Alzheimer’s disease is a growing concern in Wyoming. More than 235 Alzheimer’s-related deaths were reported in 2019, up from 151 in 2015. This chronic condition already ranks as the state’s fifth leading cause of death, and the number of cases is projected to increase by 30% between 2020 and 2025 according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It's likely that within the next few years, more than 13,000 seniors in Wyoming will be living with this form of memory loss. Nationally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expects the number of Alzheimer’s and dementia cases to double.
Memory care facilities provide those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia with care that is tailored to their unique needs. Memory care can take place in its own facility, or as part of a designated wing of another residential care community. Staff members of memory care units or facilities undergo specialized training in caring for those with memory impairment, and the facilities often coordinate social activities and schedules specifically for the needs of those living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
This guide will cover the cost of memory care in Wyoming, financial assistance options for paying for memory care, free memory care resources in the state and a directory of memory care facilities in Wyoming.
Because of the specialized staff training and resources required to provide high-quality memory care, memory care typically costs more than other types of residential care. On average, memory care will cost 20-30% more than assisted living.
Due to data limitations, we’ve used the assisted living rates from Genworth Financial’s 2021 Cost of Care Survey plus 25% to estimate the cost of memory care. According to this formula, seniors in Wyoming can expect to pay $5,211 per month for memory care, which is below the national average of $5,625.
Wyoming’s memory care prices are reasonable for the region. Seniors in Montana pay about $350 more per month at $5,563. Prices in Colorado are considerably higher at $5,938. Utah and South Dakota both offer a more competitive value at $4,375 and $4,188, respectively. On the other hand, memory care prices in Wyoming’s two metropolitan statistical areas are higher than the state median. Prices in Casper average around $6,055 per month. In the Cheyenne capital area, the average rises to $6,923, which is almost $1,300 higher than the U.S. median.
Wyoming Medicaid is an important resource for anyone who is unable to afford their medical bills. The program covers children, pregnant women and low-income adults. There are also long-term care benefits designed for seniors who require an institutional level of care due to dementia or other ongoing health concerns. The state also offers Medicaid waivers that pay for less restrictive services, including assisted living, memory care and in-home assistance.
Community Choices Waiver
Wyoming's Community Choices Waiver (CCW) covers an extensive variety of long-term services and supports to help dementia patients safely live in their preferred setting. The program reimburses licensed assisted living facilities at a fixed daily rate for the cost of personal care services they provide. The state covers standard assisted living services and supports provided in memory care units. This includes 24-hour supervision, personal assistance, medication reminders, social activities and security. Additional services, such as intermittent nursing or hospice, may be available to residents to supplement their care as determined by their case manager. The CCW pays for personal care services based on medical need, but it doesn’t help with the cost of room and board, maintenance or comfort items. This waiver also covers adult day health care programs for dementia and various community-based alternatives.
If you require long-term care, you can qualify for Medicaid with expanded income limits. Seniors and adults who are blind or disabled can earn approximately 300% of the federal benefit rate and still qualify. For 2022, this means that applicants can have up to $2,523 in monthly income, including retirement benefits. Assets are limited to $2,000 for individuals or $3,000 for couples who both require nursing home care. If only one spouse is applying, the non applicant can keep up to $137,400 in assets plus a home and vehicle as well as a monthly needs allowance from the applicant's income.
2022 Medicaid Income Limits for Seniors in Wyoming
family size | annual income limits | asset limits |
---|---|---|
Single Person | $30,276 | $2,000 |
Two-Person Household (Single Applicant) | $30,276 | $2,000 for applicant $137,400 for non applicant |
Two-Person Household (Dual Applicants) | $60,552 | $3,000 |
Seniors must meet other requirements in addition to the above income and asset limits to qualify for Medicaid long-term care and waivers. Specially, they must:
If you need long-term care and are unable to pay for these services, Medicaid may be able to help. The state also allows seniors to appoint an authorized representative who can discuss their application with the state. For more information about Medicaid or to check the status of an application, contact the following agencies for assistance.
