Memory Care vs. Memory Care Assisted Living vs. Long Term Memory Care

Jerome Likes Pie

Hi Friends,

It has been awhile since posting. We found a memory care center after many tours and interviews and were placed on the waiting list. After over 6 months of waiting, we had an opening. At the time of the opening, my mother was in skilled nursing going through some temporary habilitation that we thought would take only a few weeks, so we were hoping of going straight to memory care from rehab rather than back home where she has been living with moderate stage Alzheimer's.

However, we were told by the memory care center that her condition was possibly too far advanced that she may not be accepted into their memory care now. They said it was "memory care assisted living" but when we interviewed them extensively, they actually provide the same service as the other memory care centers we interviewed and toured. Even though she can dress and shower on her own, they are worried about her short-term memory being so bad that she would need constant cuing for meals and activities, and they don't want to spend time doing that apparently. She also likes to be alone and stay in bed a lot. I guess this is a memory care "lite" model, and I am surprised I missed this. They recommended that we look into a long term care with memory care facility. I have looked at several long term care facilities, but not many specialize in memory care, and frankly, the residents there all looked like late stage Alzheimer's.

Should I be looking AGAIN at the other memory care centers that we approved (most are not continuous care, so we may have to move her to another facility at a later stage), or should we just go straight to a long term memory care? I definitely do not want to take her back home to live alone with a visiting care taker.

I understand it is difficult to answer without all the info, but curious on any thoughts.

Thank you kindly.

Pie

towhee

sounds like they are "cherry picking", that is not unusual. I would take a good look at what your LO is able to do and what they need assistance with and try to find a match with another memory care, using your own judgement and not their sales pitch. Many MC will say that they will keep a person all the way thru hospice, but this may or may not work. You decision comes down to fit and cost if you are private pay and what level of care a doctor will certify them for if it is medicaid.