San Diego Alzheimer’s Care

Alzheimer’s is becoming a bigger and bigger threat, not only to California but to America as well. The number of cases is growing exponentially and researchers predict that 16 million people could be affected by 2050. You don’t have to feel hopeless or alone though because there are plenty of resources and ways to care for any family members that might be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

San Diego, in particular, is an excellent place to receive Alzheimer’s care as well as support. The Alzheimer’s Association has numerous active chapters all over the state of California, including one in San Diego. They have resources, information, support, and educational items that can help anyone who has to deal with this disease. You can also find some great assisted living facilities here including Belmont Village Sabre Springs and Elmcroft of Point Loma, which both won the 2016 Best of Senior Living award from SeniorAdvisor.com

Alzheimer’s Data In San Diego

Of the five million people in America that live with Alzheimer’s, 590,000 live right here in San Diego.

Alzheimer’s is the 5th leading cause of death in the state of California.

In 2015, there were 11,891 deaths from Alzheimer’s, which was an increase of 169% from the year 2000.

One-tenth of the nation’s population living with Alzheimer’s resides in California.

1.5 million caregivers provide 1,791,000,000 hours of unpaid care to Alzheimer’s patients.

Fortunately, it isn’t all doom and gloom. California has made enormous strides to help educate the public and care for those who have Alzheimer’s.

Care For Alzheimer’s In San Diego

What exactly does it mean to care for Alzheimer’s and what are your options? Once someone has been diagnosed, one of the first steps is to create a care plan that ensures the individual is taken care of and their needs are met. You want your family member to feel safe as well as get the best treatment available.

There are a few different options and each one has its benefits. It’s important to choose a plan that fits the individual needs of your loved one. One choice is to enroll them in an adult day care program. There are plenty of options in San Diego, like the Clairemont Friendship Senior Center and the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Center, which allow your family member to be taken care of while you’re at work or running errands.

If you would rather build a more personal relationship with the people who give your loved one care, you can hire a health care worker to come into your home and provide care. This also works well for people who aren’t comfortable in group settings.

Another popular choice is to set your family member up in an assisted living facility that specializes in Alzheimer’s care. This is the best choice if they are in the late stages of the disease or have other medical conditions that need care along with Alzheimer’s.

The Cost Of Care In America And San Diego

Alzheimer’s is not a cheap disease and in 2015, it cost Americans $226 billion. It is a long and progressive disease, so the cost can add up over the years. The type of treatment that you use can affect the overall cost as well as the state or region where you live.

In San Diego, an assisted living facility costs on average $42,000 annually. For an adult day care program, you can expect to pay around $20,519 every year and if you want to hire an in-home health aide that will cost about $51,480 each year.

Ways To Pay For Alzheimer’s Care In San Diego

Don’t be discouraged just yet because there are many options when it comes to paying for Alzheimer’s care. In order to try and lower the total cost of care, you might look into part-time day care programs or only having a health aide come a few days a week. If your family member is in an assisted living facility, you might consider getting them a semi-private room, which will save you $20,000 to $30,000.

Find out if your loved one purchased long-term care insurance because this is going to be an excellent way to pay for their care. Most policies will cover things like day care programs as well as stays in senior care facilities. Talk to their insurance agent to find out what is covered in their policy and to make sure payments are set up so the coverage doesn’t lapse.

For low-income families, Medicaid is going to be a good option. Many senior long-term care plans are covered under Medicaid, you just have to find out your state’s eligibility requirements. Veteran’s, even those that never saw combat, also might get some long-term health care costs covered under their benefits program. Some states even have veteran’s homes that you can receive Alzheimer’s care at a discounted rate.

Even if none of those options work for you or your family, don’t give up hope. The Life Care Funding Group is an excellent resource to find money to cover the costs of Alzheimer’s and other long-term care.