California Memory Care Facilities

Along with the terrific year-round weather, California is well known for providing some of the finest senior living facilities in the country. The state not only has a phenomenal selection of memory care facilities and communities with diverse price ranges that fit every budget, but also great healthcare and some really caring, well-trained nurses and doctors to assist with complicated diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.

Memory Care and California

The latest data from Alzheimer's Association shows that 690,000 individuals aged 65 and above live with Alzheimer's in The Golden State, while 11.7% of people aged 45 and above have cognitive decline.

California's memory care facilities serve to meet the needs of those with different forms of dementia. These communities seek to help those diagnosed with degenerative brain ailments and requiring assistance with routine care.

A majority of the older adults with memory issues might ultimately require memory care homes as they age, and most often end up needing some form of physical health care as well in addition to memory care. It is not always easy to take care of them at home, so a memory care facility might be necessary to meet the mental and physical aspects of their treatment.

This guide offers invaluable insight into California's care facilities for dementia and Alzheimer’s, while highlighting various facets, including memory care costs, amenities, regulations, and related information.

Memory Care Costs

The cost of housing in California is extremely expensive. It therefore may come as a surprise to know that California’s memory care facilities are actually quite reasonable in price. In fact, California’s dementia care homes and Alzheimer’s care facilities do not rank in the Top 10 in terms of being the most expensive.
Having said that, the cost of California memory care communities is comparatively expensive, with the state ranking 11th in terms of least affordable. At just over $5,000 per month for an average room at a memory care facility, the state ranks just above Washington and Colorado, but under Pennsylvania and Illinois in terms of affordability.

Thanks to the massive size of the state, the selection of dementia care homes in California is among the best. The state has 9,402 senior care facilities, which includes 2,437 memory care facilities. Generally, the costs range from $1,431-$13,050. The highest costs in the state are in the Santa Maria to Santa Barbara areas where costs range from $2,805 monthly to $10,313 with an approximate median cost of $101,475 annually.

Expensive rooms with highly reputable dementia care in California can cost nearly $300 per day. A vast number of highly esteemed memory care communities charge upwards of $200 or more per day, with some even requiring a waiting list.

However, affordable memory care facilities do also exist in all parts of the state, including the busy southern California area, middle section of San Francisco as well as the valley and more rural, northern part of the state. Prices in affordable California dementia care homes can drop to $100 per day. For the most part, the more traditional costs for affordable memory care homes in the state range from $120 to $140 per day.

All in all, the top 10 percent of California’s most expensive memory care facilities sits at $8,600 per month while the lowest 10 percent is just under $3,000 per month. Medicare may be able to help assist with some financial obligations related to covering the cost of care.

Amenities Offered in California's Memory Care Facilities

California dementia care homes may be located inside a broader form of senior living facilities such as assisted living centers or nursing homes. Or, the facility can be dedicated completely to the treatment and supervision of Alzheimer’s or dementia care. Regardless of its specialty, expect to find high quality facilities along with friendly, caring and knowledgeable staff.
Memory care communities in California can assist with a variety of functions. These are usually classified into different categories including personal care, personal productivity and personal leisure. Personal care allows staff to monitor residents around the clock, and assist with getting dressed, hygiene or other personal care that helps with seniors’ self-esteem.
When seeking a community for a loved one in California, you might not know what constitutes a great facility. One aspect that distinguishes a facility is the amenities offered to the residents. Since the facilities are live-in, your loved one must feel at home and remain encouraged while still obtaining superior care.

Regulated exercises and health programs, laundry services and housekeeping are part of the package. These amenities ensure that your loved ones are properly cared for and are provided assistance with routine tasks that might be hard to accomplish on their own.

For example, these facilities offer laundry services to keep residents' clothes clean because most might not be mentally or physically able to handle this task. Other amenities such as transportation and social activities are equally necessary to ensure community interaction and motivation among residents. Transportation facilitates outings and trips to keep residents in a physically active state and make their experience enjoyable.

Regulations Pertaining to California’s Memory Care

California's Definition of Memory Care

In this state, Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly provide different degrees of full-time care mostly for individuals above 60. The type of care your loved one obtains depends on an agreement made during admission or established upon formal follow-up evaluations.

Generally, supervision and care in memory care facilities involve assistance with daily living activities such as dressing, cleaning, and moving around. Residents who require specialized assistance with items such as oxygen and catheters can gain admission into these facilities provided there's a skilled staff and adherence to all regulations.

According to Californian law, a room should only accommodate two persons. Residential Care Facilities cannot admit individuals with dementia unless they adhere to the following requirements: a yearly medical evaluation, sufficient supervision, a structured program of activities, and enhanced safety. That is, a residence can't offer safe care to a patient with dementia unless there's a program in place to meet needs particular to that condition.

