Are you prepared for the increase in Alzheimer’s care that will be needed over the next decade? It is estimated that approximately 4 million people will need SNF-level Alzheimer’s care in the coming years. With more than 47 million people in the United States today showing some signs of cognitive impairment, it will be critical for skilled nursing facilities to be ready for an increase in this type of patient.
While mild cognitive impairment does not necessarily mean that the patient will need skilled care in the future, it is important to stay current on the latest testing methods and treatment. Those that begin with the impairment may move to dementia and Alzheimer’s, and need an intensive level of care.
Understanding the stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia, along with the numbers, will help in you planning and forecasting the needs and type of care these patients will need. This will allow you to prepare in advance and offer the intensive level of care and support needed.
While there are growing numbers of continuing care retirement communities and group homes, skilled nursing facilities will need to look at what types of care they will offer in comparison to these other facilities. Patients and their family members will be looking for answers to some of these questions:
- What will a typical day look like for the patient?
- Will the patient be allowed to move around the facility freely, or only certain areas?
- What type of cognitive support will be given to the patient?
- What type of medical care will be included or provided?
- Are the staff members trained specifically to work with Alzheimer’s patients?
While these are only a few of the questions they will ask, it is important that you are prepared to not only answer all the normal questions, but provide the level of care that many of these patient’s will need.
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