Cleveland Memory Care

Alzheimer’s disease is a condition that affects thousands of families in the Cleveland area. If you are currently dealing with a loved one who has received this diagnosis or providing their care, you are not alone. There are currently more than 210,000 people living with this disease in Ohio alone. Within the next decade alone this number is expected to grow significantly. While this is not the best news, there are now a number of new resources designed to help caregivers, patients, physicians and families deal with this condition.

Cleveland has an active and ongoing chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, which offers advocacy, support and education for both families and patients.

Alzheimer’s Facts for Ohio and the Cleveland Area

Alzheimer’s disease is considered a huge issue in regard to public health and quality of life in Ohio, as well as across the country.

Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death in Ohio.

Only 45 percent of people suffering from Alzheimer’s in Ohio have actually been diagnosed with the disease.

Spending for Alzheimer’s care is more than $2.2 billion and will increase to $2.9 billion by 2029.

Understanding Alzheimer’s Care

Caring for a patient with Alzheimer’s can require quite a few different care methods. For example, those suffering from this disease can receive care from an in-home care specialist, a day care program that is designed for those suffering from the disease or even a residential care facility or community that offers memory care services. These are communities that can be a part of a larger nursing home or stand-alone facilities.

In any case, the emphasis of this care needs to be on providing the patient with a comfortable and familiar environment. They should receive supervision to help and prevent wandering and falls, as well as social activities that will help keep the senior engaged with the things around them. It is also essential that those suffering from Alzheimer’s get plenty to drink and eat and that the care provider understands that assistance may be necessary during mealtime.

The Cost of Alzheimer’s Care in the Cleveland Area

Alzheimer’s is considered the most costly disease to society. In 2015, the payments for taking care of those with the disease, as well as other dementias was estimated to be around $226 billion, with $153 billion being the cost to Medicaid and Medicare alone. There are currently more than 594,000 Alzheimer’s caregivers in the state of Ohio, who provide more than 676 million hours of unpaid care, which has a value of $8.2 billion.

The price for memory care services in Cleveland, OH are dependent largely on the location, type of care required, the size of a patient’s living space and how luxurious the actual community is. On average, the price of memory care in the area of Cleveland can range from around $1,100 to $1,700 per month.

Tips to Pay for Cleveland Alzheimer’s Care

Due to the high cost of Alzheimer’s care and the total length of time that a patient has to live with the disease, results in many families taking a serious financial blow. They have to spend their own savings in order to provide this unpaid care in order to help their family members. Prior to taking this route, which can be financially devastating, it is essential to consider how money may be able to be saved and find other ways that the costs can be covered.

Overview of Care Costs

In 2015, across the state of Ohio, the average cost of assisted living was around $3,890 per month for most states, which represents an increase of three percent from 2014. However, in Ohio, the cost of this care actually went down by about three percent. Even with this good news, Ohio is still over the national average for total assisted living costs by almost $300 per month. There are certain areas of the state, including Cleveland that have even higher rates, which have to be covered by families or additional Medicaid benefits.

Cutting Costs for Alzheimer’s Care

There are some programs in Ohio, such as The Golden Buckeye Program that helps those suffering from Alzheimer’s and their families save on the care received. Another option is to seek assistance for the cooling and heating costs of a home in the area. There are also non-care related savings that may be offered to residents who are struggling to continue to provide care for a loved one who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease.