Alzheimer’s and dementia care options to consider

Finding dementia and Alzheimer’s care can be a challenge, to say the least. Unlike other types of senior care, which often comes down to preference, support needs and budget, care for dementia and Alzheimer’s needs to be highly specialized for seniors’ general safety and overall well-being.

“Specialized dementia care is comprehensive, personalized support services designed specifically for

living with dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease and other types of cognitive impairment,” explains Sonya Jury, a dementia caregiver and author of the book, ”My Mom Forgot My Birthday: A Daughter’s Journey Through Alzheimer’s.” “This type of care goes beyond general senior care by addressing the unique challenges posed by memory loss, behavioral changes and declining cognitive function.” 

When seeking general dementia care, it’s crucial to consider the stage and/or progression of memory impairment, explains Mary Mittelman, a doctor of public health and director of NYU Langone Health’s Alzheimer’s Disease & Related Dementias Family Support Program. 

Here, Jury, Mittleman and other experts discuss the importance of dementia care and offer care options for dementia caused by Alzheimer’s and other diseases.

The importance of specialized dementia and Alzheimer’s care

As the disease progresses, the special challenges of Alzheimer’s require an extra level of safety and security, especially as the aging adult may start wandering or walking away from home without any idea of where they’re going or how to get back, says Wendy Wells-Chanampa, dementia care educator and author of “The Unseen Gifts of Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia.” “It only takes one time of trying to walk to the grocery store for something tragic to happen,” she points out.

Because of the additional safety concerns of people with memory impairment, it’s very important to find caregivers, whether in an Alzheimer’s care center or not, who are specifically trained in dementia care, says Nataly Rubinstein, a licensed clinical social worker and founder of Alzheimer’s Care Consultants, who has helped thousands of clients find the appropriate care.

In addition to safety, care geared towards dementia — whether offered at home or at a facility that offers memory care — is better, overall, for the folks living with it, adds Sanjay Das, the owner and operator of Always Best Care in Raleigh, North Carolina. “Dementia-specific care plans ensure the [aging adult] ideally stays active and engaged longer, and lives with less frustration, anxiety, stress and hopefully pain,” he says. “Specialized dementia care plans should also lead to better cognitive, emotional and physical stimulation. All this in turn should lead to reduced unrelated illness, emergency room visits and hospitalizations.”

Alzheimer’s and dementia care options

Here, find care options for dementia, caused by Alzheimer’s or other cognitive diseases. 

In-home care

Depending on the needs of the person, in-home care can be used at any stage of dementia. With in-home care, a live-in or part-time home health aide assists you or your loved one with everything from grocery shopping and cooking to bathing, dressing and toileting. In addition to helping someone stay in their home, the aide can provide conversation and companionship to keep their brain stimulated.

Mittelman notes that it’s crucial to find an aide who has experience working with Alzheimer’s patients or is willing to do additional training, so they know how to deal with behavioral challenges without getting angry. “If they don’t understand dementia, they may inadvertently respond in a way that creates agitation,” she says.

Cost: Finding a caregiver with specialized training typically comes at a higher rate, and location affects costs, as well, but the national average senior caregivers are posting on Care.com ranges from $21.76-27.96 an hour (as of June 13, 2025).

To see what in-home caregivers are asking for in your area, check out our Cost of Care Calculator. 

Adult day programs

If you or your loved one is still living at home or with a relative, but are in need of additional socialization and activities, adult day programs can be a great option. This option, Mittleman notes, is appropriate for all stages of dementia, as long as the person is still able to leave the house for a few hours. 

Adult day programs are often run by YMCAs, senior centers, rehab centers and assisted living facilities. These nonresidential drop-in programs provide stimulation in the form of conversation and friendship, and offer activities such as seated exercises, arts-and-crafts, and music for those with Alzheimer’s or other dementias, while providing a few hours of respite for their caregivers. 

“If you can, drop in unannounced so you can see firsthand what’s going on at the program,” Wells-Chanampa suggests. Just eyeballing the calendar to see what is on the agenda for the day isn’t enough, since some programs may not actually follow through with all they have planned, she notes, adding: “When you’re there, see if the participants are engaged and happy, and if the staff is speaking with them in a respectful way.”

Cost: According to Genworth and CareScout, the daily cost of an adult day program is $100 a day. Keep in mind, though, location and other factors can affect price. 

Assisted living with memory care

In the early stages of dementia, when a person with Alzheimer’s needs help with meal prep, housekeeping and medication management, but is still well enough to keep some level of independence, assisted living can be an option. Generally-speaking, assisted living facilities help residents with activities of daily living (ADLs) and offer socialization, but don’t intervene medically. In other words: It’s not a long-term solution. 

Only a memory-care unit within an assisted living facility or an assisted living facility devoted to dementia care, can reasonably keep a resident safe and secure during the middle stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

A word of advice, per Rubinstein: Don’t pay for amenities that won’t be used. “If your parent is not well enough to take that bus ride to the museum or attend the movie nights and book talks, consider whether it’s worth paying extra for a facility with those features,” she notes.

Cost: Per Genworth and CareScout, the monthly cost of assisted living is around $5,900.

Read more:

How to pay for assisted living: All the details

Nursing homes

Nursing homes are best for folks who need round-the-clock specialized care with eating, bathing and toileting.

Freestanding or located within another center, nursing homes are considered an end-stage residence for dementia patients, when their needs are too great to be handled at home with live-in care or in an assisted-living facility. Nursing homes are licensed and regulated by the state and provide medical and nutritional services with a skilled nursing staff.

It’s important to note that not all nursing homes are specifically geared to patients with dementia, and Alzheimer’s patients who become aggressive are more likely to be medicated, says Wells-Chanampa. During your search, make sure any nursing homes you’re considering have a designated unit or “neighborhood” for folks with dementia. 

Cost: A semi-private room in a nursing home costs around $9,277 per month, while a private room is around $10,646, according to Genworth and CareScout.

Respite care

Family members caring for loved ones with dementia need breaks, full stop. Respite care, whether it’s in-home or through an adult day program, respite care offers that.

“Imagine being unable to sleep at night since the person living with dementia wants to leave the house or is always on the go during the day — that’s what caring for a person with dementia may look like,” notes Das. “Due to the intensity of this type of care, over time, a primary caregiver’s health can be affected, so respite care is extremely important.”

“With respite care, caregivers can get a break and come back refreshed and with a healthier mind frame thanks to a break from constant caregiving duties,” Das notes, adding that it’s important to look for caregivers that understand the unique needs of dementia.

Cost: Depending on the type of care and your location, respite care costs can vary. That said, senior caregivers posting on Care.com are asking, on average, $20.76-28.90 per hour.

Hospice and palliative care 

Palliative care, which focuses on improving a person’s quality of life, isn’t necessarily customized or specialized for dementia, notes Das. “It’s more of a consultative arrangement, where the family has access to a nurse practitioner (NP) to ask questions about care, medicines or clinical issues, learn about new/updated treatment options, etc.”

Das notes that it’s a “fantastic resource,” particularly when getting in touch with someone’s regular physician can be difficult or time-consuming.  

Hospice care, which focuses on improving a person’s quality of life when they’re in the end stages, is equally powerful, Das notes. 

“Hospice care provides access to a multi-disciplinary team consisting of a nurse to manage pain (and in some situations medication), a hospice aide for bathing/showering and other ADLs, a social worker and grief and spiritual counselors,” he notes.

“Hospice care also provides respite service, which is usable once a month, thus enabling the family to get a decent break,” Das notes.  

Cost: Palliative costs vary, but, according to Senior Care Advisors, is around $157 per day. Medicare typically covers 100% of hospice care costs, with the exception of some out-of-pocket costs, like medication. 

“Dementia-specific care plans ensure the [aging adult] ideally stays active and engaged longer, and lives with less frustration, anxiety, stress and hopefully pain.”

— Sanjay Das, the chief executive officer of a senior care company

Choosing the best option

Aren’t sure which care option is best? Here’s what Jury and Das recommend taking into account. 

The aging adult. No two seniors are the same, so it’s crucial to their unique needs. “We’re not talking just physical or clinical here, but their mental and emotional needs, which are critical in determining where they will thrive,” says Das. “Someone may do great at home, while others may do better in a social/community setting, for example.”

Location. Aging adults do best when they are around or are visited by those who they were/are most comfortable with. Finding a care community close to family so they can visit regularly is very important, notes Das.

Cost. Most people want to live at home, but as needs progress, that may become cost prohibitive. Depending on where you live, the cost of caring for someone 24/7 at home could be over $25,000 a month, says Das. 

State requirements. If you’re looking out-of-home, look into whether the community or facility you or your loved one are considering has special licensing requirements to call themselves a “specialized dementia care” facility, notes Jury. 

Consider future needs. What you or your loved one can do today may not be what’s available tomorrow. When looking at options, consider both the support that’s needed in the present, as well as the future. 

Consider hiring a professional to support your search for care

Still not sure which is right? Hiring a geriatric care manager or Alzheimer’s care manager who knows the right questions to ask and has insights into the different levels of care can be a worthy expense (look for someone with a social work degree and ask for references). You can also meet with a social worker at the dementia or Alzheimer’s care center at your local hospital to help you plan the next move.

Additional reporting by Marisa Cohen