Does memory care equal a nursing home for medicaid? (parent, assisted, aging)

[TheShadow]

My MIL is currently in an AL facility. She has moderate dementia and is 89 and in otherwise fair health. She may need to move up to memory care one day. Her income (pension+SS+VA A&A) covers her AL, but when she moves up in care level to the memory care wing, she will only have about $30K left in savings to cover the additional costs. What happens when that runs out? She has zero assets other than the $30K. Will medicare/medicaid cover memory care as they would a nursing home?

When my mom was on medicare/medicaid she was only eligible for nursing care after being released from an acute care hospital.

[theoldnorthstate]

We are going through this with my Mom as well. Must completely spend down ~2000 k left and meet several medical conditions of care. Dementia itself doesn't seem to count but some secondary aspects might qualify her medically

[TheShadow]

I'm worried that her income (~$3K per month) will make her ineligible, even if more than 100% of it will be consumed by the memory care unit.

[germaine2626]

As with most things it depends on the state.

I believe that in some, perhaps even in most, states needing a locked memory care unit for dementia or Alzheimer's , even if the patient does not have other medical issues, does count for Medicaid but apparently that is not always the case.


In some states, if the $3,000 a month income does not pay the full (let's say) $5,000 or $6,000 a month for memory care Medicaid will pay the rest (after the patients assets are zero) but in other states that is not the case.

You probably should discuss it first with her current assisted living facility but you may need to go to an elder care attorney to get the official answers for your state.


Good luck.

[dj10]

I am assuming that you are in Tennessee and that is where your mother is?


Here is a website that may help you. Scroll through and you will find some info about nursing care. It mentions a program called Tenn Care that might be what you are looking for. Although it will help with services in the home it also talks about assistance with nursing homes.


There are several phone numbers you could call for info. Calling your local Office of Aging should be a great help for information you need.


Tennessee Assisted Living Facilities - view all assisted living communities in TN




Hope this is of some help to you.