Memory Care Assisted Living: Low-Income Options

The baby booming generation is already growing old, so it’s no surprise that the demand for memory care assisted living is set to grow rapidly over the next few years. But there’s also the reality that memory care can be very expensive.

In fact, some data from Genworth’s eldercare cost figures revealed that the median cost of memory care was about $5,000 to $5,250 in 2019. That’s at least $1,000 per month, which is quite pricey even for high-income individuals.

Since there are many low-income seniors in the country, there are already several options in terms of memory care assisted living to give these individuals the best quality of life as they deal with Alzheimer’s and dementia:

Mild to moderate memory loss

Seniors with mild to moderate memory loss are usually cared for in an apartment-style assisted living facility where there are trained nurses and health aides to help them with activities of daily living.

Meal programs are also offered for residents so they don’t have to worry about cooking their own food. This type of memory care has the goal of giving residents a safe environment where they can be as independent as possible.

These facilities also offer assistance for residents who may tend to wander or those with maintenance medications.

Mid to late-stage dementia

For individuals who are already in the mid to late stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, a skilled nursing facility would be the best option. This is also true for seniors who have other health problems that require skilled nursing care.

Skilled nursing facilities or more commonly known as nursing homes offer more supervisory care for residents as compared to assisted living facilities and the living arrangement is also different.

Residents in this type of memory care assisted living can either stay in a shared or private room, but they will have access to lounge areas, dining rooms and activity areas where they can socialize with other people in a safe environment. A skilled nursing facility also has on-site staff 24/7 to attend to the needs of residents.

Aside from doctors and nurses, some facilities may also have psychiatrists who are trained in working with Alzheimer’s patients to help them with therapies and adherence to medication so they can have a better quality of life.

Since these options still require payment, low-income seniors who can’t afford to stay in these types of memory care assisted living to have the option to remain in their home and just hire a part-time or full-time caregiver.

Seniors may also apply for Medicare and Medicaid assistance in some assisted living facilities to help them with expenses. Although expenses will not be fully covered, they can help ease the financial burden to the family of low-income seniors while still giving them the best quality of life possible as they go through their journey.

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