Washington memory care facilities and Alzheimer's care options

Discover Washington Dementia Care Homes

Dementia care facilities in Washington State, can also go by the terms Alzheimer’s care, memory care, or specialty care units, and are facilities that are specifically designed to meet the needs of individuals with forms of dementia. They typically include specially trained staff and egress systems that constantly monitor residents, ensure their safety, and prevent wandering.

Washington Memory Care Homes - Cost Comparison

Location	Violent Crimes Per 1,000 Residents	Property Crimes Per 1,000 Residents
Vancouver	$2,150	$6,125
Bellevue	$2,500	$6,000
Lynnwood	$2,400	$5,000

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

Attractions and Recreation in Washington

Washington's nature is the biggest attraction for tourists. Between the parks and coastal areas Washington if full of natural beauty. Point Defiance Park, Mount Rainier, Ruby Beach, Olympic National Forest, and Rialto Beach are all popular and beautiful options. There are also several museums, markets, and gardens that are appealing to locals and visitors alike.

Washington's Climate, Geography, and Culture

Washington’s climate varies between the regions east and west of the Cascades. West of the Cascades has mild, humid summer days and mild winters with clouds, rainfall, and fog. The east of the cascades has warm summers and cool winters with large amounts of snow and little rain. On average across the whole state, the summer high temperature is 79 degrees and the winter low is 29 degrees. Washington has over 135 days of measurable precipitation. 37 inches of rain and 17 inches of snow can be expected annually. However, those numbers can be drastically different depending on the region of the state. In terms of humidity, WA can be uncomfortable at times.

The culture in Washington produces residents that are known to be friendly and polite but sometimes reserved. Political views are relatively progressive and residents are sometimes stereotyped as hippies. Environmental awareness is a particularly big issue in Washington. Bicycles are a common mode of transportation.

Washington's Memory Care Regulations and Laws

In assisted living facilities in Washington State that provide Alzheimer’s special care, must collect specific assessment information for residents with dementia. Facilities must also ensure that residents are authorized to live in that type of unit. There must be provisions established for residents to leave the unit and for visitors to visit and leave without sounding an alarm. The group, individual, and independent activities must also be provided. An administrator must be responsible for the 24 hours operation of the community and staff must be able to provide the care and services needed by the residents, maintain a safe environment, and be able to implement fire and disaster plans.

Crime and Safety in Washington

Washington is ranked 13^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
Selah	.27	12.23
Duvall	.13	9.69
Sammamish	.18	7.54

Payment Options for Washington Dementia Care

Medicare, private long-term insurance, and out of pocket payments are the typical payment methods used for dementia care in Washington. A Medicaid home and community-based waiver covers assisted living services and enhanced adult residential care. Payments are made based off of the assessed need of the residents. The average monthly cost for memory care in Washington is about $4,250.

Senior Rights for Alzheimer's Care in Washington

In WA, patients have the right to be informed about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis along with alternatives and side effects in a manner that they can understand. 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 surrogate decision maker to make decisions for them if they no longer have the cognitive ability to do so.

WA Memory Care: Medical Record Rules and Regulations

Patients in Washington State, or their legal representative, may make a written request to examine or obtain a copy of their medical records. A reasonable fee may be applied to cover costs for a copy of the medical records. Once access has been provided, the health care community must certify that the records were provided with an attachment to the record with specific information.