elderly patients who have been admitted to a hospital due to a medical condition or accident may need to transfer to one of the skilled nursing homes in their area after being discharged. This is to help them transition back to their personal residence smoothly by making sure that they are well enough to return to their normal life.

 

Although a stay in a skilled nursing facility may take a few months, it is still shorter than those in a nursing home. However, some nursing homes are also skilled nursing facilities where the patient can safely transition from the hospital to the nursing home after a hospital stay.

 

 

Whether you’re the patient or you’re caring for a loved one who needs transitional or long-term care, it’s very important to learn about the differences between nursing homes to determine which facility will suit your needs best. And while you’re at it, you should also learn about payment options and what coverage Medicare offers for your needs.

 

 

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

memory care assisted living

Memory Care and Medicare: What You Need to Know

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According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s disease, which affects parts of the brain that control memory, thought and language, is the most common form of dementia. In 2018, more than 5.7 million Americans are already living with Alzheimer’s disease and this is projected to reach 7.1 million by 2025.

 

With this growing number also comes the increasing cost of caring for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia including memory care assisted living, which is expected to reach a staggering $277 billion.

 

Alzheimer’s care is definitely expensive, which brings this question to mind: will Medicare cover memory care for beneficiaries with Alzheimer’s or dementia? Yes, Medicare will pay for memory care cost, but not all of it.

 

 

Here’s what you should know:

 

Early Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

 

  • If you’re enrolled in Medicare Part B, you will be covered for annual wellness visits, which will include a health risk assessment that usually determines the symptoms that lead to the diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer’s disease. After a diagnosis is made, your doctor will offer advice on advance care planning options.

 

  • Medicare Part B will cover 80% of the cost of diagnostic tests to rule out other conditions and diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and its progression. This includes PET scans, CT scans and MRIs that are ordered by a doctor and provide useful information that will help in proper care planning.

 

  • Part B will pay for 100% of the approved amount for annual depression screenings provided that your doctor accepts the assignment and you get it in a primary care setting. Part B also covers all doctor visits and follow-ups and so are mental health services including counseling and occupational health therapies as long as the doctor prescribes them.

 

  • Medicare Part A covers inpatient care, but this might include co-payments, co-insurance costs, and deductibles depending on the type and cost of services needed. The coverage also includes all drugs prescribed during your hospital stay.

 

  • Only Medicare Part D, which is usually from private insurance companies, is needed for covering prescription drugs to take at home.

 

Middle-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

 

  • Medicare offers very limited coverage during middle-stage Alzheimer’s disease. Full-time nursing care is not covered and only limited home health coverage is available and will depend upon the patient’s situation.

 

  • Medical care and health services prescribed by the doctor during the early stage of the disease will continue through the middle-stage.

 

 

Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease

 

  • In terms of memory care assisted living, Medicare doesn’t generally cover full-time nursing home care but offers skilled nursing care in some situations. Medicaid programs run by the state may cover long-term services, however, especially for beneficiaries with limited income. Medicare covers up to 100 days in skilled nursing homes under limited circumstances. Hospice care delivered at home, a hospice facility or nursing facility for patients who are determined by the doctor to be near the end of life is also covered by Medicare.

 

  • For patients in late-stage Alzheimer’s, Medicare will cover the cost of home health care for up to 35 hours a week provided that the patient is certified as “homebound.”

 

 

It’s very important to know the in-betweens of Medicare coverage for patients with Alzheimer’s disease to know which options will best help cover the cost of caring for patients with Alzheimer’s including memory care assisted living.

 

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

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5 Questions to Help You with Senior Housing and Long Term Care Decisions

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There comes a time in your life when you will be faced with a decision to choose a senior housing facility where you will spend most of your later years. And whether you’re about to move into long-term care or it is still a few years away, it’s very important to understand the concept of senior housing and know what your options are.

 

 

To help you do just that, here are five questions that you need to ask first:

 

 

What is long-term care?

 

Long-term care is a set of services offered by a healthcare facility to meet the health and personal care needs of an individual during his senior years. This program is designed to help the elderly live as independently as possible while providing all the support and assistance they need to perform daily activities in a safe and secure environment.

 

 

What are the things that I should consider when choosing a senior home?