Admission Prerequisites

In this state, the fulfillment of various conditions must occur before admission into a facility. A residence cannot admit somebody who requires 24-hour expert nursing care without completing the required formalities. Furthermore, a residence cannot also admit a patient with a mental disorder that might upset the other residents. Patients with health conditions such as staph infection, nasogastric care, and gastronomy care are also not allowed to be admitted into California’s memory care facilities.

Residents who require assistance with daily living activities must first submit a written exception request for approval by the Department of Social Services. Moreover, residents must undergo an assessment of their mental condition, functional capacity, and social aspects before admission.

This must be done annually or whenever a major change occurs in a loved one's condition. Admission procedures also call for a comprehensive report from a physician. Since it could take months between choosing a facility and moving in, you'll need to start the process as soon as possible.

Personnel

There's no particular staffing ratio for memory care homes stipulated in California. Nevertheless, staffing should be adequate for the residents during the day and at night. A certified manager or administrator who's at least 21 years of age should be on the premises 24/7. All other personnel at the facility should be above 18 years with relevant experience or on-the-job training. Other requirements include:

• Personnel who have a direct working relationship with residents require 20 hours of annual training, out of which 8 hours should be for dementia-care training.
• First-aid training is also necessary. CPR-trained personnel should also be present at the facility always.
• The facility must document all employees' training.
• Residences should train personnel to identify elder abuse.
• Personnel who deal with medications should meet training prerequisites that differ based on the number of residents.

Facility

Residents' rooms don't have to meet a particular size. The size simply needs to be adequate to enable equipment and resident mobility. Ensure you check the room your loved one is assigned to before signing an agreement with a memory care community to evaluate whether there's sufficient space.

At most, bedrooms should accommodate two residents. One toilet and sink should serve six residents while a shower or bathtub should serve 10.

Elderly and Senior Rights in California

In California, residents have the privilege to be informed about and decline any form of treatment unless there's a definite emergency contact or incapacity determination by the law. They equally have the right to dignity, privacy, and human care. In this state, residents should access patient advocates without community responsibility.

Memory Care versus Assisted Living

Not all care is equal, and complex degenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer's and dementia need extra care. The major difference between the two is that memory care facilities are specifically for handling the extra needs of patients with these conditions.

The layouts of California’s dementia and Alzheimer’s care facilities and living quarters might have a simple design. This way, wandering patients won't experience confusion. Memory care facilities have 24/7 care, which might be absent in assisted living.

Patients with Alzheimer's and dementia need great care because of memory loss. Dementia sufferers might be unable to remember their identity or the medications they should take, which could be detrimental to the individual if he or she isn't obtaining around the clock care.

When is Your Loved One Ready for Memory Care?

Distress

Dementia can be distressful and frightening for those involved. This applies to the individual as well as their family members and friends. In some cases, distress can be especially intense and need further intervention.

If your loved one is feeling intensely unsafe or insecure, it's time you considered professional help and intervention. Hallucinations can be a sign of dementia. If the patient doesn't find this upsetting, it's not considered a huge problem.

However, if they're a source of distress or fear, they need addressing. The same applies to delusional thinking, which differs from forgetfulness or confusion. Delusional thinking denotes strongly held convictions despite contrary evidence.

You should involve a physician once you notice your loved one experiencing distressing delusions or hallucinations. Unfortunately, numerous primary care givers and family practitioners don't specialize in dementia or geriatrics.

They frequently lack comprehensive understanding of the nuances surrounding memory-impairing disease. Although mediation can be beneficial in some instances, it isn't efficient in treating the underlying source of the anguish. Taking unhelpful medication is ineffective, unnecessary, and often results in incapacitating side effects.

An expert in dementia treatment in the state of California can guide you on how to handle the underlying insecurity feelings without drugs. This might imply acclimatizing to the individual's changing needs by allowing for a change of surroundings.

The Individual's Needs Surpass what the Caregiver Can provide

Dementia is progressive, which implies that the individual's needs will continue increasing over time. At some stage, the person's needs will surpass what a caregiver can offer. This includes mobility assistance, incontinence care, and personal hygiene. Unmet needs frequently manifest as emotional, mental, or behavioral symptoms.

In some instances, it might be possible to hire someone to come to your home. In other instances, the person might not receive home care well. Eventually, it typically becomes impractical for families to afford the necessary in-home care to meet an individual's emotional, behavioral, and physical needs.

You're Experiencing Burnout

Even the most loving, patient and determined caregiver can become increasingly vulnerable to burnout or compassion fatigue as the illness progresses. Caregiver burnout signifies a serious issue with serious outcomes. Burnout symptoms include anxiety, anger, frustration, depression, and increased health issues in the caregiver. In numerous instances, family members, particularly spouses, end up in hospitals themselves, incapable of caring for the loved one. The outcome is a traumatic and stressful situation for those involved.

Numerous families resist the transition to a local memory care facility in California. They consider it something to avoid until the last minute. However, this transition can be positive for the individual and their family and if approached with a positive mindset can be a blessing for everyone involved.