Indiana Memory Care Facilities

Indiana represents the Midwest very well in terms of senior living. In a region of the United States known for lower housing costs, Indiana dementia care homes provide the lowest average rates of any other Midwestern state. Only states in the south, aside from New Mexico, rank higher in terms of affordable monthly rates than Indiana.

The state currently sits 11th in terms of affordability overall in the U.S. The only comparable states in the Midwest are Michigan (12th), Iowa (18th), Nebraska (19th) and Missouri (21st cheapest). Consequently, if your family is looking to not spend a fortune but want to provide quality treatment and find excellent care for a loved one, memory care in Indiana is definitely worth your consideration.

Detailed Cost of Memory Care in Indiana

Indiana dementia care facilities average $145 per day, or $4,300 per month. The cost of high-quality Alzheimer’s care homes in Indiana is about $15 lower than the national average. It means that families can save $450 or more per month when going with Indiana memory care facilities compared to other states, and $5,400 or more per year. The savings definitely add up.

Affordable dementia care homes are located throughout the state of Indiana, with most of the territory being rural in small towns. Aside from the busy city of Indianapolis, most of Indiana features mid-size to smaller towns. Fort Wayne, Evansville, South Bend, Carmel and Fishers are good size cities with a fair selection of Alzheimer’s care facilities along with Bloomington and Hammond.

For those requiring more hands-on treatment or extra amenities, some of the highest rated dementia care facilities in Indiana can exceed prices of $200 per day. Some of the highest priced care homes are reported around $230 to $240 per day. The projected monthly cost for these types of dementia care facilities would be between $7,000 and $7,300 per month.

Indiana Dementia Care - Amenities

Indiana dementia care facilities have a strong reputation for exceptional treatment. Some are housed in assisted living communities and nursing homes yet offer their own secured unit to keep residents safe and secure. Residents may interact with the rest of the community, but staff is well aware of their specialized needs and supervision.

Because one unfortunate symptom of dementia and Alzheimer’s is the ability to wander off and get lost, staff usually provides security pendants or other forms of security to prevent wandering. The result is safer grounds for the resident, and hopefully less worry for the family, knowing the loved one is well cared for.

In other circumstances, the senior living facility may be 100 percent dedicated to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. At these types of care homes or communities, the rooms are exclusive to patients with Alzheimer’s and dementia, and the entire staff is employed fittingly.

The best dementia care homes in Indiana can assist with a number of daily functions including getting in and out of bed, washing hair and brushing teeth, using the restroom, bathing, getting around the facility and offering activities to help keep the brain active. Staff generally promote social engagement and group activities that help foster a loving, supportive environment. Friends and family are encouraged to visit regularly to keep the loved one happy and socially engaged.

Memory Care Facilities Admission Requirements in Indiana

Service planning is the first step to an Indiana memory care facility admission. Here, the facility conducts an evaluation of the prospective resident’s condition in order to determine whether it is capable of providing the services required. This process identifies the individual’s particular needs and preferences, including the scope and frequency.

Before admission of a resident, a facility is required to provide the resident or their representative a copy of the contract to be signed by both the resident/representative and the facility. This document outlines the basic services included in the rate which the resident/representative selected. In addition, it states other services available and their corresponding costs, change of contract process, complaint resolution process, and billing and payment policies. The facility’s policies and procedures in retention, discharge and referral is also included.

It is important to note that in Indiana, memory care facilities are not allowed to admit or retain medically unstable persons, or those who require comprehensive nursing care 24 hours a day or comprehensive nursing oversight.

Secured Dementia Care Units in Indiana

A safe and secure environment is priority when considering whether to place a loved one with dementia in a special care facility. Individuals with this disease increasingly experience confusion and disorientation, which make them prone to falls, wandering, and accidents. Thus, a facility must be capable of protecting its residents from such.

Indiana requires administrators of residential care establishments to complete 40 hours of continuing education every two years. In addition, the administrator or any supervisor should orient and instruct each employee on the resident’s special needs, first-aid and emergency procedures, fire and disaster preparedness, and evacuation plans. They must also provide a review of confidentiality rules on residents’ records and demonstrate the use of equipment for specific positions.

Another requirement for memory care facility administrators in Indiana is to provide all personnel with ongoing training on the abovementioned topics, particularly accident prevention, medication administration, and nursing care. Nursing personnel should complete 8 hours of these ongoing training sessions per calendar year, while non-nursing personnel must fulfill 4 hours per calendar year.

Indiana – Regulations for Memory Care Establishments

In Indiana, the definition of an assisted living facility is one that provides three meals per day and other basic or additional services in a residential setting.

Disclosure

The state of Indiana requires facilities providing specialized care for persons with dementia and Alzheimer’s to file a disclosure document annually with the Family and Social Services Agency (FSSA) Division of Aging. This process is not for licensure or certification but a registration of the facility as an establishment of housing with services. The disclosure document is public and must be accessible to anyone vetting available services in Indiana for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia. It includes the following information:

1. Name and address of the owner and managing agent, the facility’s licensure status, and the list of services

2. Mission or philosophy statement regarding dementia care

3. Criteria and processes on admission, retention, transfer, and discharge

4. Resident’s rights as per Indiana law and regulation

5. Plan of care for Alzheimer’s or dementia

6. Details of staff (positions, classifications, training, continuing education) and staff-to-patient ratio per shift

7. Activities and family support programs

Licenses

Establishments that provide medication administration and nursing care in addition to housing with services require licensure as a Residential Care Facility (RCF) from the Indiana State Department of Health under the health facilities category. RCF administrators must also hold an Indiana State Board of Health Facility Administrators license.