 

 

When deciding on the right senior housing, it’s very important to consider some factors:

 

  • Location: The senior home should not be too far away from your loved ones to make visits a lot easier and more frequent. This is especially important if you still have a spouse living at home and could not tolerate long flights and lengthy drives.

 

  • Services: Not all long-term care facilities are the same, so it’s very important to ask for the services that they offer, especially if you need a higher level of care due to serious medical conditions or disabilities.

 

  • Staff: Aside from services, you should also choose a senior housing that has a good, stable staff. When there are enough caregivers in a facility, each resident will be given the amount of time and care that they need, so you can guarantee that you have the right support whenever you need it.

 

 

How long does long-term care last?

 

The length of long-term care will depend entirely on your needs. Some people only require care for a few months due to a medical condition or surgery while others will stay in senior housing for a longer time to make sure that they are well taken care of and are living the best life possible.

 

 

What are my options to pay for long-term care?

 

Long-term care can be expensive, but there are options available to help pay for it. This includes private health insurance plans, reverse mortgages, life insurance policies, Medicare or Medicaid and personal funds. To help ensure that you have the means to pay for long-term care when it comes, make sure that you have personal savings, a sufficient retirement fund and income from investments.

 

 

Can someone help me decide on the right long-term care?

 

Moving into a senior home is a huge decision, so your family should be able to help you decide whether a facility is good for you or not. You can also ask advice from geriatric care managers and caregivers on the right long-term care options to choose from depending on your needs.

 

 

 

Are you ready to take that first step towards securing your later years?

 

 

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper

Assisted Living

Championing Independent Living for People with Disabilities

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The baby boomer generation is aging. In fact, it is estimated that 20% of the American population will be 65 years and older by 2030. In addition to this, more individuals are also suffering from disabilities caused by aging and certain medical conditions, increasing the number of people in need of proper care and support.

 

 

Unfortunately for many individuals with disabilities, there are so many barriers that hinder them from living a full, normal life. Aside from dealing with the effects of their disabilities, these individuals also need to deal with barriers including a lack of ramped entrances, a lack of interpreters and a lack of the right materials to help people with visual impairment. But thanks to independent living, individuals with a disability can enjoy a good quality of life just like everyone else.

 

 

 

What is independent living?

 

Independent living means having the same opportunities to make decisions, pursue activities that one loves and do things that everyone else does.

 

Independent living doesn’t always mean living on your own. It means having the right to pursue one’s passions and having the freedom to fail and learn from one’s mistakes, as any non-disabled person would do.

 

 

 

Where did independent living start?

 

The concept of independent living started during the late 1960s when a group of people with disability took active roles in decisions affecting their lives. The movement followed the philosophy that disabled people know their needs best, so they should be the ones to identify barriers and gaps in the delivery of service for them. The first center or facility was formed in Berkeley, California in 1972 and centers in Houston and Boston were also built the same year.

 

 

 

What are the types of independent living facilities?

 

Seniors with disabilities can choose from a variety of independent living facilities:

 

  • Continuing Care: These are communities that offer access to skilled nursing, assisting living, memory care, and independent living facilities. This enables residents to transfer from one facility to the other depending on their needs.

 

  • Senior Apartments: This is the most common type of facility and offers services that include meals, transportation, and recreational activities.

 

  • Housing Units: These are senior communities offering condominiums, duplexes, mobile homes, townhouses, and single-family homes, all of which are adjoined to an independent senior living community.

 

  • Subsidized Housing: This is an option offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to low-income seniors who are in need of an independent living community.

 

 

Independent living is a huge step for people with disabilities, especially for seniors who need special care but would still want the freedom to live their lives the way they want to.

 

 

Choose Fallbrook Assisted Living and Memory Care

Thanks to independent living facilities and their staff, people with a disability already have more power to make decisions for themselves, do activities that they love, pursue their passions and live just like everyone else, all that while still getting the care and support they need. It also gives peace of mind to loved ones who want the best quality of life for family members with disabilities.

 

 

 

Fallbrook Assisted Living is proud to offer its services to Fremont, NE, and surrounding areas and cities: Arlington, Cedar Bluffs, Ames Nickerson, Fontanelle, Arlington, Leshara, Colon, and Hooper