resource | contact | description |
---|---|---|
Wyoming Medicaid Customer Service Center | 855-294-2127 | For questions about Medicaid or to apply for benefits over the phone, contact the statewide Customer Service Center. Agents can also help with billing questions, eligibility concerns and information about covered services. |
Long Term Care (LTC) Eligibility | 855-203-2936 | This bureau within the Division of Healthcare Financing is responsible for handling long-term care applications and renewals and conducting financial eligibility determinations. The unit's office is located in Cheyenne. |
HCBS Benefits and Eligibility Specialists | 307-777-5074 | For help with memory care waivers and assisted living services, seniors should contact the Benefits and Eligibility Specialist in their area. The Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Section also provides information about these programs. |
Unfortunately, Medicare does not generally cover the cost of Memory Care. Most Memory Care Facilities are considered to be "social settings," so Medicare does not cover the cost incurred in these facilities. The only exception to that is if you are receiving memory care services in a Nursing Home. While this situation is much less common, Medicare would sometimes cover the cost, depending on a number of circumstances.
That being said, Medicare does still cover qualified doctor visits, medications, etc., as it would if you were still at home, but it will not cover the cost of care received at the Memory Care Facility.
In addition to the state programs mentioned above, those looking for resources to finance memory care may consider:
The Department of Health, Office of Healthcare Licensing and Surveys regulates and licenses assisted living facilities, including facilities with secured units and those dedicated to the care of people with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. State surveyors conduct an unannounced health survey as part of the licensing process, and perform periodic surveys for license renewal and as needed to investigate complaints. The department may also place a monitor at the facility, at the owner’s expense, to ensure residents’ health and safety aren’t at risk. To operate a secure dementia unit, assisted living facilities must be licensed as a Level 2 facility and meet additional requirements.
Level 1 assisted living facilities must provide core services, including:
Level 2 facilities must meet health care occupancy requirements and provide services in addition to Level 1 core services, including:
Assisted living facilities in Wyoming can admit a wide range of residents as long as they’re able to fulfill all the needs of each resident, but certain restrictions apply to individuals admitted into a secure dementia unit. New residents must have a medical history and physical performed in the 90 days prior to admittance. The following table provides an overview of the Alzheimer’s sufferers who may and may not be admitted to a Level 2 assisted living facility.
Residents Who May Be Admitted
Older adults and people with:
Residents Who May NOT Be Admitted
Individuals who score more than 20 or less than 10 on the Mini-Mental State Exam or require:
A registered nurse must complete a preadmission assessment to determine each new resident’s needs, and Level 2 facilities also must complete a Mini-Mental State Exam for individuals being considered for a secure unit. Additional assessments and MMSEs must be completed at least annually, and anytime there’s a significant change in a resident’s physical or mental condition. Assessments are used to develop, review and revise individualized care plan requirements. Plans must include what, when and how care will be provided, who will provide care and the expected outcome. Facilities must include residents in the development of their own care plans. A relative or another interested party may also participate, especially if the resident has limited participation abilities.
A registered nurse must always be responsible for the supervision and management of all residents’ medication administration, including a review of medications every two months and when medications are prescribed or changed. The nurse must also document whether a resident is capable of self-administering medications. Only registered nurses or licensed practical nurses can administer medications to residents who can’t self-administer. However, non-licensed staff may assist with oral medication, but only by helping to remove container caps or medication from a container for residents with functional disabilities, or by providing reminders and watching while residents take their medications.
Apartment-style units aren’t required in Wyoming. Half of the beds in a facility must be in private rooms, and private residency rooms must be at least 120 square feet in size. A maximum of two residents may share one unit by choice, and shared units must provide at least 80 square feet of space per resident. Two residents are permitted to share a room with one bed by mutual consent, if the bed is a double or larger. A facility must provide at least one sink and flush toilet for every two residents, and at least one tub or shower for every 10 residents.
In Level 2 facilities, a licensed nurse must always be on duty to perform ongoing resident evaluations and administer medications, as needed. If this nurse is an LPN, an RN must be available on the premises or by phone. Also, the facility must always have at least one on-duty staff member with specialized training in providing care and supervision of residents with severe cognitive impairment. All assisted living facility staff must pass a Department of Family Services central registry screening and Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation fingerprint background check before having direct contact with residents. Level 2 facility staff must complete at least 12 hours of dementia care-related continuing education on a yearly basis.
