Hi everyone,
What’s best for mid stage dementia? SNF or Memory care? Mom is in hospital and will transfer out. Not sure what’s the best type of place. She has no short-term memory, she is not a wanderer, she still knows me and family members most of the time. But, the big but is she is very paranoid and aggressive. She moves around with her walker and likes to talk to people and go out. The facility wants to place her in memory care, I think she should go into SNF, then as she progresses, they transfer her to memory care. Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
When mom went to the MC, she had moderate dementia and at the end, she had advanced dementia. She always socialized with residents that were at her level of dementia, pretty much, and the staff was good at getting people together who were well suited to get along.
My advice is to speak to the social worker and the staff at the hospital and the rehab (if she does go to one) to get their feel for where mom would thrive best. Good luck!
She was able to participate in activities, and on some bus rides to see a nearby lake.
There are people in her MC who are at very different levels. Activities are varied, depending on how a person’s dementia has progressed.
You may want to take some tours of MC facilities before you make the decision. We started with a virtual tour of Mom’s facility. Way easier than an in-person visit. If you find a MC that suits your fancy, then move on to an in-person tour.
You cannot just broadly say one is better over the other without more information. Even then, it depends on the person and what the facility will provide.
You say that m om does not wander but she likes to talk to people and go out. What happens one day if she is talking to someone and walks out with them...and does not know how to get back.
Or she is talking to someone and mentions wanting to go to the store. The other resident, not knowing mom has dementia says they are going to the store and would mom like to go along.....And she is unable to find the person or know how to get back.
Or waiting for dinner one evening she gets aggressive with the person in front of her that is waiting for the elevator....
Talk to the administration and find out why they think Memory Care is a better option than AL. Listen objectively and analytically like this is not your mom but someone else. I know that will be difficult to do as we see one thing and the staff sees another.
It also might be an easier adjustment moving 1 time rather than 2 times. Actually more moves than that if she is in Independent Living now then she has had a move to a Hospital stay then a move to rehab then moving to AL then maybe in a few months a move to MC. That is a lot for anyone.
If you can afford it, and a MC has availability generally MC is better suited for those with dementia. If no available and cannot wait for a bed nor afford private pay then SNF is where people often send their LO. It takes some creative insurance work on the AL part but it can be done.
The sad truth is what is best for someone is not exactly an option when they do not properly prepare for retirement.
Some times while at the SNF, that team can also do a fuller work up of her dementia status and other health conditions to develop a "care plan" in order to consider what's best following the initial SNF Rehab stay. That may mean staying at the SNF but moving to their "long term care unit" OR staying at the SNF facility, but moving her to the MC unit if they have one and have a bed.
Would be helpful to have the discharge folks (usually these are social workers at the hospital who know a lot about the various post acute care facilities their patients may be discharged to) to identify a SNF with Rehab, SNF long term care and MC units all at the same facility with beds/no waiting list for the long term care and MC units in order to obviate too many moves from one facility to another. Easer to move to different units at the same facility.
Also, depending your her insurance coverage (Medicare, long term care insurance policy if she has one (?), other "retiree" insurance, etc.) helpful if the facility is both Medicare AND Medicaid qualified especially if at some point your mom will not have the funds to be private pay at either the SNF long term care unit or the SNF's MC unit. Medicare does not pay for either and Medicaid only pays once one qualifies and that is a huge process but the SNF can help you with that if needed.
My mom's SNF long term care bill is about $15K per month or $180K per year, YIKES. My mom spent down over a 7 month period and, then qualified for Medicaid. So I was glad to have picked a SNF Rehab facility that was both Medicare and Medicaid qualified and which had a SNF long term care unit which is where she is. They have a MC unit (which is locked), if at some point they need to move here there, then it is just a move to the 2nd floor. But since my mom cannot walk more than 5 feet with her walker, not like she can wander which is why many have to go to the MC unit as the facility cannot have these folks just walking out the door with others.
Good luck, this journey is so hard.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/common-caregiving-abbreviations-and-acronyms-435589.htm
Ask facility to explain levels of care in relationship to Assisted Living, Memory care and SNF to help you understand how they arrive at appropriate care.
Or read the entire thread.
https://www.agingcare.com/articles/common-caregiving-abbreviations-and-acronyms-435589.htm
MC is best suited for dementia but in many places dementia is not a skilled need and thus getting insurance coverage or help is not exactly east. Also finding a MC that takes Medicaid that has availability is a hurdle in itself. As others mentioned it is less about what is best and more so what is available.
In SNC she got very little social interaction, few activities and very limited contact with family. In MC she wasn’t allowed to sit in her room or have a TV. All residents were kept busy with 7 daily activities, even if they only sat and watched at least they were a little engaged. The change in Mom was dramatic, she loved the crafts and ate well. The doctors took her off several medication and she seemed much more alert and happy.
Each facility will evaluate potential residents to determine if their facility is equipped to handle their needs. And remember, you get what you pay for.