West Virginia Memory Care Facilities

When people are granted the options of saving money and spending money, most will choose to save. This is especially true of the costly industry of senior care and living, where daily and monthly rates can get very expensive, very quickly. Thus, it is nice to find something that ranks first in terms of affordability, and that title goes to West Virginia memory care facilities.

No other state in the nation offers rates as affordable as what West Virginia dementia care homes provide. With a median daily average nearly $30 per day cheaper than the national average, these care homes are exceedingly inexpensive in this terrific state for senior care.

Detailed Cost of Memory Care Facilities in West Virginia

West Virginia rarely gets noticed on the national radar for senior living compared to states like California, Texas, Florida and Arizona. But it should, considering its affordability. Senior care is extremely expensive, but West Virginia is doing its part to provide quality healthcare for many families that simply can't afford coverage elsewhere.

The typical dementia care facility in the state costs $133 per day based on the state's median average. Compared to the national figure of $160 per day, residents at West Virginia Alzheimer's care homes generally save $30 (give or take) per day. When you crunch the numbers, that is approximately $900 per month and nearly $11,000 per year in savings!

Memory care homes in Arkansas, the nearest state to West Virginia in terms of affordability, cost almost $100 more per month based on the median of each state compared side by side. Other southern states within the Top 10 of affordability – Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, and Florida – are also comparably behind West Virginia.

It is impossible not to find affordable dementia care homes in all parts of the state as some prices drop even below the state average of $130 per day. It is possible to find daily rates as low as $80, where no other state in the country can even get close to that figure. So, expect to pay less if you want to save extra funds and are willing to do your research into the most affordable facilities. Here’s a detailed breakdown of city-by-city costs in the state of West Virginia:

Being Senile, Having Dementia, and Living with Alzheimer's Disease

Often people use senility, dementia, and Alzheimer's to describe a person's loss of intellectual and physical acuity as they grow older. Although all three show signs of a decline in mental capabilities, they are very different terms.

Senility is a term that medical experts have refrained from using in recent years. It has gained a derogatory connotation which equates aging with a supposedly inevitable decline in body and mind.

With dementia, the brain's irregular changes, rather than just old age, are the main culprits for the decline. It is a broad term describing a range of medical disorders that disrupt cognitive abilities and brain functions.

Alzheimer's disease is, according to the Alzheimer's Association, the most common form of dementia in the United States. Old age is not the primary cause of Alzheimer's. Even though 5.2 million out of the 5.8 million reported Alzheimer's patients are above 65 years old, a staggering 200,000 individuals younger than 65 also have it.

Dementia and Alzheimer's research may have made leaps and bounds since being described in 1906, but experts have not found a definitive cure. That is why the only thing families can offer their loved ones suffering from these diseases is to make sure they live in relative comfort. For people in the more severe stages where they can no longer respond or move, this means seeking assistance from care professionals like those in a West Virginia memory care home.

When to Relocate to a West Virginia Dementia Care Community

In general, a lot of individuals with dementia still live in their own homes or with family members. But perhaps because of the disease's progression, the availability of top-quality dementia care homes, or the availability of financial aid programs, more people now opt to go to memory care communities in West Virginia.

When is the best time to make the move? You may use the questions below to reassess your care arrangements every time there is a change in your loved one's condition, or in the well-being of the one giving care. Experts suggest looking out for five things:

Behavioral Changes

• Is your loved one showing frustration in doing small tasks they used to enjoy, like making coffee in the morning?
• Is your usually calm family member starting to lash out because of their inability to do simple chores?
• Is your punctual loved one suddenly arriving several hours late and looking confused?

Safety and Security Risks

• Can you still leave your loved one unattended without fear that they may take a walk and forget where they are going and where they live?
• Can you still let them drive to the grocery store without worrying they might forget how to drive in the middle of the highway?
• Can they still identify the people to call or ask for help when they are hurt, lost, or in an emergency?

Health Changes

• Is your loved one still capable of eating, drinking, and taking medicine on their own?
• Are you confident that they will take their medication on time?
• Can they still move without assistance?
• Are they experiencing incontinence?

Care Changes

• Can you assist your senior in their daily activities, even if it means carrying them from room to room?
• Can you handle assisting with their hygiene despite their being incontinent?
• Are you able to monitor them constantly when they are unable to move or respond?
• Are you confident that you can give them the best care available to enhance their quality of life?

Caregiver's Health Changes

• Are you becoming sick due to the stress of caregiving while working your job and accomplishing other duties?
• Are you getting impatient and irritable because you're slowly burning out?
• Are you still able to interact with friends and other family members without feeling left out of conversations?
• When was the last time you made some time for yourself?
• Can you keep up with your current arrangements for the long haul?

