Wrong! Probably the biggest misconceptions, and rude awakening, families have in the world of assisted living is the mistaken belief that Medicare pays for part of, or all the care of their seniors in an assisted living community or memory care setting.
Medicare only covers medically necessary costs in a medical setting, like a skilled nursing home or a hospital. Assisted living needs are typically non-medical services of activities of daily living (ADL’s) like the need for assistance in dressing, bathing, feeding, medication management (not the cost of the medication but the administering) or supervision for the safety of someone with memory issues and are not covered by Medicare outside of a medical setting.
Although often the need for help with ADL’s is a result of a disease process, like Parkinsons or Alzheimer’s for example, it is NOT covered by Medicare in the seniors home, or in as assisted living community. All the costs for help with the ADL’s will be private pay, either to a person who comes into the home to provide the care, or to a community where the senior lives and receives the assistance. Most often it falls on the family to provide the care themselves in the home.
Costs, whether they are emotional or financial, are the biggest burden on the family and the senior on the journey toward needing assistance with care. So, it’s important to have that discussion as a family before you need the care, if possible, so plans are in place. Meeting with a financial advisor is also highly recommended so you can understand what money is available now or in the future to meet the challenges that the family could face with the costs of care. Just remember, when it comes to resources, Medicare is not one of them you will be able to count on for assisted living care.
