Springfield Massachusetts Memory care: Communities caring for Alzheimer’s disease and questions when looking for care
Springfield is a city in western Massachusetts. Beside the Connecticut River, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame commemorates the sport in a striking building. Collections at the Springfield Museums include American paintings and sculpture, scientific exhibits and Asian art. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss celebrates the beloved children’s author. Springfield Armory documents 2 centuries of military history.
- Springfield Massachusetts Memory care: Communities caring for Alzheimer's disease and questions when looking for care
- About Memory Care in Springfield
- Considerations when looking for care in Springfield
- Cities near Springfield
- Pricing and How to Pay for Memory Care
- Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in Springfield
- Questions to Ask
- Local Resources and Links – Massachusetts
- Search other areas for Memory Care
About Memory Care in Springfield
Massachusetts is rich in American history, and it’s also home to over 1.2 million aging adult residents 65 and older. 130,000 residents of Massachusetts live with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Cognitive decline requires specialized care and attention. Memory care communities provide care for residents with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Memory care in Massachusetts is a specific form of care designed to keep residents safe while receiving the appropriate care in a comfortable setting. Not all senior care involves your loved one moving into a nursing home. There are several different options aside from nursing homes to fit your loved ones needs.
Memory care in Massachusetts is often offered in an assisted living facility or community. These specialized care communities create programs designed to meet the needs of people who require specific care, with specially trained staff and a secure environment to ensure the safety of residents.
Considerations when looking for care in Springfield
If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Springfield, the hottest months are July, August, and then June.The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 86.8°F with temperatures rarely dropping below 62°F. The cold season lasts from December 1 to March 11, with the coldest month of the year being January, with an average low of 19°F and high of 34°F.
There are 154,789 people who call Springfield home but memory care providers are not in the area. Search other cities in Massachusetts for memory care on careavailability.com!
Memory Care Communities near Springfield, Massachusetts
Cities near Springfield
- Hartford (CT) – 26 miles south of Springfield
- Holyoke – 9 miles north of Springfield
- Westfield – 10 miles west of Springfield
- Palmer – 19 miles east of Springfield
Pricing and How to Pay for Memory Care
The state of Massachusetts is one of the most expensive places to receive memory care. Typically, the northeast region of the United States is costly in comparison with other regions. The national average cost of memory care is $5,650 / month, Massachusetts on average charges $8,135 / month for memory care. Springfield is cheaper, you can find memory care for $6,325 / month.
You want to consider your payment options for assisted living, memory care, and care homes. For these services, Medicare is NOT an option for payment.
The most common payment for these services would be out of pocket Private Pay and assessing a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
Medicaid can also be an option, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
Long-Term Care insurance is also a possible option in cases of chronic conditions, be sure to see if you or a loved one qualifies.
For our Veterans and spouses of veterans, be sure to assess Veteran Aid and your eligibility for these benefits.
Medicare – NO:
- Medicare does NOT pay for Assisted Living.
- People 65 years and older and individuals with end stage renal disease are eligible for Medicare benefits, no matter their income.
- Coverage is meant for people in need of short-term care.
Private pay – YES:
- Many families pay for assisted living with private funds.
- Private pay can be a combination of retirement funds, personal savings, and pension payments.
- Family members may contribute funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing and care.
Medicaid – MAYBE:
- Medicaid provides health coverage to millions of Americans. Eligible participants include: low-income adults, elderly adults and people with disabilities.
- Medicaid is administered by state, according to federal requirements. The program is funded jointly by each state and the federal government.
- Every state has their own individual Medicaid assistance program.
- National guidelines are in place do decipher how states must spend Medicaid money, but with allowances toward the guidelines.
- The state determines what levels of care will be covered by Medicaid, who is eligible, and how much the state will reimburse the care community.
- If you are unsure whether you qualify for Medicaid, you should apply. You may be eligible depending on your household income, family size, age, disability and other factors.
Long-term Care Insurance – MAYBE:
Long term care insurance is a great way to pay for assisted living, and planning ahead is important when considering how to pay for senior housing and care. Nearly 75% of people over the age of 65 will require long-term care and services at some point. Buying into long-term care insurance when a person is in their 50s and 60s is the most common time to do so.
- Long-term care insurance helps cover the costs of chronic medical conditions.
- Individuals and couples with the ability to pay into long-term care insurance have the advantage of a head start in allocating funds for senior care.
Veteran Aid and Assistance – MAYBE:
This benefit is available to some military veterans and surviving spouses who live in an assisted living community and those who have in-home care.
- There are specific guidelines, but a veteran may qualify for as much as $2,050 each month.
- A veteran with a sick spouse may be eligible for $1,600 per month.
- If a veteran has passed, their surviving spouse can qualify for $1,300 per month.
Questions to Ask
Finding an assisted living community can be overwhelming. Here are some tips on things to be observant of:
- Make sure the facility is clean and well maintained. You can tell a lot about the operation by noting what is clean and maintained. Are doorknobs loose or damaged? Do you see any frayed carpet or trip hazards?
- Visit during lunch hour to observe what the residents are eating. Ask questions about the nutrition program. Is there diversity in meals, healthy fruits and vegetables served at all meals, drink options?
- Speak to residents and/or family members to learn their perspective.
- Ask about staff and resident engagement. Get a feel for how staff interact with residents.
- Ask about the life enrichment programs. Activities are crucial when it comes to quality of life and play a key role in care for older adults.
- And finally (along with a plethora of more things to consider), get to know the leadership in the building. If you feel good around the Executive Director, Head Nurse, Lead Activities Director and even the Chef or Janitor, it is a good sign you can trust them with the care of your loved one.
Local Hospitals and Healthcare Providers in Springfield
Caring Health Center
1049 Main St, Springfield, MA 01103
Mercy Medical Center: Emergency Department
271 Carew St, Springfield, MA 01104
Baystate Medical Practices Main St
3500 Main St, Springfield, MA 01107
Local Resources and Links – Massachusetts
Central Massachusetts Agency on Aging seeks to outreach to older persons and their caregivers, hoping to educate them on services and programs that are meant to serve and assist them to remain safely and securely in our communities.
Age Strong Commission As an AAA, the Commission provides funding to community partners to provide services to seniors in the neighborhoods. The Commission also provides direct services to seniors such as advocacy, information and referral, transportation, volunteer opportunities and cultural and social events.
Executive Office of Elder Affairs State Agency that contracts with local service providers.
Greater Springfield Senior Services, Inc. is an Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) providing services to help preserve the independence, and quality of life of elders and disabled persons desiring to remain within their own.
Eldercare Locator This is a great resource to search for specific care in specific counties and cities. This database is a nationwide resource that connects older Americans and their caregivers with trustworthy local support resources. Connect with services such as meals, home care or transportation, or a caregiver education or respite from caregiving responsibilities. The Eldercare Locator is a public service of the Administration on Aging (AoA), an agency of the U.S. Administration for Community Living.
Medicare provides a search feature to find & compare providers near you, most senior housing and care providers are included on CareAvailability.com. Find & compare plans in your area. Determine if you qualify for premium savings
Medicaid offers information on how to apply for Medicaid, eligibility criteria, links to local state offices, and additional resources
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. Whether you are living with Alzheimer’s or caring for someone with the disease, information and resources are available.
Search other areas for Memory Care
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