Memory Care

Legal and Financial Planning for Memory Care in West Cobb

Finding out that your loved one has Alzheimer’s disease or dementia can be overwhelming. As your family faces this change, it’s vital to work together to plan for the future. 

Now is the time to understand your loved one’s wishes for future care, financial planning and legal decisions. Taking these steps early enables your loved one to be involved in the process and feel at ease about future arrangements. 

Given the costs of memory care, having these matters settled ahead of time can also protect your loved one’s assets and ensure that care is covered in the long term. 

Today we’ll go over key areas of senior legal and financial planning that you should consider as someone transitions to memory care in Acworth, GA. Our senior living experts will analyze your family’s comprehensive needs, including memory care costs, legal documents, financial options and more.

Know the Financial Implications of Long-Term Dementia Care

After a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, your loved one may require more robust daily assistance, such as memory care. This price may vary according to your chosen community, floor plan and care level. At Varenita of West Cobb, for example, our comprehensive monthly care fee starts at $5,995 per month. 

Memory care communities typically offer all-inclusive pricing, so this monthly fee covers your parent’s full needs, including care, assistance with daily tasks, living space, meals and amenities. You may also be responsible for a one-time entry fee.  

Insurance and Medicare/Medicaid

You can offset the costs of memory care by having long-term care insurance or qualifying for programs such as Medicare or Medicaid. 

  • Long-term care insurance includes the full range of costs for chronic illnesses such as dementia. It covers not just medical care, but also room/board and other amenities. 
  • Medicare only covers medically necessary care. While this can reduce the cost of memory care, your family will be responsible for paying for room/board, personal care and more.
  • Medicaid is another option for those who meet the income requirements. If you’re a low-income senior, Medicaid will cover the costs for memory care. Of course, not every senior living community accepts Medicaid, so you’ll have to research options carefully. 

Out-of-Pocket Expenses

In addition to the monthly fee for memory care, your loved one may also have out-of-pocket expenses. Some additional costs you may have to take care of include:

  • Medication
  • Insurance (health, life and/or long-term care)
  • Personal care items
  • Phone plan
  • Transportation
  • Extra amenities, such as using the community’s beauty salon or barbershop

It’s important to budget for these items as well, so that your loved one has access to the amenities they require. 

Planning for the Long-Term

Ultimately, financial planning is essential to understanding your loved one’s monthly budget and how they will pay for care into the future. Organizing their sources of income, insurance payouts and more is key to ensuring seamless coverage of senior living in West Cobb. 

Legal Considerations and Documents to Have in Place

Before the stages of dementia advance, your loved one should secure the following legal documents. Having these items in place will guarantee their wishes for the future are met even as their health evolves. 

Power of Attorney

A power of attorney designates a trusted person to carry out financial decisions once your loved one is no longer able to. This person is usually a spouse, child or close friend who is charged with managing income and assets according to their wishes.

Living Will and Healthcare Proxy

A living will describes your loved one’s wishes for healthcare and end-of-life. This document typically defines advance directives about their preferences for doctors, treatments and care. It may also specify a healthcare proxy, i.e. a trusted person to make healthcare decisions when your loved one loses the legal capacity to do so. 

This document also may specify whether they wish to have life support or be resuscitated in case of a medical emergency. For example, it may include a DNR order or instructions for hospice care.

Guardianship and Conservatorship

If your loved one didn’t create a power of attorney or living will, they may be left without a clear person to manage their care and assets when they no longer can. This may also occur when family members don’t agree on these documents, or there’s no family in the picture. 

In this case, the court may appoint a guardian to carry out these healthcare and financial responsibilities. This guardian is supervised by the legal system and is charged with ensuring the senior has all their daily needs met. 

Estate Planning

Besides vital healthcare planning, your loved one may also wish to secure their estate through a will and/or trust. 

A will appoints an executor to manage their estate upon their death. This includes taxes, beneficiaries, donations, property, etc. Keep in mind that its scope doesn’t include healthcare decisions. 

A trust also details how an estate should be managed in the event of death. The main difference is that the assets of a trust are set up by your loved one while they’re alive. It appoints a trustee (either an individual or entity) to distribute the assets according to the terms of the trust document. 

Ultimately, setting up a trust helps families avoid lengthy, expensive court probate processes, and may also have some tax benefits.

Resources for Financial and Legal Assistance in West Cobb

Start organizing your loved one’s finances by leveraging free or low-cost resources available to seniors below. You might consider contacting pro bono tax aides or financial planners, as well as check out robust guides about retirement financing. 

If your loved one needs to finalize legal documents and start estate planning, reach out to these Georgia-based organizations for guidance. You’ll also find contact information if your family needs other types of legal counsel. 

Financial Planning

Organizations

Resources

Legal Aid

Organizations In Georgia:

Organizations Nationwide:

Resources

Our Premier Memory Care Community in Acworth, GA

Planning for the future also involves finding the right memory care community in Georgia. The ideal community will enhance your loved one’s overall well-being and put your family at ease.

At Varenita of West Cobb, we enrich daily living for seniors with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Our secure memory care community has an engaging, supportive environment where residents can make meaningful connections. Learn more about our stimulating, personalized approach to care below.

Specialized Memory Care Services

Our memory care in Acworth is specially designed for Alzheimer’s and dementia patients to thrive. Our highly specialized care starts with a personalized plan that honors each individual’s legacy, needs and abilities. In addition, our community includes:

  • 24/7 supervision and secure spaces
  • Compassion-driven care by dementia-trained staff
  • Dynamic daily activities (music, dance, art, food, movement, etc.)
  • A dedicated Program Director
  • A vibrant environment to stimulate senses and build relationships
  • Daily small group social connections 
  • Beautiful private studios with safety features
  • A dedicated dining area with nutritious, varied meals

Financial Options

At Varenita of West Cobb, we offer transparent fees tailored to each resident’s needs. Our five different levels of memory care are all-inclusive, so you only pay for the services you need and don’t have to worry about extra charges. 

What’s more, our financial team at Varenita can help you navigate our pricing levels and payment options so that you can maximize your resources. Many of our families pay for memory care using long-term care insurance, Aid & Attendance VA benefits or other programs. Some may also use private funds that come from savings, investments, home equity, etc. 

Get in touch with our team to learn about our payment options and eligibility for financial assistance programs.

Legal Support

Getting legal paperwork in place can be stressful. Our experts at Varenita are here to support your family as you set up documents, such as a living will, healthcare proxy, power of attorney and more. 

If you need assistance in preparing these documents or accessing legal counsel, contact our team. Depending on your needs, we may have templates to get you started and recommendations for legal advisors in Cobb County. 

Plan Your Future With Varenita of West Cobb

Early planning for the legal and financial aspects of memory care is vital. By determining a senior living budget, knowing the financial options and securing the legal paperwork, your family can have the peace of mind that your loved one is set for the future.

One of the most important financial and personal decisions you will make is choosing a memory care community. Varenita of West Cobb takes a unique whole-person approach that enriches the mind, body and soul for residents of all cognitive abilities. Here your loved one will thrive with highly trained staff, specially-designed activities and daily opportunities to engage within our secure environment. 

Schedule a tour of Varenita of West Cobb and see our one-of-a-kind memory care community firsthand!