What caregivers should know about memory care

3. WHAT FOOD AND ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED? Ask for a copy of the activity calendar. Does the facility offer activities that would keep your loved one engaged? Do they incorporate music, art

and other activities in the programming? What strategies does the staff use to encourage residents to eat? Carnarius recommends having at least one meal and participating in an activity at

any residence you’re considering. “Watch to see how staff engages residents during the activities,” she says. “Do they seem to know residents personally?” 4. WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY OF

CONTINUING CARE? Some assisted living memory care units can’t provide complex medical care. Find out what health conditions or behaviors might require your loved one to leave or to be moved

to a more expensive level of care within the facility. Also ask if the facility accepts Medicaid. If not, your loved one may have to move when he or she runs out of money. HOW MUCH DOES

MEMORY CARE COST? Not surprisingly, the higher level of care and supervision in a memory care unit comes at a price. The average memory care monthly rent is $8,399 in the U.S., according to

2023 NIC statistics. That’s significantly more than the average monthly cost of assisted living of $6,694, but less than the estimated $12,240 monthly cost of a nursing home, according to

NIC. Costs vary state to state and are affected by the level of care provided. Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans generally will not pay for room and board or personal care in an assisted

living facility, although they will pay for medical care the facility provides. Veterans benefits typically help cover the cost for eligible veterans and surviving spouses who are over age

65. Once your loved one no longer has any assets, Medicaid may offer some coverage for long-term care, but only if the facility accepts it. Most families that utilize memory care have to pay

out of their own pockets, says Richard Newman, an elder law attorney in Pennsylvania. Long-term care insurance, if your loved one purchased it previously, can help, he says. Families might

also sell off personal assets or tap the “living benefits” on a life insurance policy to help cover the cost. If you think your loved one is going to need memory care, Newman recommends

planning when possible. “There are ways to protect some assets and qualify for Medicaid, but it’s complicated, so I would recommend talking to an elder law attorney,” he says. ALTERNATIVES

TO MEMORY CARE If your family member has early dementia, you may want to consider home care as an alternative. It allows your loved one to stay in a familiar environment, and it is less

expensive than memory care. Most communities have adult day care programs that will provide activities and socialization during the day. You can then either hire caregivers or rely on family

members to provide support at home. “Evidence shows that people in [adult day care] programs maintain their cognition and function longer,” Sadarangani says. As memory problems progress,

however, it often becomes too physically and emotionally difficult to care for someone with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease at home. That’s when it is time to consider memory care or a

nursing home. _Editor’s note: This article, originally published Oct. 21, 2019, has been updated with new information and statistics._