Mississippi Memory Care Facilities

Memory care communities in Mississippi are of extremely high value. The state currently ranks fifth in the nation in terms of most affordable dementia and Alzheimer’s care. The only other states in the south with cheaper daily and monthly costs on average than Mississippi dementia care facilities are West Virginia, Arkansas and Louisiana. Even then, Mississippi’s memory care homes are not far behind in terms of pricing.

The appeal of dementia care in Mississippi, along with the rest of the south is its value. Along with reasonable daily rates, southern hospitality and good manners are evident in the day to day operations of skilled nursing staff, and they truly care about helping your loved one when it comes to tackling the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s and dementia. They are fighting in your corner, and can help ease the burden of caring for someone with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease.

Detailed Cost of Memory Care in Mississippi

Mississippi Alzheimer’s care homes rank in the Top 5 for affordability. The average daily cost for a room for dementia care in Mississippi is only $140 per day. The national average is $160 per day, meaning that families of loved ones in Mississippi memory care communities can save $20 or more per day.

If you do the math, that is more than $600 in savings per month, and $7,200 per year. Where else are you going to find more savings on quality dementia care or Alzheimer’s care?

The bottom ten percent of dementia care homes in Mississippi average $2,500 per month which are even more affordable than the median Alzheimer’s care homes in the state. Meanwhile, the top ten percent can go for as high as $230 per day, or approximately $6,900 per month. The more you pay, the more services and amenities one can expect with the best assisted care facilities in the state.

Are you new to Mississippi, and unaware of where to begin for your search for Alzheimer’s or dementia care? The cities of Jackson (population 170,400), Gulfport (population 71,300), Southaven (population 52,500) and Hattiesburg (population 46,500) are your best bets based on population and variety of Mississippi memory care residences. Olive Branch and Greenville are other great communities for seniors with many care options.

Mississippi Dementia Care - Amenities

The top-rated dementia care facilities in Mississippi feature a good balance of the three primary amenities of the best Alzheimer’s care homes. These include personal care, personal productivity assistance, and personal leisure activities.

Personal care is designed to help with basic hygiene, getting in and out of bed, getting dressed, and eating meals each day. Fresh nutritional meals are prepared each day and offer variety for a loved one.

Skilled nursing staff also assist residents with improving self-esteem and well-being by promoting personal productivity. The active pursuits can include everything from baking, painting, gardening or writing a letter to friends and family. The activities are designed to keep cognitive abilities as strong as possible when dealing with the awful implications of Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Lastly, staff is there to promote social engagement in leisure activities like doing puzzles or playing cards. More than just watching TV, staff knows that socialization and visitation with friends and families provide means to quality Alzheimer’s and dementia treatment.

Memory Care Admission Requirements in Mississippi

Within 30 days before admission to a memory care facility in Mississippi, a senior would go through a medical evaluation to identify whether they will fit appropriately with the facility. Certain individuals will not be admitted to the facility if the establishment is not capable of providing the care and assistance they need.

Admissions agreements should be provided to each resident of the facility, which include the following information:

• Involved and agreed charges according to the period covered
• Additional services and the corresponding cost
• Refund policy
• The commitment to make timely notices of any changes in the resident’s status

Individuals with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia, and those who require non-medical services or temporary skilled nursing, can be admitted to any Mississippi memory care facility.

Seniors may not be admitted if they:

• Require permanent or long-term medical care
• Are unable to move without help or are non-ambulatory
• Need to be physically restrained and are seen as a threat to the facility, other residents, personnel and to oneself
• Require assistance during evacuation and/or descending the stairs during emergencies, if the special care unit does not meet ANSI standards
• Require IV fluids and feeding tubes

Secured Memory Care Units - Mississippi

All Dementia Care Units in the state of Mississippi are required to install security controls on all entry and exit points and in any outdoor workout pathway. The security management in place should avoid possible risks given in the residents’ profile, like wandering.

Exterior fencing shall also be installed and be positioned at the path level. The required minimum height of the fence is 6 feet, and it should be made of solid materials. The entrance gates must not be visible from the outdoor area.

Mississippi Memory Care Regulations

Specific regulations for memory care are set and monitored by the state of Mississippi and its Department of Health. Unlike other states, Mississippi is more specified when it comes to their requirements for operating an Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia Care Unit (A/D Unit).

Facility

The Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia Care Unit should be licensed by the Mississippi Department of Health. Both private and shared living quarters should be at least 80 square feet. Each floor is required to have a restroom for both genders and a shower or bathtub for every 12 residents. There should be a sink and toilet for every six residents. The facility must also provide a separate room that can be used for individual and group activities, dining, and family visits. This area should have a minimum space of 40 square feet per resident, but not less than 320 square feet.

