Arkansas Memory Care Facilities

The question isn't why would you want to live in a memory care home in Arkansas, but why wouldn't you? Arkansas dementia care communities rank second all over the country for their low cost. Memory care community residents can take advantage of one of the most affordable states in the country, next only to West Virginia, to receive excellent services that truly enhance their quality of life.

Even though Arkansas Alzheimer's care facilities are extremely affordable, they do not sacrifice care and quality in terms of features and amenities related to specialized care for Alzheimer's and other dementia forms. These care homes offer great value in terms of price while catering to the needs of people suffering from memory loss.

Starting a New Chapter at a Dementia Care Home in Arkansas

Dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association, is an umbrella term that generally refers to memory loss. More than just forgetfulness, dementia also involves the loss of language capacities, problem-solving capabilities, and thinking abilities that lead to a disruption in daily life and function. There are many forms of dementia, with Alzheimer's being the most common.

In Alzheimer's, dementia worsens over time. Although research shows that the average age where Alzheimer's starts is around 65 to 74, the disease can affect people of any age and gender. Statistics from the Alzheimer's Association states that more than 5 million people in the United States alone are affected by Alzheimer's. Although many people with dementia live independently or with family, the number of people living in assisted-living homes or Alzheimer's care communities is steadily growing. This transition may be attributed to the enhancement of services these facilities provide, the availability of affordable options, and the presence of support systems that help pay for these services. But how do you know if it's time to relocate a family member with the condition?

According to geriatricians, you should consider five things: your loved one's behavior, their safety, their health, the status of their functionality, and your own capability to address their changing needs, and the well-being of their primary caregiver.

The confusion and disorientation that comes with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia are a risk to their safety even if they live with family and more so, if they live alone. Since mobility is usually intact, it does not stop them from venturing outdoors. Problems happen when they forget the address or how to get back. They may not even remember whom to call for help. Chances of forgetting road safety rules and ignoring warning signs and traffic signals can put them at an even bigger risk.

If you are the primary care giver of a person with dementia, consider asking yourself the following:

• Is the health of the loved one deteriorating?
• Are they a threat to their safety when left alone for even a short period of time?
• Are you neglecting your responsibilities?
• Do you feel disconnected from your other family and friends?
• Are you neglecting your health and your needs?
• Are you becoming a more irritable and impatient?
• Are you feeling like you are out of your depth and are not qualified to give the best care that your loved one requires any longer?

If 'yes' is your answer, then it’s about time that you consider a memory care home.

As a caregiver and family member, you may feel guilty in allowing someone else to care for your loved one. You may feel un-filial because you feel that you need to be the one taking care of them. But allowing a trained professional to address the need of your loved one is the best form of care you can give at the moment. You are allowing them to get the best help they need while improving the quality of their life and getting yours back.

Arkansas Memory Care Facilities vs. Assisted Living Facilities

In an assisted-living home, people with special needs can continue to live independently, with immediate access to healthcare and support services. Aside from boarding and lodging, assisted-living centers may also provide physical, mental and emotional support and allow for social interactions with other community members.

However, given that they are mostly unregulated by the central government there are chances for significant discrepancies in the care quality, facilities development, amenities acquisition, building maintenance, and overall community management. Although nursing homes and Arkansas’ assisted living homes can have a special memory care unit separate from the rest of the institution, with qualified staff to provide the specialized care that patients with dementia require, not every facility may have it.

On the other hand, memory care communities are equipped and trained to provide care to people diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia.

In addition to providing meals, rooms and other support services, they also offer behavioral health services, assisting in the administration of memory care-specific treatments, and supervising individual and group therapies together with any additional services as required.

Arkansas' Department of Human Services, Office of Long-Term Care, and Division of Medical Services are the primary licensing and regulating bodies for the state’s memory care facilities. These facilities need to offer 24-hour assisted-living services to at least three adult residents in a safe and well-maintained environment. The Office of Long-Term Care reviews a facility's setup and quality of service annually through planned or unannounced inspections. This ensures that the patients are safe and well-cared for in a peaceful and well-maintained environment.

Admission Requirements in Arkansas Memory Care Facilities

Once you decide that a transition is the need of the hour, you first need to check if your patient fits the eligibility criteria. Seniors diagnosed with dementia and requiring a higher level of care can be admitted to memory care facilities in Arkansas, following a facility assessment. In addition, patients suffering from dementia due to traumatic brain injuries and those with physical and developmental disabilities are eligible to be admitted after thorough assessments.

An inability to evacuate on their own, immobility, incontinence, incapability to communicate with staff may be grounds for ineligibility for admission. In addition to this, people who require intravenous feeding, special dietary needs that the facility cannot readily meet, physical restraints, and temporary nursing services may be denied admission too. Lastly, individuals who have infectious diseases and pose a threat to the health and safety of other residents' may not be admitted as well.

