Signs families often notice
- Increasing confusion
- Leaving appliances on
- Missing meals or medications
- Nighttime wandering
- Caregiver cannot safely rest
Questions to organize
- Is the setting licensed or prepared for dementia care?
- What happens if care needs increase?
- How are falls and wandering prevented?
- Can the resident age in place?
- What costs are added by care level?
Care option to compare first: Memory Care
- Specialized residential support for people living with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, wandering risk, or cognitive decline that makes ordinary assisted living unsafe.
- Medicare may cover medical care, but not long-term custodial room and board. Medicaid waiver rules and veterans benefits vary by state and eligibility.
- Is the unit secure?
- What dementia training do caregivers receive?
- How are wandering, sundowning, falls, and behavior changes handled?