Memory Care
Clarence Becker explains selecting a suitable memory care facility for dementia or Alzheimer's.
One of the most important factors to consider when you are taking your loved one to a facility for memory care is the cost you will incur. Only a handful of senior living facilities offer memory care. As such, you need to be extra careful as you pick a facility where your loved one will live. Anyone living with a condition such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease needs to be taken to a place where the right amount of memory care is provided. Several factors determine how much memory care will cost you.
The amount of care that is needed
The amount of money you will pay depends directly on the services that the facility of your choice will offer. Examples of these services are bathing, eating, grooming, toileting, and help with making phone calls. Extra services, such as emergency healthcare, are charged per hour. In addition, laundry and general housekeeping should be charged in an all-inclusive package. You can inquire about extras and find out how much they cost. This will help you understand the costs indicated on your bill once you get it.
The room size of your loved one's unit
Memory care facilities usually have rooms that are of different sizes. This is to cater to a variety of needs. Some examples of these rooms are 2-bedroom apartments and studio units. The studio apartments cost less than the larger units in such a setting. By choosing cheaper yet comfortable accommodations, you can save a lot of money. This is especially so if your loved one has unique needs.
The type of residence
The facilities that offer memory care have private and semi-private rooms for the residents. The place that you pick for your loved one depends mainly on what you prefer and what is ideal for their mental health. Some people have a better social life when placed with a roommate. Others prefer to stay on their own. As such, it is best to know what kind of person your loved one is and then provide a residence that is ideal for them. It is essential to understand that private homes usually charge higher prices.
Where the facility is located
The physical location of the care facility you have chosen for your loved one has a significant impact on the amount of money you pay. If it is located in a place with many senior citizens, the facility likely has a high demand. In such a case, you are likely to pay a lot more. Thus, make sure you perform enough research about the locations of the potential facilities for your loved one. You can find that you may get the same level of care but in a cheaper place in a city or state that is different.
Conclusion
It is vital to pick a suitable memory care facility for your loved one - people who have dementia or Alzheimer's need specialized care. Therefore, you need to find the most comfortable yet affordable facility for them. The guidelines above can help you to accomplish this.
Page Reference
If you quote information from this page in your work, then the reference for this page is:
- BECKER, C. (2017) Memory Care [WWW] Available from: https://www.brianmac.co.uk/articles/article225.htm [Accessed
About the Author
Clarence Becker is a care assistant in a memory care facility. He has been in this job for more than three years and has served in many different facilities interacting with a host of senior citizens, caregivers, and doctors.