move from SNF to MC?

odowd

I'm wondering if anyone has input on advantages/disadvantages to moving my mom from SNF to MC/AL.

Long story short: in October 2021 we moved swiftly to get my mom on Medicaid and placed in SNF following a hospital stay because of a fall at home. We were directed down this path by both the hospital social workers and the CELA we were working with, and that Medicaid in Michigan would only cover SNF. I have since learned the Medicaid waiver program there actually will cover residential memory care.

I have found an AL/MC facility that will accept Medicaid waiver (I hope to tour it Monday). However, I'm unsure if this will be better or worse for mom. She's been at her current facility for over a year now, and another move worries me. On the other hand, I think she would be happier in more of a residential setting (less hospital-like); mom just has never really settled in where she is. And I would hope MC staff would be better skilled at dealing with her sundowning.

Interestingly, I spoke to another AL/MC facility, and they asked why I thought mom needed MC. She went through a series of questions: if we told your mom it's time for lunch and to head down to the dining hall, would she be able to? (Yes.) If we set out clothes and told her to change, would be she able to? (Yes.) Does she wander? (No.) etc. And she said it didn't sound like MC was necessary, that AL might be more appropriate for her. This surprised me.

Has anyone been down this road before?