What Brookside Memory Care offers

Brookside Memory Care is a residential community designed for people living with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The community provides 24-hour supervision, information with daily activities, and structured programming in a find environment where residents cannot wander off the property unsupervised.

Like other memory care communities, Brookside focuses on maintaining dignity and quality of life rather than medical treatment. Staff help with bathing, dressing, toileting, and meals. The community typically offers activities, social engagement, and memory-focused care routines designed to reduce confusion and agitation.

Memory care communities differ from assisted living in that they specialize in dementia care, use secured layouts, and employ staff trained specifically in dementia behavior and communication. They also differ from nursing homes, which provide medical care and skilled nursing services that memory care communities do not.

Key Takeaways

  • Brookside Memory Care is a residential community for people with dementia, not a medical facility, so it does not provide nursing care or medical treatment.
  • The community operates 24 hours a day with staff present to help with daily activities, meals, and supervision in a secured environment.
  • You will need to contact Brookside directly to learn about current availability, costs, what services are included, and what additional services cost extra.
  • Medicare does not cover memory care communities; costs are paid out of pocket, through long-term care insurance, or sometimes through Medicaid depending on the state and the community's policies.
  • Before choosing any memory care community, visit in person, speak with current residents' families, and understand what happens if care needs change.

How to find out what Brookside offers and costs

Brookside Memory Care has multiple locations in different states. Each location operates independently and sets its own pricing, services, and policies. You cannot learn what a specific Brookside community offers without contacting that location directly.

When you call or visit, ask about the current monthly cost, what services are included in that cost, what services cost extra, current availability, the process or move-in process, and what training staff receive in dementia care. Ask whether the community accepts Medicaid, and if so, whether it accepts new Medicaid residents or only existing residents who transition to Medicaid.

Request a tour during a time when you can observe daily activities and speak with staff. If possible, ask to speak with families of current residents about their experience. Many communities can provide contact information for families willing to talk with prospective residents' families.

Who pays for memory care and what to expect

Memory care communities are not covered by Medicare, and most are not covered by standard health insurance. The primary payment method is out-of-pocket payment — you or your family pays the monthly bill directly to the community.

Some people have long-term care insurance policies that cover memory care. If you have such a policy, contact the insurance company to learn what it covers at Brookside specifically, because coverage varies by policy and by location.

Medicaid covers memory care in some states and under certain conditions, but rules vary widely. Some states cover memory care in assisted living or residential care facilities; others do not. Some communities accept Medicaid; others do not. To learn whether Medicaid might cover care at a specific Brookside location, contact your state Medicaid office or the community directly and ask whether they accept Medicaid and what the process is.

What to ask before moving someone to Brookside

Before committing to any memory care community, understand what happens if the resident's needs change. Ask Brookside what they do if a resident develops medical conditions requiring hospitalization, what they do if a resident becomes unable to eat or take medications by mouth, and whether they will continue to care for the resident or whether transfer to a nursing home becomes necessary.

Ask about staffing — how many staff members work per shift, what their training includes, and what their turnover rate is. Ask about security — how the community prevents residents from leaving unsupervised, what happens if a resident does leave, and whether the community works with local police on missing-person protocols.

Ask about activities and engagement — what a typical day looks like, what programming is offered, and how staff respond when a resident becomes confused or agitated. Ask about visiting — whether family can visit anytime, whether there are restrictions, and how the community communicates with family about the resident's wellbeing and any changes in behavior or health.

When to seek care elsewhere

Memory care is appropriate for people with dementia who need help with daily activities and supervision but do not require skilled nursing care — wound care, injections, catheter management, or other medical procedures. If the person needs those services, a nursing home or assisted living with on-site nursing is more appropriate than memory care.

If the person has severe behavioral symptoms that the community cannot manage safely, or if they require more medical attention than the community can provide, Brookside may ask you to move the resident elsewhere. Ask about this possibility before moving in, and ask what the community's process is for discussing such a move with family.

Questions to ask your doctor

Before moving someone to memory care, discuss the decision with their doctor. Ask whether memory care is appropriate for their current stage of dementia, what medical care they will still need and how that will be arranged, what medications they take and whether the community can manage them, and what warning signs should prompt a visit to the emergency room or a move to a higher level of care.

Ask the doctor to provide a summary of the person's medical history, current medications, and any allergies to give to Brookside. Ask whether the doctor will continue to see the resident after the move, or whether you will need to find a new doctor near the community.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Medicare pay for memory care at Brookside?

No. Medicare does not cover residential memory care communities. It covers skilled nursing care in a nursing home and some home health services, but not room and board or supervision in a memory care setting. You would pay out of pocket unless you have long-term care insurance or your state Medicaid program covers memory care.

What is the difference between memory care and assisted living?

Memory care specializes in dementia and uses secured environments, dementia-trained staff, and programming designed for people with cognitive loss. Assisted living is broader and serves people with various needs who do not require nursing care. Memory care is more restrictive and more specialized; assisted living is less so.

Can I move someone to Brookside if they have not been formally diagnosed with dementia?

That depends on Brookside's admission policies. Most memory care communities require a diagnosis of dementia or cognitive impairment before admission. Contact the specific Brookside location to ask what documentation they need and whether they will admit someone with suspected but undiagnosed cognitive loss.

What happens if someone in memory care becomes unable to swallow or eat?

Memory care communities are not equipped to provide feeding tubes or other medical interventions. If a resident reaches this stage, the community will likely recommend transfer to a nursing home or hospice care. Discuss this possibility with Brookside and with the resident's doctor before moving in, and make sure family understands what the options are.

Can family visit anytime, or are there restrictions?

Visiting policies vary by community. Some allow open visiting; others have set hours. Some restrict visiting during certain activities or meal times. Contact Brookside directly to learn their policy and whether exceptions can be made for family emergencies or end-of-life situations.