If a housing with services establishment acquires a registration but remains unlicensed, it may provide medication administration or nursing care by engaging the services of a licensed home health agency. However, residents should be allowed to hire other home health agencies of their choice.

Medicaid

Indiana’s Medicaid Aged and Disabled (A&D) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) 1915(c) Waiver programs cover assisted living services. RCF licensure is a requirement for providers of these services, which include long-term care for individuals with cognitive disabilities, such as Alzheimer’s and dementia, whose personal and medical assistance needs can be met in a home-like environment.

Medication and Dietary Needs of Residents

Administration of medications in Indiana’s dementia and Alzheimer’s care homes may be done by licensed nursing personnel or qualified medication aides under physicians’ orders. Licensed nursing personnel may delegate nurse aides to administer other treatments, except for injectable medications. The nursing staff must observe each resident for effects, and if undesirable ones occur, they must document these and notify the resident’s physician.

Residents are allowed to self-medicate as long as they keep their medications, both prescription and non-prescription, in a secure place within their unit.

Required food and dietary provisions include three meals a day, 7 days a week and must provide the daily nutritional requirements. Memory care facilities must consider each resident’s preferences and needs, such as food allergies and religious or ethnic inclination.

Staffing

Indiana’s special care facilities for individuals with Alzheimer’s and dementia must employ the following staff: one administrator with a license either as a nursing facility administrator or as an RCF administrator, one nursing staff for every 50 residents requiring nursing services and/or medication administration on shift at all times, one consultant pharmacist, and one recreational therapist or occupational therapist or certified occupational therapist assistant as activities director. At least one staff with certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid must be awake and on-duty at all times.

When Is Your Loved One Ready for Memory Care in Indiana?

Dementia is a progressive disease, which means that its symptoms worsen over time, albeit gradually. Alzheimer’s, its most common type, initially causes a variety of subtle changes like mild memory loss, problem in finding words, difficulty with paying bills, anxiety and irritability.

In the late stages of Alzheimer’s, a person will no longer be capable of responding to their environment or of personal care. Thus, it is not advisable for Alzheimer’s patients to live alone as it poses a high risk for malnutrition, falls, wandering from home, medical conditions left untreated, and even accidental death.

The Indiana State Department of Health Epidemiology Resource Center Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) reports that one in 10 of the state’s population aged 45 and above experiences progressive confusion or memory loss, with 83.5% having at least one other chronic condition. Unfortunately, more than half of them have not consulted a health professional about their condition, even as their symptoms have led to reduced work and social activities. This is a major reason for the more alarming statistic of 30.4% who live alone.

The fortunate ones have a friend or family member regularly taking care of them with a schedule that ranges from 10 to 49 hours a week. Most of this time is spent cleaning the residence, managing money, preparing meals, and transportation from residence to a destination outside. As symptoms progress, the caregiver adds taking care of the afflicted person to the list – feeding, dressing and bathing them.

While most caregivers do not experience difficulty in caring for a person with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia in the early stages, they face great challenges during the later stages. The result is stress, financial burden, decreased time for themselves, work interference, strained family relationships, and aggravated health problems.

These are good enough reasons, and also a good time, to consider placing a loved one in a memory care facility in Indiana. Even the financial burden may be offset if the reason for it is having less time for work due to caregiving.

Additionally, medication administration and first aid must be seriously factored in when making the decision. This is especially true for individuals already in the later stages of the disease, which requires a more complex medical plan. In dementia care facilities, professional medical staff is available 24/7 to provide these services.

Questions to Ask Indiana’s Memory Care Communities During a Tour

When you have decided to place your loved one in the care of a special care facility in Indiana, it’s best to research on the options available based on the person’s needs and preferences as well as financial capacity.

You can start by visiting the website or the offices of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Agency (FSSA) Division of Aging. You can make a shortlist based on the disclosure forms of residential care providers of assisted living.

It is important to visit each facility before selecting one to determine whether the infrastructure fits your standards. You may use the information in the preceding sections and paragraphs of this article to guide you on the information and services each facility must provide. These must include details about their licenses, staff, food provisions, recreational activities, and transportation.

Memory Care in Indiana vs Assisted Living

Licensed housing with services establishments in Indiana are your best options for an assisted living arrangement. They offer room and board and various health-related or supportive services, which you can schedule on a regular basis.

If cost is a challenge, Indiana offers unlicensed housing with similar services, except for medication administration. If your loved one requires it, they can liaise with a licensed home health agency on your behalf and include the service cost in the monthly fees. You also have the option to hire one directly.

On the other hand, if your loved one is already at the later stages of dementia and needs professional nursing care and/or administration of physician-prescribed medication, then it is best to choose memory care or residential care facilities. These housing with services establishments have the license to provide the required assistance and support. They also allow residents to choose their own attending physicians and can accommodate on-site a resident’s requirement of home health, hospice and personal care services.

Whatever your decision may be, it is important to acknowledge that placing your loved one in a special care facility is an opportunity to maintain their quality of life. And with the various types of assisted living establishments available in Indiana, you can be assured that it will be just like living in their own home.