Montana memory care facilities and Alzheimer's care options

Montana Alzheimer's Care Communities

Memory care in Montana, which can also go by the terms Alzheimer’s care, dementia care, or Alzheimer’s special care units, are facilities that are specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with forms of dementia. They include specially trained staff to adequately monitor residents to prevent wandering and ensure safety.

Memory Care Homes in Montana - Cost Comparison

Location	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum
Billings	$2,950	$5,300
Bozeman	$4,350	$5,500
Columbia Falls	$5,040	$5,540

*Average monthly cost for single occupancy rooms in a memory care community

Recreation and Attractions in Montana

Both Glacier and Yellowstone National Park are widely known and popular attractions to explore in Montana. There are a large number of other outdoor, natural attractions like lakes, glaciers, parks, trails, and sightseeing. Montana also has museums, shopping opportunities, and various other entertainment possibilities such as the Playmill Theater, C. M. Russell Museum, and the Conrad Mansion.

Montana's Climate, Geography, and Culture

The climate in Montana contains the Continental Divide with slightly different climates on the western and eastern part of the state. The western region usually has a milder climate than the east with warmer winters and cooler summers. It also typically has less wind and rainfall distributed throughout the year. The east, of the other hand, is less humid and sunnier. The winter usually hosts large amounts of snow, about 30-50 inches per year, and below freezing temperatures. On average across the state, the average high temperature in the summer is 84 degrees and the average low in winter is 9 degrees.

As for culture in Montana, it is based on the fact that there is a large Native American population slightly diversifying the culture from the typical midwestern attitude of generosity and hospitality.Though these characteristics still hold true.

Montana's Memory Care Home Regulations and Laws

In Montana, Alzheimer’s or dementia units, category C, are required to provide specific information to the resident’s guardian or family member. The information must include the community’s mission, criteria, assessment, health care plan process, training, physical environment, activities, family involvement, and cost. Staffing must be trained to meet category A and B levels, along with skills necessary to care for Alzheimer’s patients. These skills include learning about challenging behavior techniques, therapeutic programs, medication side effect recognition, and many other topics that are relevant to memory care facilities.

All assisted living facilities in Montana are endorsed as category A. Category B facilities provide skilled nursing care to five or fewer residents and category C facilities provide care to individuals with severe cognitive impairment.

Crime and Safety in Montana

Montana is ranked 36^th in overall safety according to 2016’s Safest States to Live In.

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Lewistown	3.92	12.27
Dillon	2.37	8.29
Miles City	2.52	24.55

Payment Options for Alzheimer's Care in Montana

Medicare, private long-term insurance, and out of pocket payment are the typical methods to pay for dementia care in Montana. The Medicaid home and community-based waiver covers services in assisted living facilities but has a limited number of spots. The average monthly cost of Memory Care in Montana is about $3,721.

Senior and Elderly Rights for Memory Care Homes in MT

Patients have the right in Montana to be informed, in a manner they understand, their health status and be involved in decisions related to care including options, risks, benefits, outcomes, and side effects. It is also their decision to consent or refuse treatment. Privacy and a safe environment should be provided. Someone may be designated by the patient of an Alzheimer’s care community to be involved and informed to make health care decisions for them if they do not have the capacity to do so themselves.

Montana Memory Care: Medical Record Rules and Regulations

In Montana, patients are able to access their medical records by submitting a written request, and within ten days the information should be made available, a copy should be provided, or the request denied and given reasoning as to why it was denied. Any code of abbreviations must be translated if requested.