How to Find Long-Term Care for a Parent

Making the decision to move a loved one who has dementia into an assisted-living facility or nursing home is never easy. Not only can it be emotionally difficult, but also it can be hard to figure out how and where to start your search for a place where your parent can receive the care he or she needs at an affordable price.

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There are resources, though, to help you find specialized care for a parent with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

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The U.S. Administration on Aging's Eldercare Locator will provide you with a list of resources in your area, including the local Area Agency on Aging -- which can give you information about nursing homes. For more personalized assistance, try AlzheimersLocator.com. It's owned and operated by A Place for Mom, which is the nation's largest senior-living adviser network.

AlzheimersLocator.com has advisers who can help you find the right facility for your loved one's needs. There's no charge for the advice because AlzheimersLocator.com is compensated by properties that advertise with the site.

Simply visit the site, enter the care type, location, your name, e-mail and phone number and an adviser will contact you (usually within minutes after you submit your information). The site will also generate a list of facilities, with information about each one.

The benefit of talking with an adviser is that she can help you narrow down the choices if you tell her what you're looking for in a dementia-care facility. For example, an adviser can tell you which facilities accept Medicaid or which ones have various levels of care. It helps make the process of finding long-term care easier.

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