Portland Alzheimer’s Care

Every day, more people are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. In fact, every 67 seconds someone in the United States develops the disease. If you or someone you love has received a diagnosis this year, you aren’t the only one trying to figure out the best path to take with treatment and care. In Oregon, 60,000 people were living with Alzheimer’s in 2015, and by 2025 that number could grow to over 84,000.

As more people are being affected, more money is being invested in resources, research, and advocacy for the disease. Friends, family members, doctors, loved ones, and the seniors affected have access to numerous resources to help manage the disease.

The Oregon Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is based right in Portland, and the local branch of this national organization provide specialized Alzheimer’s care in the Portland area, including three winners of SeniorAdvisor.com’s 2016 Best of Senior Living Award. Visit Hawthorne Gardens Senior Living, Tabor Hill Adult Care Home, and Russellville Park for top-rated facilities.

Alzheimer’s Facts in Portland and in Oregon

One in three seniors is affected by an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. This disease is a serious health threat to seniors in our nation.

In 2015, a report finds that 10% of seniors in the state of Oregon have received an Alzheimer’s diagnosis.

In 2012, Alzheimer’s was the 6th leading cause of death in Oregon and the state also has the 10th highest rate of death from the disease in the entire nation.

Alzheimer’s disease weighs heavily on families. In 2014, 175,000 caregivers gave 199 million hours of their time to taking care of a loved one affected by the disease.

That care totaled over $2.422 billion in unpaid care expenses to the caregivers.

Being a caregiver can have a negative health impact. Caregivers in Oregon saw a higher health care cost of $105 million in 2014.

The OHSU Brain Institute in Portland has an entire staff dedicated to memory care. They are currently conducting a number of research studies and have participant openings regularly.

There are over 500 open studies nationwide for Alzheimer’s research.

What are the types of Alzheimer’s care?

After receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, it’s important to take steps to find the right care. There are a number of options to choose from depending on the needs of the individual senior and how much supervision and hands-on care is required for a safe and happy environment. Home care is an option for some. In a home care situation, a licensed professional would provide daily or weekly care within the comfort of a home setting.

Another option is an adult day care setting. These facilities are popular for seniors with Alzheimer’s as they allow the caregiver to be out of the home during the day, and provide supervision and activities.

A third option is residential care, like what would be provided in assisted living or a nursing home community. These facilities offer 24-hour care and monitoring.

It’s important to take the time to understand all of the options, and to weigh those benefits against the care your loved one needs. Above all, be sure to find a solution that allows the friend or family member with Alzheimer’s to feel safe and comfortable to ensure the best quality of life possible.

How much can I expect Alzheimer’s care to cost in Portland?

There are a number of factors that play into determining the exact cost of Alzheimer’s care for an individual. Alzheimer’s in an expensive disease, as a country we spend over $226 billion annually caring for seniors who have been diagnosed, and quality care doesn’t come cheap.

For an idea of what care could cost in Portland, we can reference the 2015 Genworth survey that estimates the cost of care in cities throughout the United States. In the Portland area, we find the monthly cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home setting is $8,060 on average, and a private room is $8,486 per month. These figures are well above the national averages of $6,692 and $7,604 respectively due to the cost of living and medical care in the area.

What are some ways I could fund Alzheimer’s care in Portland?

The question of how to fund Alzheimer’s care for your loved one is an important one. There are options to help with cost management as well as programs available that could offer financial assistance or funding. Regardless of how you choose to pay, it’s important that families take the time to research their options and choose which option is best for the type of care needed, and the overall financial situation.

Cost Management

After deciding that nursing home care is the best option for you or your loved one, it may make sense to consider choosing to live in a semi-private room. In the Portland area, that saves over $400 per month, which in a years time can add up to over $5,000 in reduced expenses.

Some families may choose to provide in-home care, as it is often times more affordable and a better fit for the senior. Adult Day programs are available for caregivers who choose this option, allowing for a place to bring a loved one with Alzheimer’s during the day so that a caregiver can work or use the time for respite. In Portland, Adult Day Health Care services average less than $2000 per month. Visit the Aging and Disability Resource of Oregon for information on Adult Day Programs in the area.

Care Funding

There are a few different types of insurance policies that may have provisions for long-term care, and the most common is a long-term care insurance policy. If you or your loved one planned ahead and have this policy, it should cover the majority, if not all, of the Alzheimer’s care costs. Contact the insurance company or the agent to understand the benefits and any limitations or exclusions.

Any senior, or their widow, who served in any branch of the military on active duty during the time of a war could be eligible to receive VA Aid & Attendance to assist with paying for their Alzheimer’s care. To best determine eligibility, contact the Regional Benefits office in Portland. For general inquiries about how A&A works, visit this website.

Medicaid is the option that over half of the seniors in Oregon use for funding nursing home expenses. The program is administered on both a state and federal level and has a number of criteria to qualify. Generally, it’s available to those with low income, limited assets, and who are otherwise unable to pay for needed long-term care. To obtain detailed information on eligibility, or to apply, visit the Oregon benefits page or visit the Oregon Health Plan site.