However, please note that these requirements apply to special care units and it’s best to clarify with each facility about their admission requirements and eligibility criteria.

Choosing the Dementia Care Home in Arkansas for Your Loved One

It is ideal to visit several facilities and meet with the people who run it as well the caregivers who work there, before signing up for their services. This will give you an idea of how the facility is run and the services they provide. It is also a good time to ask how the community is run and see how the future would look like for you and your loved one.

Some question to consider asking:

• About their care plan and the involvement allowed and required from family.
• About the process for updating and informing family about changes in the health or care requirements.
• If and whom the patient’s family can contact for updates.
• About the scope of care provided and whether it covers medical treatments, personal care and physical assistance.
• About the availability of an in-house physician, registered nurses and other health care professionals.
• If their staff are trained in dementia care.
• If residents would be escorted to hospitals and emergency rooms if required.
• About the ratio of residents to staff.
• About the size of living areas, their layout and if residents are allowed to bring personal belongings.
• If the living arrangements allow for independence and ease of movement.
• About the area of indoor and outdoor space.
• Whether the place supports an active and healthy lifestyle.
• About how often and when family visits are permitted.
• If family can access the patient’s room, or if visits are restricted to designated areas.
• If there’s a registered nutritionist on the staff and whether special dietary needs will be taken into consideration.
• The policies for discharge and situations warranting a discharge?
• About the options available for continued care through the patient’s lifetime.

Amenities in Arkansas Dementia Care

Along with remarkably affordable room costs, Arkansas's memory care facilities feature a wide range of high-quality amenities. Like most nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the state, meals are served daily, housekeeping, and other routine tasks like assistance getting in and out of bed, bathing, using the restroom, and more are assured in a memory care community.

Regular activities are scheduled and encouraged by staff to help each resident acclimatize to the community. Residents are always treated with respect, privacy and care and family members are kept up to date with any rapid changes in health, habits or personality.

A common symptom with dementia and Alzheimer's is that the patient can change demeanor in a heartbeat. Staff are not only trained and equipped to handle these changes but are also prompt in communicating with family about their loved one's well-being.

Leisure is also encouraged at Arkansas’ dementia care homes. The activities and interactions are designed to make new residents feel as comfortable and secure in their new environment.

The Cost of Memory Care Facilities in Arkansas

So, you know that Arkansas’ dementia care facilities are cheap, but exactly how cheap? The average room rate in homes for dementia care in Arkansas amount to $140 per day. The national average is more than $20 at approximately $160 per day.

Furthermore, there is a higher volume of affordable homes for dementia care in Arkansas compared to the rest of the nation and costs of rooms can often fall to as low as $80 per day. Many others range from $90 to $120 per day.

You can expect to pay between $2,500 and $4,200 per month, even for some of the highest-priced, luxury rooms at Alzheimer's care homes in Arkansas. The vast selection and affordable pricing make finding a suitable memory care community in Arkansas, not all that difficult.

The most popular cities for Alzheimer's care homes in Arkansas, along with high-quality memory care communities exclusive to dementia and Alzheimer's are available in Little Rock (nearly 200,000 in population), Fort Smith (population 87,500), Fayetteville (81,900), Springdale (77,000) and Jonesboro (73,000). The communities of Rogers, Bentonville, and Pine Bluff also have access to high-quality Arkansas memory care communities.

Affording Arkansas Dementia Care

Arkansas may offer the most affordable memory care, but a little help is always appreciated when it comes to financing a loved one's long-term care. In case you need some support, consider looking into some of the programs below.

• Living Choices Assisted Living Waiver
  • Eligibility: Residents who require the high level of care that are provided in assisted living and memory care facilities are eligible for this program. It is worth noting that while the waiver does include the cost of care treatment provided at a facility, it does not include the cost of the room and other boarding expenses if any.
     
• Personal Care Program
  • Eligibility: Any Arkansas resident of any age, gender, and ethnicity whom their physician has deemed in need of a higher care level that memory care homes can provide, may apply. Those with monthly incomes not exceeding $783 as an individual applicant and $1175 as couple applicants are eligible. Lastly, residents of Alzheimer's special care units are also encouraged to apply if their memory care community is a state-approved Medicaid provider.

You can also research on other avenues like life insurance, medical insurance, long-term care insurance, reverse mortgages, and veterans’ benefits should you need additional support for your loved one's dementia care needs.

Knowing More about Dementia and Memory Care in Arkansas

You can consider the free resources below, in case you are looking for more information on the topic of dementia care in the state of Arkansas:

• Alzheimer's Arkansas
• Arkansas Geriatric Education Collaborative
• Alzheimer's Association Arkansas Chapter