All About Alzheimer's Assisted Living

| Thursday, January 5, 2012
By Alex Tesla


More than 5.2 million people in the United States are living with Alzheimer's disease, a progressive type of dementia that is a leading trigger of death. As the population ages, that figure will double. Assisted-living facilities have enhanced their capacity to care for Alzheimer's patients in a manner that maintains safety while providing comfort and stimulation. Paying for assisted-living care remains a challenge.

Significance

Alzheimer's illness is the most typical type of dementia. Brain cells are destroyed, resulting in the loss of memory, intellectual abilities and also the ability to maintain regular every day activities. The Alzheimer's Association reports that over five.2 million individuals in the United States have Alzheimer's, and of those, 500,000 are individuals in their 30s, 40s and 50s. There is no cure for Alzheimer's. It's the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. Assisted-living facilities can offer a home-like setting that supports patients' independence as long as possible whilst ensuring care and safety.

Identification

Care facilities for patients with Alzheimer's have come a lengthy way since the days when people had been locked in skilled nursing facilities. Assisted-living facilities have created Special Care Units (SCUs) to address the distinctive requirements of Alzheimer's residents. The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation lists distinct characteristics of SCUs: structured routine; attention to individual resident's lifestyle and requirements; secure and comfy surroundings; compassionate staff; activities that support residents' abilities and experiences; and an capability to work with difficult behavior and wandering.

Features

Many Alzheimer's assisted-living facilities base their programs on a philosophy of care called habilitation. The objective of habilitation would be to focus on the patient's reality and requirements instead of imposing an external reality that the patient no longer understands. Structured routines and familiar activities assist a patient really feel more safe and reduce the anxiety that occurs with Alzheimer's. Assisted-living staff members assist patients preserve their abilities by prompting and cueing, like holding up a pair of pants and a shirt rather than dressing the patient.

Considerations

Assisted living is costly, costing from $1,500 to about $6,000 per month depending on location, licensing and care choices. Unlike skilled-nursing care, most expenses of assisted living aren't covered by Medicare, Medicaid or long-term care insurance plans. Families generally pay privately for assisted living. Residents whose illness has progressed to involving substantial medical requirements might move to a skilled-nursing facility.

Possible

The fastest growing segment with the population is those more than age 85, and half of those more than 85 suffer from Alzheimer's. It's estimated that 10 million members with the Baby Boom generation will be stricken with Alzheimer's. The monetary and emotional price to family caregivers and society will probably be enormous. Public policy will need to address this quickly growing challenge.




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