As the number of older adults suffering from dementia, Alzheimer's and related memory problems continues to rise, memory care services have become a popular option for assisted living facilities. Memory care offers group and individual activities and therapies specifically designed for those with memory loss. Caregivers create activities to help maintain cognitive abilities and carefully plan schedules to provide residents with a sense of comfort and routine. In addition, many states' Medicaid or Medicaid Waiver programs may cover personal care services provided in an assisted living or memory care community. Assisted living centers are licensed and supervised by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
They provide residents with minimal assistance for their personal tasks and activities of daily living, as well as for planned social activities, transportation and cleaning. Residents may need help with some of their daily tasks, such as preparing food or bathing, but they can retain as much independence as they want. Memory care centers, on the other hand, tend to be more expensive than assisted living centers due to the highly trained staff and specialized design and programming they offer. When considering memory care services for a loved one, it is important to analyze the different options available. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) exemptions, also known as Medicaid 1915 (c) exemptions, are available to make other care options for the elderly, such as assisted living or memory care, more affordable and accessible.
In Missouri, memory care is generally provided in assisted living centers, which are homes that house three or more people and provide housing and care services under the direction of a licensed physician. If you have any questions about the treatment or quality of care that older people receive in an assisted living facility, you can submit your concern or complaint to the ombudsman. The National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL) also maintains a summary of all state regulations that is updated every year.
