When your loved one is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another type of dementia, there is so much to consider. Not only does everyone need to work through their emotions of grief and worry, but there must also be a fair amount of education and planning in order to ensure quality of life and safety for the person living with the disease. In order to make the best decisions, you need to consider the cost of dementia care. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is Dementia Care?
Before you can determine the cost of dementia care and how it fits into your loved one’s budget and financial plans, you need to understand what it is. Dementia care communities are specialized senior living communities that specifically serve those living with Alzheimer’s disease or other types of dementia. Thanks to their specialized environment, staff, and activities, residents are safe, comfortable, and happy.
Amenities and features of dementia care communities can include:
- Round-the-clock caregivers
- Nurses who manage care and physician communication
- Assistance with medication management
- Apartments with various floor plans
- Chef-prepared meals served in a social dining room
- Activities, events, and trips offered throughout the day and evening
- Staff members who are trained in dementia care best practices
Benefits of Dementia Care
Because of their specialized nature, dementia care communities are often the best choice for those living with cognitive decline. And because Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia are progressive, there will always be a new challenge or obstacle to performing daily tasks. Dementia care communities meet these challenges head-on by offering an environment designed to promote independence and comfort, as well as staff members who can provide the right amount of assistance and personalized care.
The Cost of Living at Home Alone
Many older adults with cognitive decline live at home while in the early stages of the disease. Unfortunately, this can often lead to crisis situations ranging from becoming confused and lost outside of the home, forgetting to turn off a stove burner, or incorrectly taking medications. These crisis situations can result in unplanned emergency room visits or hospital stays, which are expensive even with the assistance of Medicare or other private insurance.
Family members often turn to in-home caregivers to provide assistance for seniors at home. These caregiver visits can cost anywhere from $20-$50 per hour, depending on your location and needs. Home care, though appropriate in some cases, can sometimes be confusing for older adults with dementia who forget who their caregiver is and see them as a stranger in the house.
The Cost of Living with a Loved One
Other families choose to move the loved one in with them. Though this can work for some situations, it more often than not causes stress for everyone involved. Family members can quickly become inundated with household improvements to make it safer for their loved one. Further, family members are at an increased risk of illness due to caregiver burnout as they attempt to juggle professional and personal obligations with caregiving duties.
The Dementia Care Solution
Dementia care communities offer a specialized environment and staff members who are trained in dementia best practices. A monthly fee includes access to a variety of additional amenities that are designed to keep residents safe and healthy:
- Spacious apartments
- Healthy socialization opportunities daily
- Secured entrances and exits
- Safe access to outdoor areas such as patios or courtyards
- Trips with neighbors and staff members to favorite local spots
- Dining programs designed to promote independence and dignity
- Round-the-clock care
- Personalized care plans to guide caregivers and support staff
Monthly fees for dementia care communities vary from location to location, but when you consider the costs of keeping up a mortgage, utilities, caregiver visits, groceries, and other monthly expenses, a dementia care community becomes quite affordable.
Learn more about how to find a dementia care community that suits your situation and your budget by downloading our free resource, “Finding a Safe and Comfortable Senior Living Community.”
