Memory Care Facilities in Alabama
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232 memory care facilities in Alabama
Alabama is a noteworthy state in the southern U.S. with a population of nearly 8 million. Alabama memory care facilities statistically rank high in terms of affordability, as dementia care in the state is the seventh cheapest in the nation in terms of average median rent for a single bedroom.
Alabama is densely populated with several big cities as well as many smaller, rural towns. The cost of living here, and in other parts of the south is usually substantially lower than other parts of the United States.
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Alabama may offer cheaper dementia care services than the rest of the United States but that doesn’t mean the rooms lack in quality. Many affordable Alzheimer’s care homes are beautifully furnished. The rooms provide all the necessities, such as a comfortable bed and place to sit, but also traditionally a dresser and other small home furnishings. Residents are invited to bring in some of their items from their previous home like artwork and photographs of the family.
The restrooms are also oversized and designed to accommodate handicap accessibility. Dementia trained staff is available to assist with using the restroom and bathing, along with other hygiene tasks like styling hair or brushing teeth.
The buildings are designed for residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia in mind, so they are usually very well-lit to invoke feelings of being safe and well watched after. Simple additions like color-coded walls can go a long way in helping a resident with dementia more easily walk through the halls of the building.
Dementia care facilities in Alabama are generally supported by gourmet style kitchens for the general dining room and really great tasting meals. If you have ever visited the south before, you know that residents in the southern states really take their food very seriously! Not only is the food delightful, but staff often works with residents to serve special requests (based on medical needs, etc.) as well as serve enough variety so the selection doesn’t go stale. Nutritional value is of the utmost importance for anyone with dementia.
Alabama regulates memory care facilities that operate in the state. Here is an overview of the regulations that apply to these facilities.
All assisted living facilities in Alabama have to be licensed by the Alabama Department of Public Health, specifically the Bureau of Health Provider Standards. No memory care facility can operate without licensing.
There are many regulations that memory care facilities must follow. These facilities are considered specialty care assisted living facilities, and they must comply with the following regulations:
Many other regulations exist relating to the way Alabama memory care facilities must be run, including how administration is handled, medication management, and more. You can read through the full regulations document here: Specialty Care Assisted Living Facilities Regulations in Alabama.
If a memory care facility violates regulations, their license can be revoked. You can check any Alabama assisted living facility for violations through the Deficiencies Database. This website allows you to search for specific facilities to look into their record of violations. All violations they’ve made since registration will be listed, if any. You can get more information about what violations mean and the publicly available details by contacting the Alabama Long-Term Care Ombudsman office.
In general, Alabama Medicaid will not cover the costs of memory care facilities. However, Alabama has a few different Medicaid programs that can help elderly patients receive care from a Memory Care facility by paying for some elements of that care, just as they would if the participant was receiving care at home.
Here’s an overview of the two main programs in operation, what they cover, and who is eligible.
The purpose of this waiver is to help individuals who qualify for nursing home care to get care in their community setting for as long as possible. Some parts of memory care service can be included in this, such as meals, transportation, and personal care costs. Depending on the level of care that’s needed, more services will be offered through this waiver program.
For this program, applicants must be:
Applications are handled by the Area Agency on Aging in your local area.
The SAIL program in Alabama supports elderly and disabled individuals who wish to remain at home for longer before going to an assisted living facility for memory care. This program can pay for benefits including assistive technology, personal care service, and changes that make the participant’s residency more accessible, depending on their condition.
Eligibility requirements for this program include:
This program is handled by the Alabama Medicaid Office. Contact them to apply.
Medicaid eligibility varies by state. In Alabama, the standards are updated periodically, setting up income and care requirements for different Medicaid plans. There are 3 types of Medicaid plans in Alabama, which each having different requirements.
The general requirements for qualifying for Institutional/Nursing home Medicaid in Alabama are as follows:
The general requirements for Regular Medicaid/Medicaid for the Elderly and Disabled are as follows:
There may be additional eligibility requirements or exemptions depending on the specific situation of the applicant, including age and residency. Check with your local Medicaid office to see if you are eligible.
Memory care facilities are a type of assisted care facility that can admit many different individuals. However, there are some restrictions on who can and cannot be admitted as residents. In Alabama, residents can be admitted if:
These are general requirements. There may be other requirements for a specific facility in Alabama, which the facility would provide to applicants.
Not all residents can be admitted to memory care facilities. They cannot be admitted if:
Some memory care facilities in Alabama may have additional requirements for applicants that may include other non-admissible conditions. This is specific to the facilities themselves, so you need to contact a facility to understand their specific admission standards that may build on Alabama’s general restrictions.
Because Medicaid programs do not usually cover the full cost of memory care, there is often a need to finance memory care through other options. Paying out of pocket can be difficult for residents and their families, but there are other ways to pay for care in the state of Alabama.
Most insurance policies do not cover memory care or other assisted living costs. Those who have diagnosed conditions who will be in need of these facilities or services will often be ineligible for insurance policies. However, some insurance companies offer long-term care insurance.
Long term care insurance can be purchased at any time, but it will be less expensive if it’s purchased before it’s needed. It will cover all or most of the costs associated with long-term care, including memory care assisted living facilities. Generally, these insurance policies will only give coverage to those who are 65+, or those with a chronic condition or a disability that needs constant supervision. This is a type of private insurance that can be expensive, though it will offer some additional flexibility beyond what Medicaid provides.
Those who are eligible for VA benefits can get coverage for memory care services in Alabama, including in-home care and assisted living facilities. Veterans who served in any branch of the US military and did not receive a dishonorable discharge should qualify for VA benefits for healthcare, including memory care.
To access these benefits, veterans must apply through the VA and use VA-approved healthcare providers. Veterans with VA health coverage must be certified to be in need of the service, and the service must be available nearby. There may be other requirements to get coverage, but these will be dependent on the veteran’s status, service, location, and other individual factors. Family members and dependents of veterans may sometimes be eligible for memory care service coverage by the VA as well.
To check for eligibility for VA benefits, contact your local Alabama Veteran Affairs (VA) office.
Because memory care can be a long-term expense, a reverse mortgage can help some Alabama residents pay for their care for years. Reverse mortgages are arrangements where home owners receive gradual payments in return for shares of their home equity. Payments will become due when the borrower passes on, sells the home, or permanently moves to another home. This can only be done if the recipient owns their home and cannot be used for rentals.
Other main requirements for a reverse mortgage include:
Those who receive a reverse mortgage will still need to maintain the home, pay for insurance and taxes, and live in the home for the majority of the year. Spouses can be added as co-borrowers for a reverse mortgage, as long as they also meet the standards for eligibility. All borrowers need to take a counseling session from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before being able to take out a reverse mortgage.
Note: Reverse mortgages may impact Medicaid eligibility. This should be discussed with an HUD counselor before you move forward with the mortgage, if you plan to also apply for any Medicaid coverage in Alabama.
SeniorGuidance.org provides comprehensive resources on various senior living options, including: assisted living facilities, senior living communities, nursing homes, independent living communities, continuing care retirement communities (CCRC) and all other long term senior care options, including memory care such as Alzheimer's or Dementia.
Additional senior living options in Alabama:
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