MC for family member age 50

cindykga

I am doing research for my family in Texas (I'm in Georgia) looking for inpatient memory care for my 50 year old niece in San Antonio who was diagnosed 2 years ago with early onset Alzheimer's. She has been living with her mother (my sister) since her diagnosis but she has progressed to the point that inpatient MC is going to be necessary pretty soon.  I am having absolutely no luck finding information on facilities that accept patients that young.  Can anyone help point me in the right direction?

French

I wonder if you shouldn't post in the spouse forum. Indeed, there are many spouses of EOAD who could perhaps answer. I think they also come here but not sure they all do.

My partner is 52 years old. Diagnosed in 2019 and I just placed him in Tunisia. I live in France and couldn't find a place suitable for him. I don't know how it is in the US, but I imagine that activities in MC are also not adapted to healthy young patients who need physical activities.

harshedbuzz

Cindy-

I am so sorry your family is facing this situation.

Are you being told outright that a MCF will not accept her for residency based on her age? Or is this more a situation where you are touring and not seeing anyone as young as your niece? Or does she have a form of dementia that is especially challenging or co-occurring mental health issue that would make a facility resistant to accepting her? 

IME, there does seem to be a bias against men her age, based on the potential for harm to others because of their physical strength and potential for sexual behaviors, but I have never heard of a woman denied a bed based on age alone. There was a younger woman at dad's MCF; she looked to be about 40ish. I'm not sure if this is a company-wide policy, but it was a Manor Care Facility's "Arden Courts"- the whole outfit is being rebranded as "Promedica" and they do seem to offer MC in San Antonio. 

There are also biases, in some places, against some forms of dementia. Mom's first choice of MCF wouldn't accept dad for admission based on his Wernicke-Korsakoff's diagnosis and potential for "behaviors". My first choice did accept him, but they limit residents with FTD to one per "neighborhood" of 12 rooms because of the additional attention they tend to require. 

If your niece will be funded by Medicaid, you will need to figure out if Medicaid funds MC in TX, whether the facility accepts Medicaid at all and whether there is an expectation that a person will be self-pay at a higher commercial rate for 2-3 years before they'll accept Medicaid for payment. 

IMO, researching is something best done in person and locally. Narrowing down candidates is generally best accomplished by asking opinions of people in the area- the CELA who set up the legal paperwork allowing others to act on the daughter's behalf, the lady who cuts your hair, your PCP, the members of the ALZ support group and folks at your place of worship. Then you visit and tour- the sales agent will give a tour but do speak with the actual caregivers and families you meet in the parking lot, too. 

HTH-
HB

dayn2nite2

It would also be important to know the source of the funding for the MC.  If private pay, probably any of them would take her (and correct, you aren't going to find any place that includes other people of her age, this is a rare situation), but if it's Medicaid, you may find only a nursing home will take that funding.  When my mom was in a NH, I saw a few people that were short or long-term residents in their 40s/50s and there was a mother and her daughter (mom in her 80s with no dementia diagnosis, daughter who was developmentally delayed in her 50s, daughter had actually been living there many years) and they roomed together.  It's very state-specific as to what public funding will pay for, but I would say informally that a female of that age would have a much easier time getting placed unless she is very violent or aggressive.

cindykga

I just wanted to thank everyone that responded to my post.  I was able to find an extremely helpful person at Texas Senior Services in San Antonio.  She responded quickly and was a wealth of information.  If anyone needs answers to questions about placement or how insurance works, etc.  Give them a call.  They also have a website.  Again, thank you for your help and for caring.  I really appreciate it!