Medicaid Benefits for Alzheimer’s and Dementia
Benefits that make care for dementia patients more affordable.
This post was reviewed by our Director of Clinical Excellence and Oversight.
Providing care for someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia can be challenging on a tight budget. Luckily, Medicaid provides many benefits that can make care more affordable.
If you’re caring for someone with Medicaid or a waiver, there may be some benefits that could help. Not everyone knows about these benefits, so we’ve highlighted some of them here.
Incontinence Supplies
Many don’t know it, but most state Medicaid plans currently provide coverage of absorbent incontinence supplies. Medicaid recipients may be eligible to receive products like adult diapers at little to no cost.
For caregivers, that means less money spent out of pocket on supplies. Incontinence products can be expensive, costing as much as $900-$4,000 per year. Using Medicaid benefits to get supplies from a provider (like Home Care Delivered) ensures you have products available when you need them.
Get Incontinence Supplies Online With Medicaid
No Credit Card | Fast Delivery | 100% Discreet
In-Home Assistance
Depending on the state, Medicaid could also cover In-Home Assistance. In-Home Assistance covers the cost of an aide to help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) such as bathing, cleaning, and eating. In-Home Assistance is great for caregivers with busy schedules. Not only does it provide additional care for the patient, but it also helps with the cost, making quality care more affordable.Adult Day Care Centers For Alzheimer’s and Dementia (ADCC)
Medicaid could also cover the cost of an Adult Day Care Center (ADCC) that specializes in Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Adult Day Care Centers are facilities that supervise and support elderly and disabled adults during the day.
The cost of Adult Day Care Centers can be expensive. The average cost can be as high as $25,000 per year. Medicaid can make adult day care centers an affordable for professional-level support when it’s needed most.
Home Health Services
Many Medicaid plans provide coverage of Home Health Services. With this benefit, people with Alzheimer’s or Dementia may qualify for a range of medical services while at home.
Home Health Services can cost nearly $33,000 a year, which is more than many families can afford. With Medicaid, however, this expense can be greatly reduced.
Respite Care
Medicaid could also cover respite care for friends and family members who are caring for the individual. Respite care covers the cost of providing care a few hours a day/week.
Respite care is great for caregivers who have many responsibilities to manage. It provides them with more time to handle their own needs while ensuring their loved ones are getting the quality care they need.
Medical Transportation
Medicaid also could cover transportation to and from doctor’s visits or other healthcare appointments. For disabled individuals, this can also include help with mobility needs, such as getting to and from a vehicle.
This benefit allows patients to get the care they need even when their caregivers are not available to transport them. It also reduces the cost of transportation, which can be as much as $50 per trip.
Other Medicaid Benefits Helpful To Alzheimer’s and Dementia Patients
There are many other benefits that Medicaid could provide, including Medicaid benefits for seniors and the elderly. Some of the additional benefits available for people with Alzheimer’s and Dementia may include:
- Catheters & urological supplies
- Lab work
- X-rays
- Bandages & wound care products
- Dentures
- Diabetic supplies
- Prescriptions
- Nursing Facility
Of course, it is also important to consider when it might be time for an Alzheimer’s patient to require more attention that what may be available at home. While caring for someone with this condition, watch out for signs that they may not be able to live alone.
To find out if any of these benefits are an option, call the number on the back of the Alzheimer patient’s Medicaid card.