Find Senior Care (City or Zip)
Join Now Log In
B
Ballardite Asked May 2021

I have to move my stage 6 dementia mom a great distance to get affordable Memory Care. How do I do this?

Mom is currently in a very expensive Memory Care facility. We are going to run out of money with her life expectancy projection. I am her daughter and her Durable Power of Attorney in both Healthcare and Finance. I have a new medical diagnosis that her life expectancy is now longer than mine. I have found an “affordable” facility out of state. In your experience, how has a lengthy move occurred?

JoAnn29 May 2021
It has been suggested before to rent an RV. That way there is a bathroom and bedroom if the person needs to lie down.

sjplegacy May 2021
What access to her would you have if you moved her out of state. How many miles would you have to drive to visit her? How often would you visit? How would you feel about her living so far away? What effect do you think a move would have on your mother, this late in the disease? What happens when she runs out of money in the new state? If she dies out of state, how would you handle the funeral arrangements? I'm not looking for answers, just posing some questions for you to consider. It is very difficult as her POA to advocate for her when you are states apart.

You say her life expectancy is longer than yours even with her being in the sixth stage of dementia? Hmmm. Do you have a serious illness that would cause that to happen? If so, take that into consideration also.

You said “we” are running out of money. Are you footing the bill for her care? If so, stop. Rather than move her, I would suggest using her assets until they are exhausted, then apply for Medicaid. Her current facility may not accept Medicaid, which means you would have to move her into a local facility that does accept it.

ADVERTISEMENT


Windyridge May 2021
Barb is correct if you/she can afford it. For my dad with dementia it would have cost about $8K for a 600 mile trip. My wife and I ended up moving him ourselves in an SUV . It was ONE HELL OF A TRIP but we all survived.

BarbBrooklyn May 2021
Medical transport (either an ambulance or ambulette) with an aide in attendance and anti-anxiety meds.

It is worth any amount of money to do this right.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ask a Question

Subscribe to
Our Newsletter