You may feel guilty about reassessing your care arrangements with your loved one and looking into asking help from care professionals. But you must realize that as humans, we all have our limits. Surpassing them can lead some to success while others to ruin. Overexerting yourself to care for someone, to the point of ruining your own health, benefits no one. Finding assistance in taking care for your family member is a way of caring for them while taking care of yourself.

Assisted Living Facilities vs. Memory Care Facilities in West Virginia

Assisted living facilities and memory care facilities in West Virginia offer high-quality support services with comfortable living spaces and nutritious meals. These institutions are great places to consider when seeking care professionals' help for your loved one, depending on their care needs.

If your loved one can live somewhat independently and just needs a little help with daily living tasks, then an assisted living home may be the ideal choice. It is similar to private or shared apartments where residents can freely move and need only occasional assistance in dressing, bathing, medicine dispensing, and moving. The community may not have a special memory care unit for people with Alzheimer's and dementia.

On the other hand, Virginia’s memory care communities have trained staff to cater to the needs of residents with Alzheimer's and dementia. Their special training allows them to offer behavioral services, memory care-specific treatment administration, therapy supervision, as well as directed and personal care.

The Department of Health and Human Resources of West Virginia is responsible for licensing, monitoring, and reviewing assisted living facilities and memory care homes. They also investigate and address any facility misconduct or violation. More importantly, they ensure that all facilities provide the best care for residents in a well-maintained and well-managed environment.

Admission Requirements for Memory Care Homes in West Virginia

Seniors and people diagnosed with a physical handicap, developmental disability, Alzheimer's disease, other forms of dementia, and mental conditions are welcome in West Virginia’s memory care facilities. Those with traumatic brain injuries resulting in dementia or disability are also welcome.

However, children below 18 and those who cannot self-evacuate or evacuate with minimal assistance may not be admitted. Those needing constant care from a licensed medical professional and are not already receiving it from a third party may also find their applications rejected. Lastly, those who are a danger to themselves and other residents may be barred from entry.

Some considerations may be given depending on your loved one's situation and the institution's ability to find a suitable care plan. That is why it is ideal to call the facility of your choice and set up an appointment.

The Right West Virginia Dementia Care Community for Your Loved One

The move from just thinking about relocating to actually looking for a memory care home for your family member is a big step. But here are some tips to make the task less daunting.

Consider your loved one's preferences first. Write down the things they say they like about their current or previous homes. Note what they wish to have and items they want to bring. If they are unable to respond anymore or you need more input, enlist the help of a sibling, family member or friend who knows them very well. Together, you can recall more details.

Next, list their specific care needs based on their current condition and the progress of their disease. These may include accessibility issues, treatment requirements, prescribed medication, and dietary restrictions.

Compare your list with the services, amenities, and programs that memory care homes in West Virginia offer. You can look at their websites or brochures.

Lastly, identify potential facilities, contact them, schedule a tour, and meet with the management and care staff. Visiting the site and speaking with the people who run the community and give care to the residents can provide valuable insight into the experience that awaits your loved one.

West Virginia Memory Care Home - Amenities

While some may assume that West Virginia memory care communities offer inferior amenities because their prices are so cheap, that assumption is undoubtedly false. Dementia care homes in this state are not only of good value but also keep up with the rest of the nation in terms of features. They serve well-balanced and nutritional meals daily. Their staff understand that nutritional meals are one of the keys to quality senior living, so they keep the food fresh and varied throughout the week.

Rooms are very clean, and buildings are well designed, catering especially to residents with Alzheimer's or dementia who get lost easily as they wander away from their apartment. Constant monitoring, along with security pendants, color-coded walls and other indicators, keep them secure, safe and protected.

Staff members also do a wonderful job of keeping families notified of any drastic changes in their loved ones’ behaviors or eating habits. Knowing that each case of Alzheimer's is unique, they provide appropriate personal care and treatment.

Affording West Virginia Dementia Care Community Admission

West Virginia memory care facilities may be the most reasonably priced in the country, but long-term care can still strain anyone's budget. Thus, state and non-state assistance programs are more than welcome.

• Legislative Initiative for the Elderly Eligibility
  • West Virginia residents
  • At least 60 years old
  • Must be county-eligible
• Home and Community Based Services Waiver Eligibility
  • West Virginia residents
  • Medicaid-eligible
  • Must be over 65 or with a disability requiring residential care
  • Monthly income must not exceed $2,313
  • Countable assets must not go over $2,000 (household items, personal vehicles, and home equity are not included in the count)
• Medicaid Personal Care Program Eligibility
  • West Virginia residents
  • Medicaid-eligible
  • Seniors or people with disabilities requiring high-level caregiver support
  • Monthly income must not go over $771
  • Maximum assets must not exceed $2,000

Veterans benefits, long-term care insurances, life insurances, and reverse mortgages are also viable ways to augment care-related expenses.