What Arbor Hills Memory Care Offers

Arbor Hills Memory Care is a residential community built specifically for people with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The facility provides 24-hour supervision, structured activities, and information with daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and medication management. Staff are trained in dementia care approaches that aim to reduce agitation and support residents' independence as much as possible.

The community operates as a private-pay facility, meaning you pay directly rather than through government insurance programs. Costs vary depending on the level of care needed and the specific location, as Arbor Hills operates multiple communities. Most residents move to memory care when living at home becomes unsafe or when family caregivers can no longer manage the level of supervision required.

Key Takeaways

  • Arbor Hills Memory Care is a residential community designed for people with dementia, not a hospital or medical facility, and provides room, meals, supervision, and activities.
  • You pay out of pocket for Arbor Hills; Medicare and most insurance plans do not cover residential memory care, though some long-term care insurance policies may.
  • Monthly costs depend on the community location and the resident's care needs, so you will need to contact the specific community directly for pricing.
  • Medicaid may cover memory care in some states if the resident's assets fall below the program's limits, but this requires a separate process and varies by state.
  • The decision to move to memory care often comes when a person can no longer be left alone safely or when medication management and personal care become too demanding for family.

How Memory Care Differs from Assisted Living and Nursing Homes

Memory care communities focus on dementia-specific needs in ways that general assisted living does not. Staff are trained to work with people who may be confused, repetitive, or unable to remember recent conversations. The physical environment is often designed to reduce wandering risk — secured exits, simplified layouts, and activities tailored to cognitive ability rather than independence level.

Nursing homes (skilled nursing facilities) provide medical care and nursing oversight for people with serious medical conditions. Memory care communities focus on supervision and daily living support. If a resident develops a condition requiring skilled nursing — wound care, IV therapy, or intensive medical monitoring — they may need to move to a nursing home rather than stay in memory care.

Assisted living communities serve people who need help with daily tasks but do not have dementia or have mild cognitive decline. They typically offer less supervision and fewer dementia-specific programs than memory care.

What the Monthly Cost Covers

Memory care costs typically include room and board, meals, 24-hour supervision, information with bathing and dressing, medication reminders, and structured activities. Staff are present around the clock. Some communities include basic supplies like incontinence products; others charge separately. Transportation to medical appointments may or may not be included.

What is not usually included: prescription medications (you pay the pharmacy), medical equipment like wheelchairs or hospital beds, specialized therapies like physical therapy or speech therapy, and physician visits. Some communities charge extra for specialized dementia medications or for residents who require one-on-one supervision due to severe behavioral needs.

Monthly costs for memory care typically range widely depending on geography and the specific community. You will need to contact Arbor Hills directly or request a tour to learn the actual cost for the location you are considering. Ask whether the price is all-inclusive or whether additional charges explore for specific services.

How to Pay for Memory Care

Most people pay for memory care using personal savings, retirement accounts, or family contributions. This is the most straightforward route and requires no process process — you straightforward pay the facility directly each month.

Long-term care insurance may cover memory care if the policy was purchased before the person's diagnosis. Coverage varies widely by policy. If the person has a long-term care insurance policy, contact the insurance company to learn what memory care costs they will cover and what documentation the facility must provide.

Medicaid covers memory care in some states, but only after the person's assets have been reduced to the program's limit (usually $2,000 or less, depending on the state). This process, called "spending down," can take months or years. Each state's Medicaid program has different rules about which facilities it covers and what it pays. Contact your state Medicaid office or a Medicaid planner to learn whether memory care is covered in your state and what the process requires.

Veterans benefits may cover memory care for may be able to access veterans and surviving spouses. The VA Aid and Attendance benefit can help pay for residential care. Contact the VA directly or a veterans service officer to learn whether the person is may be able to access.

Choosing Between Arbor Hills and Other Memory Care Options

When comparing memory care communities, visit in person and observe how staff interact with residents. Ask about staff training in dementia care, the ratio of staff to residents, and what happens if a resident's needs change and become too complex for the community to manage. Request references from families whose relatives currently live there.

Ask about the community's approach to activities, wandering, and behavioral changes. Some communities use medication to manage behavior; others emphasize activity and environmental design. Neither approach is inherently wrong, but they reflect different philosophies, and you should know which one the community follows.

Check whether the community is licensed by your state and whether there are any violations or complaints on record. Your state's health department or long-term care ombudsman office maintains this information and can often provide it over the phone.

What Happens When Care Needs Change

As dementia progresses, a person's needs may exceed what a memory care community can safely provide. Some residents develop severe behavioral needs, require one-on-one supervision, or develop medical conditions that need skilled nursing care. When this happens, the community may ask the family to move the resident to a nursing home or another facility.

This is not a failure on anyone's part — it is the natural progression of the disease. Before moving someone into memory care, ask the community what their discharge criteria are and what support they offer families in finding the next level of care. Some communities have relationships with nursing homes and can help with the transition.

Questions to Ask Before Touring

Before you visit, call and ask whether the community has an open bed in the level of care you need, what the current wait list is, and whether you can schedule a tour. Ask about the process process and what documents you will need to bring — typically a physician's diagnosis, recent medical records, and proof of ability to pay.

Ask whether the community offers a trial stay or respite care (short-term care while a family caregiver takes a break). Some do; many do not. Ask what the cancellation policy is if you need to leave within the first 30 or 60 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare cover memory care at Arbor Hills?

No. Medicare covers skilled nursing care in nursing homes and some rehabilitation services, but not residential memory care. You pay out of pocket unless you have long-term care insurance or are may be able to access for Medicaid in your state.

Can someone with advanced dementia still move to memory care?

It depends on the community's policies and the person's specific needs. Some memory care communities accept people in advanced stages; others focus on early to mid-stage dementia. Call the community directly and describe the person's current abilities and behaviors. They will tell you whether they can provide the right level of care.

What if the person wanders or becomes aggressive?

Memory care communities are designed to manage these behaviors. Secured units prevent wandering, and staff are trained in de-escalation techniques. Ask the community specifically how they handle wandering and aggression before you move someone in. If the behavior becomes severe, the community may determine they cannot safely care for the person and ask for a transfer.

Can family visit whenever they want?

Most memory care communities allow family visits during daytime hours and encourage regular contact. Some have specific visiting hours; others are more flexible. Ask about the community's visiting policy and whether family can eat meals with the resident or participate in activities.

What if we can no longer afford the monthly cost?

Talk to the community's business office when ready. Some communities work with families on payment plans or can refer you to financial resources. If Medicaid is an option in your state, the community may be able to help you understand the process. Do not wait until you have missed payments — communities are more willing to work with families who communicate early.