San Antonio Alzheimer’s Care

There are over 5 million Americans who have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and that number is on the rise. Friends, family, and loved ones are all affected when someone receives a diagnosis, and in San Antonio, you’re not alone. Over 340,000 Texan seniors had Alzheimer’s in 2015 according to a report by the Alzheimer’s Association, and that number is expected to grow to nearly a half-million in the state by 2025.

With numbers on the rise, advocacy for the disease is more important than ever, and strides are being made. There have been recent approvals for more funding for resources and research, and that means good news for seniors with the disease and their loved ones. Now more than ever there are options available for treatment and care for those who have Alzheimer’s disease.

The San Antonio & South Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association provides a plethora of resources to families in San Antonio. They offer education for seniors and their loved ones, professionals, opportunities to get involved, and a 24/7 help hotline for questions about the disease.

Alzheimer’s care is also readily available in the San Antonio area. There are nearly 50 care facilities to choose from, including 5 winners of the coveted SeniorAdvisor.com 2016 Best of Senior Living Award including Isle at Watercrest- Alamo Ranch, Adante San Antonio, Inn at Los Patios, Lakeside Assisted Living, and Brookdale Castle Hills.

Alzheimer’s Facts in San Antonio and in Texas

Alzheimer’s disease affects seniors nationwide. There are serious health implications for those diagnosed with the disease.

In 2015, a report finds that 11% of senior Texans have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

In 2012, Alzheimer’s was the 6th leading cause of death in the state of Texas.

In 2014, 1.331 million individuals in Texas devoted 1.516 billion hours of caregiving to a friend or family member with Alzheimer’s.

Those unpaid care hours equaled over $18.446 billion in unpaid care expenses.

Caregivers in Texas saw a higher health care cost for themselves of $716 million.

Since founded in 2005, the Texas Alzheimer’s Research and Care Consortium (TARCC) has dedicated more than $27 million towards research on the discovery, treatment, and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

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

What are the types of Alzheimer’s care?

Receiving an Alzheimer’s diagnosis generally means exploring care options for you or your loved ones. As the memory deteriorates, it’s important to have the right level of care to help seniors with their daily needs. While there are many variations of care options available, the three most common are home care, adult day care, and residential care or nursing home facilities.

Home care is administered by a professional within the home while adult day care is conducted in an off-site setting for a period of time during the day offering respite to the caregiver. Residential care facilities like nursing homes are available and provide around the clock care for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ensure that you and your loved one spend time deciding which is the right type of care for you, and visit the facilities in your area to find a comfortable environment and the right fit with the staff.

What are the estimated costs of Alzheimer’s care in San Antonio?

Quality Alzheimer’s care can be expensive, but just how expensive can be difficult to estimate. Nationally, we spend over $226 billion each year caring for seniors, and your cost will depend on the type of care, insurance coverage available, which facility in San Antonio you decide to use, and a variety of other factors.

As a baseline, we can examine the 2015 Genworth survey that estimates the cost of care around the nation. In San Antonio, the average cost of a semi-private room in a nursing home care situation was $4,319 per month while a private room was $6,083. These estimates are significantly lower than the national averages at $6,692 and $7,604 respectively.

How do you pay for Alzheimer’s care in San Antonio?

How to fund Alzheimer’s care is an important question to ask. Some families elect to provide unpaid care in the home to help to keep the costs lower while others examine other cost-saving opportunities like those we list below. It is crucial to research all of the options and take the time to decide what is the best fit for your family and financial situation.

Cost Management

Nursing home care may be the best fit for your loved one or family member, and electing to have a semi-private room at the facility can save money. Based on Genworth’s estimates above, we see that a private room is over $1750 per month more expensive than a shared residence. Annually that could add up to over $21,000 in savings if a roommate is a viable option.

Providing care for your family member or loved one in your home is another often times more affordable option. Caregivers can take advantage of Adult Day programs, also known as respite care, to give them the opportunity to work or be out of the home during the day while still having the senior supervised and safe. Visit the National Association of Adult Day Services to find a center in San Antonio or for more information on adult day programs.

Care Funding

There are a number of options for funding Alzheimer’s care, including a long-term care insurance policy. With a long-term care policy, it is important to contact the company or the insurance agent to obtain a detailed list of benefits, including what the policy covers and any limitations on what it may pay for.

In the case of someone who is a veteran or the widow of a veteran who served active duty for any branch of the military during war time, they may be eligible for VA Aid & Attendance. In Texas, there are two Regional Benefits Offices that can assist you with the application process and answer questions. Contact either the Houston or Waco locations, depending on which is closer to you. For more general information about the A&A program, access this website.

Another option for funding nursing home expenses is Medicaid. The program is available to seniors with a low income who have limited assets and aren’t able to pay for long-term care. Medicaid is the most common way that long-term care is funded in Texas. To get more information on eligibility requirements, or to submit an application, you can visit the Texas benefits page, or visit the Texas Health and Human Services Commission website for more resources and information.