Your family is faced with multiple different challenges when attempting to decide what is the most appropriate route of care for a loved one with Alzheimer’s. You might have recognized that you and your other family members are no longer able to care for a person with advanced Alzheimer’s disease at home. 
This person might wander a lot, could be incontinent or could be aggressive, all of which are clear signs that you should start investigating other options. Moving a loved one with Alzheimer’s into a long-term care community can give you peace of mind that they’re receiving the care that they need. There are several different options to consider when it relates to placing a loved one in a long-term care community.
Residential care options include assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, nursing homes, and group homes. Residential care options can be distinguished for people who can care for themselves and all the way up to facilities that focus on those who need care around the clock.
An assisted living facility is a residential area with apartments or rooms for people who need support with daily tasks. Many, but not all, assisted living facilities specialize in providing memory care services for those with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
In a continuing care retirement community, a room, apartment or home allows someone with Alzheimer’s to live and get care.
A nursing home is intended for those people who are no longer able to care for themselves and need skilled nursing level care. Many of them have Alzheimer’s specific units where staff members must receive special training in order to support those patients who have Alzheimer’s.
Group homes are for people who are unable to get care for themselves and typically two or more staff members also live in the same home.
Investigating all of these options and discussing them with your estate planning attorney can help you understand some of the short-term and long-term impacts of placing a loved one with Alzheimer’s into a care community.
