Connecticut Memory Care Facilities

From assisted living and nursing homes to independent living and memory care communities, the state of Connecticut is home to some of the country's finest senior living communities. The availability of first-class care services and the presence of some of the most reputable doctors and nursing staff at retirement homes are some of the reasons why the cost of healthcare is traditionally quite high in the state.

Connecticut dementia care homes are among the most expensive in the United States based on average monthly costs. The only state with a higher cost for Alzheimer's care is New Jersey. This trend is similar to nursing homes and assisted living facilities, where dementia care homes are sometimes also housed. Thanks to a high standard of living, high-end healthcare, and highly esteemed doctors and other medical professionals, Connecticut's memory care facilities will remain expensive even in the immediate future.

What the Stats Say

The Alzheimer's Association defines dementia as the severe and disruptive loss of memories, language, problem-solving abilities, and thinking capabilities. These symptoms worsen over time if a person has a more progressive form of dementia, also known as Alzheimer's disease.

Studies indicate that the onset of Alzheimer's can usually be detected around 65 to 74 years of age, but you will also find exceptions to the norm. Published data from the Alzheimer's Association from last year shows that well-over 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also found that 11% of adults over 65 have the disease, and about two-thirds of the Alzheimer's cases are female. These figures and cases are evidence enough to prove that Alzheimer's and dementia can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, and social status.

Moving to a Dementia Care Home in Connecticut

Many of the elderly including those suffering from dementia live on their own while some live with family members. However, it is interesting to note that there is an increase in people entering assisted living homes or dementia care communities. The shift in living preferences may be due to an increase in the availability of these facilities and their significant improvement through the years.

However, the transition to a memory care facility is not always easy. In deciding on the right time to relocate to a memory care community in Connecticut, you have to consider a few things: the current health and well-being of your loved one, their safety, your capability as a caregiver, and your physical and mental health.

To the patient, dementia may only be irritating at first. But as the disease progresses, that irritation intensifies and becomes anxiety, agitation, and frustration. These feelings lead to noticeable changes in a person's behavior. A calm and collected individual may become more frazzled when faced with simple tasks and may eventually lash out. Dementia is not just memory loss; it is forgetting even the most basic of tasks like daily hygiene or taking medication. This gradually leads to a decline in physical health.

Apart from changes in their behavior, people with Alzheimer's often become confused and disoriented. People with dementia may walk to a corner store, but they may forget where they are or what they set out to do. They may also forget where they live or names and contact numbers of immediate family.

Alzheimer's has different stages that gradually progress over time. This means that the needs of a loved one with this disease will change. Moderate and severe stages of Alzheimer's may lead to people forgetting how to dress and how to bathe. Later on, incontinence and immobility will become an issue. It is true that people with dementia and Alzheimer's need their family's love, patience, understanding, and support, but can family members give the best care without it taking a toll on their own health?

It is admirable for a family member to be a primary caregiver to someone suffering from dementia. But as your loved one's needs change, your responsibilities will increase too and you will need to find answer to these questions:

· Is your loved one's health declining?

· Are they safe to be left alone for even a short time?

· Are you missing deadlines and neglecting responsibilities?

· Do you feel more distant to other family members and friends than before?

· Are you often stressed and also neglecting your health?

· Have you become more irritable and impatient as a person and caregiver?

· Do you often feel like you are not qualified to give the care that your loved one needs?

If you’ve answered 'yes' to any or all of these questions, it may be time to look for a memory care home in Connecticut.

Connecticut Memory Care and Assisted Living

Assisted living facilities are places where seniors and other people with disabilities live independently while having the support they need. These facilities provide meals, housing, and other ancillary services. Assisted living communities also organize community functions to encourage resident interaction.

It is interesting to note that the federal government does not regulate assisted living homes. This lack of regulation may cause inconsistencies in a facility's quality of care, basic amenities, facility maintenance, resident management, and staffing.

Although residential care homes may have special care units for Alzheimer's, it is not a requirement. Even if a facility does not have a special care unit, they may have trained personnel, qualified to provide memory care.

On the other hand, memory care facilities are fully equipped to address the needs of people living with Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. They also have experienced and qualified staff members to provide the best care possible. Housing, meals, and support services are also provided. But these institutions are far more capable of Alzheimer's care because they offer behavioral health services, administering dementia care-specific treatment and one-on-one and group therapy supervision. They also give top-notch directed support and personal care.

The Department of Public Health is the regulatory body that oversees the registration and licensing for Alzheimer's special care units and memory care communities in Connecticut. They require that all facilities read residents their bill of rights and inform them of their care provider's responsibilities. These institutions must also have amply spaced living areas with fully functional, age-appropriate bathrooms. They also need to provide a minimum of three nutritious meals a day and recreational programs. The facilities are also required to have regular housekeeping, laundry, and transportation schedules.

