Aunt is in level 3 memory care. What does that include as far as actual care and companionship?

I've never heard of "companionship" being included at any price in any Memory Care Assisted Living facility. Staff will assist as needed, but as far as sitting around with a resident, that's not doable. That's what other residents are for, and family/friends who come to visit.

You need to speak to the Executive Director about these questions you have, not us. Each facilty differs from the next.

The levels of care and the pricing depend entirely upon the facility. Each facility should have sales documents/brochures that list what is included in each level of care, and the sales staff or office staff can tell you the current price for each level.

You need to ask the facility that. Each facility probably has their own rating system and whats included in each. The cost depends also on the facility. These are privately paid and privately owned so can set any price they want. They are not rent regulated. When Aunt was admitted to the facility, her level of care cost should have been discussed with family and what that cost entailed.

My Mom was the highest level in her AL which was 4. She needed help with all her ADLs. Dressing, toileting, bathing, getting her down to dinner, brushing her teeth, etc. Her room and board were one price, her care another.

Sorry, we are Caregivers from all over the Us and other countries. Each State is different and in each state depends on where in the state u live. Facilities are cheaper in southern part of my state than in the North where Counties are closer to NYC.

Call the facility she’s in.

There is a standard fare for pricing depending if there is a variety of room sizes. In both AL and MC, if the resident requires more personal care such as more bed sheet washing or longer shower and dressing time. Let us say the standard personnel time is a standard of 3.5 hours a week, then the cost of care will increase if more time is needed. An extra laundry may be $10. The hairdresser is always extra. One year my mom's MC, the bill increased $600 and the next year was much less. Always expect an annual increase. Or expect notification of increased needs will increase the bill.

BTW companionship depends on how the residents interact with each other and their personalities. Your aunt will see her fellow facility mates more than the staff that change each shift. If your aunt is a shy or very private person, then her personality will show

Now if you want to know about enrichment socialization, then look at the monthly activities when you visit. Also observe how engaged the residents are. Be mindful that residents are at different levels as some progress to sleeping all day. Because residents come and go, that level if engagement will change. It does not mean the place is a bad one, but may just mean you keep on looking.

Ask the company providing the service. Every residential care facility may have different ways of defining "levels" and the care that is associated with that level.

In my state (Connecticut) memory care is about $13,000 a month (when it's private cash pay) for an understaffed, low-end quality facility.

The care received in a memory care is the same as what you get in a nursing home only the floor is locked so no one can wander away.

Memory care facilities do not provide individual, private companionship for its residents. That doesn't happen anywhere. No facility will pay to have this much staffing. They provide some sort of social group activity. You may get kind-hearted aides who will encourage residents to join in. You may not. They are not obligated to and no nursing home/memory care has sitters on staff to keep individual residents company. They may offer to arrange for a sitter or companion at additional cost to the resident.

Many people hire a private companion to spend time with their LO who is memory care. That is also paid for privately. Insurance will not cover that.

I think that each facility has its own definition of levels of care and what they include.
Meet with the admins of the facility with an appointment to speak with them about this.
It varies widely facility to facility for both ALF and MC.

Mareva: Pose these questions to the Memory Care facility in Menomonee Falls, WI. An individual who sits around with the patient in memory care may not exist.

I don’t know the answer to this specific question but will add that I admitted my mom to temporary care to heal from hip surgery and shopped around. I found the facilities varied greatly.