Are there any affordable ($$) options for memory care facilities in MA? And is there any financial support for non-Medicaid patients?

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Are there any affordable ($$) options for memory care facilities in MA? And is there any financial support for non-Medicaid patients?

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I’m a new caregiver (going on ~ 2 months) to a mother with moderate dementia (based on online assessments and general research). She’s on a waitlist to be assessed, but in the meantime I’ve quickly realized that I can’t give her the level of care she needs (and other siblings won’t take her). The memory care facilities seem to be about $4-5K per month. Are there any decent ones in Massachusetts less than that? Is there any financial support offered for non-Medicaid pts?

Alzheimer's & Dementia Memory Care Paying for Care

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We are facing the same issue. My mother has no assets whatsoever other than a Federal annuity that pays her 3600/mo (my dad had a 45 year career with the US Govt, DOD). We are grateful to have that, but it totally disqualifies her from any medicaid assistance, long term care or not. Memory care here in the Raleigh NC area is 7K-9K month. That is obscene! Her type of annuity can never be spend down or reassigned, and people don't seem to grasp that. I've been sent down so many dead end rabbit holes by well meaning people.

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Reply to CynHugs

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Hi Cyn, your mother would absolutely get Medicaid assistance if she medically needed it. What that means is if it was deemed she medically qualified for a nursing home level of care, Medicaid would cover the costs that she could not. She may not (likely not in you State) be able to get Medicaid assistance for memory care or assisted living, but if she needed nursing home care, or long term care, she would.

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Even to get her placed somewhere she will need a doctor's form indicating what her level of care should be. It is best to find her a geriatric specialist to understand what she needs. Medicaid will pay for skilled nursing home if she does not meet qualifications of daily living.
You can call your local social services to see if they offer any help or point you in the right direction. Some states even offer some adult day care to give you time on your own. If she is younger than 65, the social service person may be able to enroll her in some other MA care.
There sometimes is congregate housing for low income but they do not provide memory care, just housing and meals. Those have wait lists.

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Reply to MACinCT

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Apparently she’s not eligible for Medicaid

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Reply to GardenHoneyBee

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She can be if she needs long term care. Please see an elder attorney.

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Visit your local Agency on Aging or senior center, they should be able to direct you to any available resources. I assume mom makes too much for community Medicaid? She can still qualify for long term care Medicaid, a Medicaid case worker /social worker could advise you on how and what to do, or an elder attorney would be able to set it up for her if you'd like. This involves structuring her income and spending down her assets until she financially qualifies.

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Reply to mstrbill

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Why is Medicaid not a possibility?

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Reply to BarbBrooklyn

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Her income level disqualifies her from Medicaid, and unfortunately it still isn’t anything close to covering costs of a facility in MA...so expensive.

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