Can a Memory Care AL charge whatever they want as long as they have documentation from CNAs that they need that level of care?
Four years ago, I moved my then-78 year old aunt from FL to an assisted living in NJ (I am her POA - she has no children) to be closer to family (I have 5 siblings). My sister was very familiar with this AL and for the first few years everything was good - care, activities, consistent staff. We even moved our parents to the same facility so we could easily have family get-togethers. Then the Administrator retired and then the DON resigned and things started to slide.
We started to notice that our aunt was unkempt and stayed in her room more of the time. It seemed to us that she required the next level of care for her dementia. But the facility didn't seem to notice - they didn't really have time to notice because they were busy trying to find new administrators and a competent DON and to keep "the ship afloat." So we initiated her move to the Memory Care unit within the facility. She thrived in this unit because it only has a max of 20 residents and the staff was very attentive. That was a year and a half ago. Mind you, she has been private pay this entire time and NJ is one of the costliest states for care.
When she was within 2 months of going on Medicaid they stated that she needed even more care and she would owe an additional $2,100 per month onto her already $6,700 bill. DON stated that the CNA's told her my aunt needs max care. When I talk with her usual caregivers privately, they tell me "she's the highest functioning resident on the unit". She walks with a walker, eats indep., converses, follows directions- her main issues are incontinence and short term memory. I guess moving her is the only option. Any ideas?
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