How To Find Affordable Memory Care for Mom

As our parents age, it’s normal for them to experience mild memory loss, and many seniors can continue to live alone and care for themselves even when experiencing memory lapses. If episodes of memory loss become more frequent, your parent may be showing early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. It can be stressful to care for a family member as they experience significant cognitive decline, but many people find memory care programs and communities very helpful for both the caregiver and the senior.

Memory Care Options

Memory care provides a safe, enriched environment with structure and familiarity for a person struggling with memory loss. There are several different memory care options available, ranging from drop-in care to assisted living communities. 

Depending on your parent’s needs, you might look into:

1. Adult daycare centers: These provide extra enrichment and supervision on a drop-in basis, which also gives caregivers a temporary break. Activities are often centered around recreation like art, exercise, music, or games.
2. Assisted living communities: These provide more intensive support for your loved one when they are no longer able to live alone but can still maintain a certain level of independence. Not all assisted living communities specialize in memory care, however, so it’s important to find one that offers specific programs.
3. Custodial care: This type of care provides 24-hour supervision for those who need it in a skilled nursing environment. Look for places that have memory care units, which are designed for people with dementia.
4. In-home care: For seniors living at home or with family members, there are a wide range of in-home memory care options where a trained provider comes to the home to engage in memory-enhancing activities with your loved one.

Tips for Finding Affordable Memory Care

Once you have determined the type and level of memory care that you need in your specific situation, the next step is to get financial assistance. Most seniors and their families use a combination of sources to help pay the out-of-pocket costs of memory care.

Potential Sources of Financial Help

• Medicaid—some memory care services are covered, just be sure the program you are interested in is Medicaid-certified
• Medicare
• Long-term care insurance
• Private insurance
• Retirement savings/IRAs
• Veterans Affairs pension or other benefits
• Social Security Disability Insurance
• Supplemental Security Income
• Deductions or credits from your annual taxes

Advice From a Professional

Financial advisors, attorneys who specialize in elder care, or insurance agents can all be valuable resources when you need advice about affordable memory care. At BridgeWater Assisted Living, we have Community Benefits Advocates to help determine eligibility and walk you through the necessary steps to find financial solutions that work for you. We believe that affordable memory care should be available for all families who would benefit from this type of program. We are Medicaid-certified and offer income-qualified opportunities for seniors on a fixed income or who have limited resources. For senior veterans, we are proud to work with you to make affordable memory care a viable solution. Contact us today to find out what we can do for you!