Alzheimer's and Dementia Care

Caring for a someone with Alzheimer’s disease nearly always requires, at some point, the help of skilled caregivers outside the home. One option is community care, such as adult day care centers. But as your loved one’s intellectual and social abilities decline, probably you will do well to think about Alzheimer’s and dementia care facilities.

For day care, in most areas of the U.S., help is available to patients through public and private day care facilities. The number of Alzheimer’s care centers have been growing recently because of the aging population. Adult community care centers make it possible for Alzheimer’s patients to still live at home and maintain some independence. Day care centers are usually paid for from private sources, however private insurance plans may cover some of the cost. Medicare does not cover adult day care, but Medicaid will defray some or all of the costs of Alzheimer's community care centers very low-income patients with few assets.

Assisted living facilities that have specialty in Alzheimer’s and dementia care are good options when to bridge the gap when your loved one or family member isn’t at the stage when he or she would need the medical care provided by skilled nursing homes. These Alzheimer’s and dementia care facilities offer residents help with their daily living tasks—bathing, eating, and dressing, and often provide some one-on-one therapeutic help as well.

Regulations regarding assisted living facilities that help Alzheimer’s and dementia patients varies from state to state, but in general they provide the same basic services: meals, housekeeping, scheduled transportation and social activities. Payment is usually from private funds, although long-term care insurance and Veterans benefits may help with some of the expense.