Medicaid doesn’t pay for room and board in assisted living facilities; However, Wyoming’s Assisted Living Facility Waiver, which is now part of the Community Choices Waiver program, may help qualified residents cover certain costs. This waiver may provide financial assistance for services received while in a licensed assisted living facility, including daily care services, memory care services, case management and others benefiting residents with Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
Wyoming is a mandatory reporting state, so anyone suspecting abuse of a memory care, assisted living or nursing facility resident must legally report it. This includes any type of abuse, including injuries of unknown source, plus mistreatment, neglect or misappropriation of resident property. Suspicions of abuse may be reported to one of these three agencies:
The Office of Healthcare Licensing and Surveys, located in Suite 510 of the Wyoming Department of Health offices at 2300 Capitol Avenue in Cheyenne, which can be reached by calling 307-777-7123 and asking to speak with a health surveyor.
Numerous dementia care resources are available to support seniors and their families through all stages of the disease. Learn more about some of the free services that may be available in your area.
resource | contact | description |
---|---|---|
Alzheimer’s Association, Wyoming Chapter | 800-272-3900 | This statewide chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association is one of the most comprehensive memory loss resources for seniors and their families. It provides education, support groups, professional training and caregiver resources. Help is available 24 hours a day through the association’s hotline. It also engages in political advocacy and provides funding for Alzheimer’s research. |
Wyoming Dementia Care | 307-232-3385 | Based in Casper, Wyoming Dementia Care is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping seniors and families dealing with all stages of Alzheimer’s and dementia. It offers education, outreach, support groups, free respite care, dementia-focused art classes and one-on-one care consultations. |
Dementia Friendly Wyoming | 307-461-5955 | Dementia Friendly Wyoming educates the public about dementia and actively works to promote supportive services across the state. It informs residents about memory loss and various forms of dementia and offers a wide range of resources to support seniors, caregivers, families and health care professionals. Its support center offers free consultations, and conducts virtual and in-person workshops. |
Wyoming Center on Aging, Dementia Support Services | 307-766-2829 | Part of the Wyoming Center on Aging at the University of Wyoming, this program provides a variety of informational resources to seniors and their families. Thanks to funding from the Administration for Community Living, free dementia care planning services are available to residents of Adams County. Caregivers and family members can also take advantage of self-paced training programs and emotional support services. |
Wyoming Senior Citizens Inc. | 800-856-4398 | Wyoming Senior Citizens has been serving older adults statewide for nearly 50 years. It operates seven initiatives, including programs that provide companionship, caregiver support, long-term care ombudsmanship and volunteer opportunities. Medicare insurance counseling and fraud prevention services are available through the State Health Insurance Information Program and Senior Medicare Patrol. It also administers Medicaid long-term benefits in certain areas. |
Cheyenne Regional Medical Center Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care | 307-275-1063 | Offered by the Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care program provides free resources and care planning services to seniors and their families. Specialists provide 90-minute in-person care consultations that are covered by Medicare. Followup services ensure that clients’ existing and emerging needs are met. These services are available to all dementia patients who live outside a nursing home. |
Note: The following information was compiled and most recently updated on 2/15/2022. Since COVID-19 is a rapidly evolving crisis, be sure to contact your Memory Care Facility or local Area Agency on Aging for the most up-to-date information.
question | answer |
---|---|
Am I allowed to visit my loved one in person? | Yes (Conditions Apply) |
Is my loved one required to quarantine after I visit him or her? | No |
Am I required to wear a mask if I visit my loved one in person? | Yes |
Are visitors screened for elevated temperatures? | Yes |
Are residents allowed to leave the facility at-will? | Yes |
Are residents of senior living facilities who leave required to quarantine when they get back? | No (Conditions Apply) |
Are staff members and contractors checked for elevated temperatures? | Yes |
Are staff members and contractors tested for COVID-19? | Yes (Conditions Apply) |
Do staff members have to regularly screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms? | Yes |
Do staff members have to regularly check residents for elevated temperatures? | Yes |
Do staff members have to regularly test residents for COVID-19? | Yes (Conditions Apply) |