One of the first things we recommend after getting an Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnosis is to create a long-term health plan. These diseases behave very differently than other end-of-life prognoses. It’s essential to understand the escalating caregiving needs as memory loss progresses.
Making plans for high-quality memory care is essential for everyone’s quality of life – including the individual’s close family members and caregivers.
Affording High-Quality In-Home Dementia Care
Today, we know that adults with dementia can age in place at home safely, surrounded by the people, familiar settings, and the community they love best. However, that goal requires creating a long-term care plan that accommodates in-home dementia care costs.
The good news is that the average cost of in-home dementia care is notably more affordable than almost all residential options. And even better, contracting with experienced in-home caregivers means you get all the benefits of the highest-end memory care centers for a fraction of the price.
Studies show that individuals with dementia fare best when they:
- Are well-nourished using research-based diets that nourish the heart and brain, slowing down memory loss progression.
- Remain embedded in a socially engaged community.
- Maintain their regular daily routine, including grocery store trips, going out for meals, watching movies, and spending time with family and friends. Memory care centers charge tens of thousands of dollars per month to replicate the very places and experiences a loved one maintains by taking advantage of in-home memory care services instead.
- Get regular exercise to oxygenate the brain, keep the body strong and fit, and help support healthy sleep habits.
- Living with people who support natural circadian rhythms via observing daylight and nighttime hours, getting outside as much as possible during the day, and using ambient lighting to replicate day/night cycles.
All that and more are available when you plan and budget for in-home care from dementia-experienced caregiving agencies.
The True Cost of In-Home Dementia Care In California
The average cost of in-home dementia care differs based on varying factors.
Where you live
In-home dementia care costs align with regional costs of living. For example, in California, Genworth cites the median in-home care cost per year at $73,216. That is a bit higher than the national median average of $59,488 but cheaper than other states, like Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, or New Hampshire.
Costs also vary from region to region within a state, so care expenses in rural areas are typically less expensive than those in metropolitan areas.
Quality of caregiver training, education, and specialties
There is no denying that you get what you pay for with dementia care. A high-quality agency invests in employee education, training, livable wages, and benefits packages. In addition to higher-quality care, clients are never left in the lurch due to a caregiver’s illness, family emergency, or vacation needs.
Our agency uses a team of caregivers for each client, creating a failsafe community of individuals that ensure caregivers are well-rested, cheerful, on-time, and mentally and emotionally present for every shift. Memory care is a specialized niche of in-home care, so ask prospective caregiving agencies if they offer late-stage dementia and Alzheimer’s care.
The number of care hours required each day
Costs for in-home dementia care also vary from client to client, based on their hourly needs. Care hours range from part-time to full-time, including respite care, part-time care, overnight care, or 24-hour care.
The figures cited in this post are quoted for 40 hours of in-home care assistance per week. Therefore, costs increase for clients requiring more than 40 hours per week and those using 24-hour caregiving services.
Here in the Inland Empire, the recent data from Genworth’s 2021 reports show that the average cost per month for:
- Full-time in-home dementia care: $4680
- Adult daycare (typically M-F business hours): $1690
- Base assisted living community: $4500**
- Shared room in a nursing home: $7908
- Private room in a nursing home: $9034
**It’s important to note that assisted living communities quote base prices per month. So, while you might pay $4000 for the room, meals, and basic activities/outings, many services and extras are billed separately (see more below).
Economic fluctuations
Not surprisingly, changes in economics also affect caregiver costs.
For example, caregiving costs increased during the pandemic because it was more challenging to find caregivers to fill available posts. Similarly, legislated increases to minimum or liveable wages also elevate homecare costs.
In-Home Dementia Costs Are All-Inclusive
When you contract with a homecare agency specializing in dementia care, you’re paying by the hour and have access to all of their services. So, clients and families benefit from an “all-inclusive” experience, where one hourly rate provides access to their entire menu of services, which include:
- Companionship and lots of fun (reading, singing, listening to music, watching movies, getting together with friends, dancing, gardening, taking walks, exercising, attending community and seasonal events, etc.)
- Meal planning and preparation
- Grocery shopping and errand running
- Transportation for appointments, errands, and outings
- Mobility assistance and help with transfers
- Personal care services, including bathing, grooming, and hygiene care
- Toileting and incontinence care
- Light housekeeping (main living areas, bedroom, and bathroom)
- Laundry and linen changes
- 24/7 supervision via overnight or live-in options
- Pet care
- And more!
That’s very different from most assisted living communities, where residents (and their bill-paying families) quickly learn that extra services are billed on top of the base price. Additional services include meals brought to rooms, mobility assistance, toileting/hygiene support, transportation, laundry/linen changes, utilities, increased care needs, etc. It’s not uncommon for assisted living bills to be 50% to 100+% more than the baseline fee.
Furthermore, many assisted living communities don’t allow residents with mid to late-stage dementia to remain on-site, requiring another transition into a nursing home or memory care facility. Make sure to read all of the fine print and get a list of add-on fees when deciding between in-home or memory care.
Planning For In-Home Dementia Care Costs
The sooner families plan for dementia care costs, the better. Here are steps you can take to begin creating a successful financial plan.
- Schedule at least three to five consultations with licensed, in-home dementia care providers to learn more about what you’ll need, what it will cost, and their tips and tricks to keep home care as affordable as possible.
- Work with a fee-based financial planner specializing in long-term care plans for seniors.
- Get creative, using a combination of financial resources, investments, family contributions, and other sources for a multi-faceted financial plan.
We Help Families Afford In-Home Dementia Care Costs
Are you interested in learning more about how to plan for and afford dementia care that keeps loved ones at home? Schedule an assessment with Families Choice Home Care. We’ve provided premier, high-quality memory care for families in the Inland Empire for the past 10 years.
We also invite you to read our post on the many ways to pay for in-home care in California.