Individual Care Plans

Each resident would be evaluated by a licensed practitioner qualified to make recommendations and determinations based on the senior’s cognitive and functional skills, including their nutritional needs and social abilities. Part of the assessment is the resident’s family support and involvement, the level of daily living activities they can perform, and the stage of behavioral impairment they are in.

The resident’s care plan will be developed by the facility’s staff and is mandated to be reviewed quarterly to evaluate its effectiveness. Reviews can be done more frequently should there be drastic changes to the resident, and if changing needs are identified.

Staff Ratio and Training

The state of Mississippi requires having a nurse present in the memory facility at all times, plus two staff members always on duty around-the-clock. Three hours of nursing care is mandatory for each resident per day. There should also be a licensed social worker and a therapist or professional counsellor available for at least 8 hours every month to guide the resident and their families.

An orientation specific to Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia must be conducted for newly hired employees. In-service uptraining should also be completed by all staff members every quarter.

Here is the staffing ratio dictated by the state:

· From 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM - One direct care staff for every 15 (or fewer) residents

· From 7:00 PM to 7:00 AM- One direct care staff for every 25 (or fewer) residents

Medication Management

All of the care home’s residents’ medication should be ordered by a physician, and can only be administered by licensed personnel. Able residents who can self-administer may do so but with necessary guidance from the facility’s staff, unless the physician says otherwise. The memory care facility must have a secure room specific to storing medication for its residents who are not able to self-administer.

In-House Activities

Residents of the facility must receive therapeutic activities every day. These are scheduled by a Qualified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, or a Certified Activity Consultant. Productive, leisure and self-care activities must also be incorporated.

How do you know you need memory care?

Deciding on moving your loved one to a memory care unit in Mississippi is no easy task. You will always second guess if it is time, and if you and your loved one are ready for the change. Bear in mind, though, that an Alzheimer’s disease or Dementia Care Unit is well equipped not only with facilities but also with people who know first-hand how to handle seniors suffering from cognitive impairment.

You may have a hard time moving your loved one if their condition is already in the late stages. The facility could do early interventions, and your senior could have further thrived if you moved them earlier. But below are the indications that it is time to make the move.

Their emotional and physical needs are getting more significant

This is the reality of people with Alzheimer’s. It is not just an increase in memory lapses on their part, but on your part, it is also being unable to cope with and comfort them when they become incontinent or require 24/7 supervision. Their physical health might also decline due to health complications that come with age. The bottom line is, the care you are providing is no longer enough.

Withdrawal from society

Everyday engagement is essential, whether it is with family members or friends, but this would increasingly become a challenge for people with dementia. Keeping up with the conversations can be difficult, which makes the whole experience more depressing for them. So, as a defense mechanism, they’ll isolate themselves from other people. This is not healthy for their mental state.

Memory care at home is not working

Everyone tries to pitch in, you have formulated a care schedule, and you’ve also hired someone to help out. But by the end of the day, you feel like the set-up is just not working for all involved. This is the situation in homes where a loved one with dementia resides. Besides keeping a balance between your own family and work, you’d also want to provide that loving and secure environment for your loved one. Unfortunately, one will eventually crumble and fall apart. If this is your present set-up, then take the time and consider your local memory care unit.

Family members are tired and stressed

This is a terrible combination because your senior can feel the anxiety in the air and it will make them feel equally anxious, unhappy, and even resentful of the situation and of themselves. Worse, you’d also feel bitter about having to go through the journey with them. As a caregiver and spouse, son or daughter, you have to keep in mind that if you are tired, your senior will receive the worst care. They won’t feel the sincerity of your assistance as your emotions give you away. But they are also tired like you, and extremely scared. The last thing you’d want them to feel is being a burden to you.

List of Questions to Go Through During a Tour

A memory care community tour is the best chance you have to address your concerns and know more about the new home of your loved one. This is the time to ask your questions. Having all the hesitations and confusions cleared will make you more confident in moving your senior to the facility. It will give you peace of mind that you made the right choice.

Here is a list of questions you can start with when touring memory care homes in Mississippi:

1. How many residents / medical staff/ nurses do you currently have?

2. How safe is the facility?

3. How much does it cost and what are the inclusions in the monthly fee?

4. What makes your facility different from other A/D units in the state?

5. How can our family be involved in our loved one’s care?

Should You Choose Memory Care or Assisted Living?

In Mississippi, a licensed establishment like an assisted living facility can create a separate Alzheimer’s disease / Dementia Care Unit (A/D). Both should be approved by the state’s Health Department.

Assisted living facilities in Mississippi provide personal care and other additional services to their residents. These services are created to help residents in their activities of daily living and include, but are not limited to, medication management and emergency response assistance.

Residents previously living in assisted living communities can transition to the special care unit when they are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or any other form of dementia. These Dementia Care Units are designed primarily with their residents’ profile in mind. The staff members are trained specifically on how to handle and help residents with this illness. In addition, the security level is tighter in these units while still providing as much independence and freedom to residents as possible.