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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.

 

 

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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

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.

 

 

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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

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.

 

 

 

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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

The human body is an excellent living organism. It can grow and develop. However, it is also quite volatile and susceptible to external influences.

 

 

The demands of this modern world mean that we are subjecting our minds and bodies to all sorts of pressures. The kind that would have been completely alien to our ancestors whose feelings of pressure and tension drew from stressors of a more primal nature.

 

 

Today we’re confronted with living life in the fast lane, having preservatives in our food, as well as a polluted and congested environment. All of these things take a toll and often result in stress.

 

 

In this article, we take a look at both the good and bad sides of stress. How it affects our bodies and minds. We’ll also dive into how assisted living facilities can help people with memory loss resulting from stress and other health factors.

 

 

 

The Problem with Stress

 

Stress is the body’s normal reaction to change. It’s how our body copes and is able to deal with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Even the positive events in our lives can be a cause of stress – a promotion, buying that first home, experiencing childbirth.

 

 

Stress does have some positives. It keeps us alert and motivated. It also serves as an effective mechanism to help us avoid getting into dangerous situations.

 

 

However, there is obviously a dark side to stress. As is often said, too much of something is bad for the body. An excessive amount of stress can be problematic. It can affect both physical and mental health. Chronic stress can affect a person’s sleep patterns, libido, and appetite. It can also exacerbate a range of health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and gastrointestinal problems.

 

 

 

The Connection between Stress and Memory Loss

 

Research was done by Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts linking stress and memory loss. According to their published findings in the journal of Neurology, “people with high levels of blood cortisol had much poorer memory when compared with peers with normal cortisol levels. Importantly, impaired memory was present in these individuals even before obvious symptoms of memory loss set in.”

 

 

Cortisol is the main stress hormone and is produced by the adrenal glands. Specifically, it works with certain parts of the brain to control a person’s mood, motivation, and fear.

 

 

In this study, it’s also interesting to note that participants with high cortisol levels tended to have lower total brain volumes, which could be indicative of memory loss.

 

 

A total of 2,018 participants agreed to undergo MRI scans so the volume of their brains could be measured. Those classified as belonging to the high-cortisol group “had an average total cerebral brain volume of 88.5 percent of total cranial volume versus 88.7 percent of total cranial volume in people with regular cortisol levels.”

 

 

 

Assisted Living and Dementia

The decline in mental ability to the point that it interferes with daily life is called dementia. In the study above, those individuals who are often stressed have a higher tendency of experiencing dementia.

 

 

 

Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most common examples of dementia. People with this type of memory loss are admitted into an assisted living facility that can help them deal with their condition and retain as much of a normal life as possible.

 

 

 

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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

There are a lot of considerations for people who opt for senior care and housing. But whether you’re planning it for yourself or an aged loved one, costs are always high up that list.

 

According to Genworth’s latest Cost of Care Survey, monthly fees for assisted living across the United States now average at $4000/month. Specific figures will be higher or lower depending on where you live and what sort of care is needed, but it’s clear that this is something you have to prepare for financially.

 

On that note, let’s take a look at the different ways you can fund a stay at a senior housing community.

 

 

Quick buy programs

Seniors who don’t want to go through all the hassle of selling property can partner with companies that have a quick buy program. This provides a stress-free way to sell a home in as little as 30 days. These companies assist seniors with the challenges of moving and offers a comfortable transition while you or your loved ones settle into a new lifestyle.

 

 

Renting out the home

Aren’t you willing to let go of the big house yet?  Rent it out instead. Those monthly payments can cover the cost of a senior living facility and ensure that the property remains in the family for years to come.

 

 

Bridge Loans

These are short-term loans that can help pay for the cost of an assisted living facility.

 

 

Veterans’ Programs

Former military personnel or war veterans who are eligible to receive a VA pension may also get benefits that can help them pay for senior housing.

 

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers eligible war veterans and their spouses nearly $2,000 per month to help defray the cost of assisted living or other non-reimbursed medical care through the Aid and Attendance Program.

For more information about financing senior care through veterans’ benefits, contact the Veterans Regional Office nearest you.

 

 

Long-Term Care Insurance (LTC)

LTC insurance policies may help pay for care in an assisted living community.

 

There are pros and cons to consider when using LTC to finance senior living. The benefits may be used in a home setting, assisted living or a long-term care center, making care more affordable. On the other hand, most policies have limits on how long and how much they’ll pay. Premiums can also increase and you could lose your investment if you are unable to pay. Coverage is based on strict requirements for the assisted living community.

 

 

Tax Benefits

The International Revenue Service offers tax deductions on some senior care related costs that can potentially benefit both the resident and the family. Reach out to your tax adviser or accountant for guidance on how to apply for these tax deductions.

 

These are just some of the options you can have when it comes to paying for senior housing. It would be wise to do your research and compare with each one first before making a decision. That way you can ensure that you or your senior family member can relocate to a wonderful senior care community at costs that you can afford.

 

 

 

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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