Last week I discussed the driving conversation with someone who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease and I hope the advice helped someone out there.

This week let’s talk about when your loved one can no longer live alone or remain in the home. How do we “make” someone leave their home of 40-50 years? This may be one of the most difficult decisions you will ever make. Some people are blessed with big families and hopefully can take turns staying with their loved one in their own home. Another blessing may be to find friends or paid caregivers who will stay in the home with them to allow more years at home.

If those are not available options, your loved one may need to move in with you or into a long-term care setting. Some ways to help with this move… Start the move in process early in the disease, while the person is still in the beginning stages.

Your loved one will accept the change more easily if they still have the capacity to understand why it is necessary.

Remember, agreeing and understanding are two different things. They may never agree but their ability to “fit in” or begin to see their new setting as home, will emerge. That acceptance will lead to an easier transition for all involved.

Information concerning moving into a long-term care facility can be overwhelming. A short synopsis is there are two types of long term care, Assisted Living and Skilled Nursing. I will discuss Assisted Living this week, and dive into Skilled Nursing next week!

Assisted Living facilities are private pay only. Some subsidies can come in the form of long term care insurance or VA Aid and Attendance Benefits. Long-term care is such an important insurance to look into and will be my BIGGEST RECOMMENDATION!Several people have been able to stay in a facility with the LTC Insurance policy paying the daily rate, and possible more. I have seen residents make money from using their policy. This is something everyone needs to look into, starting in their 40’s and 50’s.

We never know what the future may hold, and having this insurance will guarantee free, or extremely reduced, monthly rent. It is not an enormous amount monthly if you choose to buy it earlier in life. There are several investment groups or individual investors that could help you choose what is best for you.

Another subsidy is the VA Aid and Attendance Benefit. This benefit is for veterans who have served during war times (home or abroad), served more than 90 days, receiving an honorable discharge, and have an income that is at or below the required amount.

This benefit also applies to the spouse of a veteran. People who qualify for this benefit can receive anywhere from $1,200 to $2,000 per month.

If you would like to learn more about this benefit, please call your local VA office or go online to https://veteranshomecare.com/aid-and-attendance/.