My dad is 67, with progressing dementia. Currently hospitalized due to escalated behavior at home associated with anxiety and frustration. Couldn’t get the TV to work so he busted it, couldn’t turn deadbolt on door, so he took a hammer to it. We are now working on placement. Without current Medicaid coverage, difficult to find nursing home for placement because he doesn’t need PT or OT. I have contacted an assisted living facility that is affordable, but it is not a locked unit. They asked firsthand if he has problem with wandering. He hasn’t while he’s been at the hospital (goes out to smoke) but lived through a similar incident with my grandmother (his mother) where she basically walked out the door on the first days there and wandered off. How do you go about deciding which level of care is safe and would be a good fit? I don’t want to end up right back at hospital at square one. This is his third admit in two months after 2 failed attempts to go back home. He does pretty good in the hospital because it’s relatively stress free and safe to him. But if he encounters any difficulty, his anxiety escalates.
The AL you are considering should do an assessment of his ability to do ADLs. Do they know about the diagnosis of dementia?
You can get an assessment of his needs through the local Area Agency on Aging, or you can ask his doctor to order one.
Have you begun his Medicaid Application?
Has he showed a propensity for wandering at home?
He was seen by general Psych in hospital. They weren’t very impressed with his behavior because he is so calm and agreeable in hospital.
He does like to walk to the grocery, but loses money and purchases frivolous items like candy and lottery tickets (? Like a child ) and no actual food to eat. I had become more uncomfortable with this because people had called his live in attendant and said he was roaming around talking to himself in the neighborhood. His live in has since moved out because she could no longer deal with his behavior
I am going to ask case worker at hospital to help me get started with applying for medicaid.
Thank you for input. This site has been a wealth of knowledge
The memory care facilities are locked so your dad would not be able to wander so that could give you piece of mind. My advice is to go visit some of these options and get a feel for yourself. Spend time going to activities there and having a meal to get a good feel for what each place is really like. The place where my parents live offers adult day care. Maybe try this out for a day and see how he does there. Good luck. You are not alone out there.
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