Articles and Alzheimer's Disease

There are many topics about Alzheimer’s that are extremely important for you to research and learn as much as possible about. There are literally thousands of articles about Alzheimer’s Disease. This may be one of the most important article about Alzheimer’s you’ll ever read.

Managing the costs of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s can be difficult, especially since Medicare rarely covers the expense.  Since Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease, the type and level of care a person needs changes over time and the payments will begin to add up.  To make sure you’ll be able to afford the proper care for your loved one, look towards the future and plan ahead the moment he or she is diagnosed.

No matter what stage Alzheimer’s your loved one has, it’s almost certain that they’ll need several medications each month.  The cost of prescriptions, combined with ongoing medical treatment, can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars that doesn’t include the cost of hiring professionals to come assist in your home. There are also several personal care supplies, such as adult diapers, creams, clothing, foods and hygiene products that you’ll need to purchase on a weekly basis. 

There are several financial resources available for caregivers to help cover the costs associated with Alzheimer’s.  Medicare covers some doctor’s fees and prescriptions and may even pay for certain in home services, but only to an extent.  Should you decide that you cannot care for your loved one and that a nursing home may be more beneficial to them, keep in mind that Medicare does not cover the cost of residential living. You’ll need to learn how Medicaid works to fill in the gaps.

It’s possible that your loved one has their own source of income that they set up for retirement or in case of sickness, so when a diagnosis is made, discuss the costs with him or her and plan how they will be paid for.  If necessary, fill out the documentation that will allow you to have access to and control their assets should they be unable to do so themselves.  If your loved one does not have enough money to cover all the expenses, discuss finances with your family and see how much money each person can donate. 

It may be helpful to hire an elder law attorney to provide advice on different government funds and assistance available.   The most important thing is to make sure your loved one receives all the care he or she needs and deserves.  Alzheimer’s can be an expensive disease but, if you plan ahead, you can comfortably afford the expenses and provide a high quality of life for your loved one. 

Brian Willie is an elder law attorney from Orange County CA who has taught thousands of Alzheimer’s families how to pay for the devastating cost of Alzheimer’s care without going broke. You can learn more at http://www.ultimatealzheimersrescue.com/