The concerned regulatory body may conduct a scheduled or unannounced review to monitor the residents' safety, the quality of care provided, the facility's maintenance, and other regulations that look out for their resident's health and well-being.

Connecticut Dementia Care Community Requirements for Admission

After determining the right memory care community for your loved one, it is prudent to look into their admission requirements.

Older residents of Connecticut or those living with dementia, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, developmental disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, and AIDS are all eligible for admission in a Connecticut memory care home. But those who require round-the-clock nursing care and have conditions that become unstable may be refused admission. Those who are deemed dangers to themselves, the other residents and the staff may also not be admitted. Lastly, those with unpaid charges may be ineligible for facility admission.

Although there are general guides on who may be admitted, there are no set rules. Getting in touch with a dementia care facility via phone call, email, or visit is best.

Choosing Right Memory Care Home in Connecticut for Your Loved One

Scheduling a tour of the different dementia care facilities is a good idea. Meeting with the people who run the facility can give you clues on what to expect when your loved one becomes part of the community. Consider asking the following questions:

· How much family involvement is allowed during care planning?

· Will family members be informed of changes in a loved one's health condition?

· Who should families contact for updates and inquiries?

· Can the facility provide medical, personal care, and assistance?

· Are caregivers trained in memory care?

· What is the protocol for a visit to the hospital or ER?

· What is the resident to staff ratio?

· Are residents allowed to bring personal belongings?

· When can families visit and what are the procedures?

· Who plans their residents' meals and, and are they capable of accommodating special dietary
  requirements?

· What are the discharge policies and the circumstances for discharge?

· Is continuing care and aging in place possible in the community?

Connecticut Dementia Care Amenities

Connecticut's Alzheimer's care facilities rank near the top. Not only does the state provide some of the best-trained staff that is specifically equipped to deal with dementia care, but the facilities are also state of the art.

Extremely well presented, clean, orderly and well maintained, Connecticut memory care offers unprecedented comfort and security. Whether in an assisted living facility, nursing home, or in a specific need-based community, the state’s memory care facilities deliver outstanding service and care.

Well planned daily meals providing maximum nutritional balance are served fresh. Additional security features like security pendants, automatically locking doors, and color-coded navigation help keep residents safe and prevent wandering or getting lost.

Cost of Memory Care Facilities in Connecticut

Connecticut dementia care homes average nearly $200 per day or almost $6,000 per month. For a projected yearly total, residents at Alzheimer's care facilities can expect to pay more than $72,000 per year. Compared to the national average, that's $15,000 more per year.

Some of the top-ranked Alzheimer's care homes in Connecticut even exceed those numbers, reaching daily rates of $300 to $340 per day, or over $10,000 per month. Some of the high-end dementia care communities have long waiting lists and stiff competition.

It is difficult to find something that equals to affordable Alzheimer's care in Connecticut, though a select few communities are spread throughout the small state. In some places, prices have been reported to go as low as $120 per day, with a few ranging in the $140 to $170 price range. The lowest 10 percent of these care homes average at just under $3,500 per month.

Overall, Connecticut has a population of just over 3.5 million residents. Since the state is small in terms of territory, the population is dense and located primarily in the cities of Bridgeport (population 144,000), New Haven ($130,000), Hartford (124,000) and Stamford (122,000). The communities of Waterbury, Norwalk and Danbury also provide good facilities for dementia care.

Affording Memory Care in Connecticut

With the high cost of dementia care in Connecticut, finding ways to support a family member's stay in a community is important. It is a good thing that state and non-state programs give you the financial support that is very often required when caring for loved ones with dementia.

Community First Choice

• Eligibility: Any Medicaid-eligible Connecticut resident requiring an institutional level of care is eligible for this program. They may also be able to either self-direct care or appoint someone to make decisions on their behalf. Applicants also need to fall within the Medicaid requirements on finances to be eligible.

Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders

• Eligibility: This program restricts eligibility to Connecticut residents who are at least 65 years old and need nursing home-level care.
• Medicaid: Qualifying through Medicaid requires applicants to have a ceiling income of $2,349 a month and countable assets of $1,600. Couple applicants are restricted to $3,200 countable assets if they apply together but up to $27,328 if only one of them would apply.
• Non-state: Applicants are restricted to $38,592, while couples are allowed up to $51,456 in countable combined assets to be considered eligible.

Connecticut Statewide Respite Care Program

• Eligibility: Connecticut residents who are ineligible for Medicaid with Alzheimer's or other types of dementia with a physician's statement are the primary beneficiaries of this program. They should also have an annual income of no more than $46,897 and liquid assets of no more than $124,679 to be eligible.

Aside from Medicaid and non-state funded programs, you may also consider veterans benefits, reverse mortgages, long-term care insurance, and life insurance as possible resources to finance the memory care that your loved ones need.