Pennsylvania memory care facilities and Alzheimer's care options

Find Alzheimer's Care in Pennsylvania

Alzheimer’s care facilities in Pennsylvania, which can also go by the terms dementia care, memory care, or specialty care units, are facilities that are specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with forms of dementia through the use of different services and activities. They typically include specially trained staff and specific egress systems that constantly monitor residents to ensure their safety and prevent them from wandering.

Pennsylvania Memory Care Communities - Cost

Location	Monthly Minimum	Monthly Maximum
Pittsburgh	$2,400	$5,400
Philadelphia	$4,410	$6,295
Allentown	$1,980	$6,120

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

Recreation and Attractions in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is filled with everything from parks to historical attractions, theaters, and museums. Gettysburg is a popular attraction with various historically significant options. Ricketts Glen State Park, Independence Hall, Longwood Gardens, the Sight and Sound Theater, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and much more are all interesting opportunities to explore in PA.

Pennsylvania's Climate, Geography, and Culture

The climate in Pennsylvania supports four seasons with hot summers, cold winters, and moderate springs and falls. The average high temperature during the summer is 84 degrees and the low for the winter, 19 degrees. The state gets more precipitation when compared to the rest of the United States averaging 42 inches of rain and 37 inches of snow annually over approximately 130 days of measurable precipitation. In terms of humidity, Pennsylvania is considered pretty comfortable. The climate does vary across the state with the southeastern part being warmer and the northwestern part being much colder and snowier.

The culture in Pennsylvania is diverse because of the wide array of people living there. Political opinions are almost evenly split between conservatives and liberals. Philadelphia is known to be very multi-cultural with a large art, food, and music scene. English is the language spoken by most, but Spanish is also widely spoken. Additionally, Pennsylvania German is spoken by decedents of the PA Dutch.

Pennsylvania's Memory Care Regulations and Laws

The law in Pennsylvania specifies specific requirements for memory care facilities depending if they are personal care homes (PCHs) or assisted living residences (ALRs).

In PCHs, residents must undergo preadmissions screening and then annual screening to determine their need for the secured dementia unit. The Alzheimer’s facilities must provide weekly activities including gross motor activities, self-care activities, crafts, sensory and memory enhancement activities, and outdoor activities. At least two hours per day should be spent with each resident. Magnetic locks must be used, so they can automatically be opened when a fire alarm is activated. Six hours of dementia specific and twelve hours of general training is required annually for staff members.

In ALRs, special care units must provide specialized care and services for dementia residents and intense neurobehavioral rehabilitation for residents with disruptive and potentially dangerous behaviors. Screening and activities must be done similarly to PCHs. They may have types of locks other than magnetic. Space must be provided for dining, activities, and visits and each resident must be provided at least two hours of care per day. Direct care staff must undergo eight hours of dementia-specific training during the first 30 days of employment, and eight hours annually. An additional sixteen hours of general training is required every year.

Crime and Safety in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is ranked 21^st in overall safety according to 2016’s the Safest States to Live In.

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Butler	4.04	42.64
Meadville	2.27	20.25
Kennett Square	1.14	11.22

Payment Options for Dementia Care in Pennsylvania

Medicare, private long-term insurance, and out of pocket are the typical methods used to pay for dementia care in PA. Medicaid funding is not available for PCHs or ALRs, but the Commonwealth does provide supplements to Supplemental Security Income for PCH residents.

Senior and Elderly Rights for Memory Care in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, patients have the right to be informed, in a way that they can understand, about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis unless that information is deemed medically inadvisable. They may also either refuse or consent treatment. The patient’s privacy and confidentiality should be respected. The patient of a memory care community has the right to appoint a designated representative to make decisions for them if they no longer have the cognitive ability to do so, or in other words, use advance directives.

PA Memory Care: Medical Record Rules and Regulations

Patients in Pennsylvania, or their legal representative, may make a written request to view or obtain a copy of their medical records. Access must be provided within a reasonable amount of time and, and a copy should be provided in no longer than 30 days. If a copy is desired, a reasonable fee may be applied to cover costs.