What are Wyoming's state admission requirements for memory care?
The first thing you need to do when considering an assisted living community for your loved one with dementia is to know Wyoming's state admission requirements for memory care. Why is this important?
Well, assisted living facilities in Wyoming can accept a wide range of residents, as long as those facilities are able to meet the needs of each resident. However, there are some restrictions on those who are admitted to a secure dementia care unit. Those restrictions are as follows:
- New residents must have a medical history and physical performed within 90 days prior to admittance.
- Residents must be older adults (typically 55+) and be afflicted by:
- Alzheimer's disease
- Dementia
- Or other neurological conditions
- New residents with dementia must be tested for cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE). Scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive function. For admission eligibility, memory care residents must score between 10 and 20 (standard score range for people in middle and late stages of Alzheimer’s or a related disease).
- Residents who cannot be admitted are those that require:
- Ongoing nursing care
- More than limited assistance to use the restroom
- Total assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs)
- Continuous assistance with mobility and transfers
- Constant supervision to prevent wandering that threatens health and safety
What are our admission requirements for the Cottonwood Creek in Cheyenne, WY?
At The Creeks, we always know we can meet our residents’ needs especially related to their dementia, but we have to make sure our admitted residents are not too clinically complex for us to care for. For that reason, we always conduct a pre-admission assessment to make sure that we can meet a resident's clinical needs. To help you further understand your loved one's eligibility for memory care services, it's sometimes easier to tell you what we do not take care of.
The residents that we cannot admit to our Wyoming memory care community are those that have skilled needs. These include:
- Stage 3-4 wounds
- Feeding tubes
- Tracheostomies
- And IVs
Those care needs go beyond our current capabilities. Instead, we care for residents with more intermediate care needs such as insulin-dependent diabetics, catheters, stage 1-2 wounds, outpatient therapy, and medication management.
Does the stage of dementia progression affect Memory Care eligibility?
One thing we assess that does not affect your loved one's admission eligibility is where we believe the resident to be in terms of the stage in their dementia progression. We care for all stages (early stage to end-stage).
What does Memory Care move-in look like after admission eligibility is assessed?
When the clinical assessment is complete, we will work with your family to develop move-in plans for your loved one and take care of the appropriate paperwork (contract, consents, medical assessments, etc.). And then we’ll set a move-in date!
Reserve a Better Home for Your Loved One: Memory Care in Wyoming
Your loved one deserves the support and care that our quaint community can provide. We have some of the most experienced and caring staff in the state. Our new memory care facility has become extremely popular and we only have a few spacious suites available! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to provide the best home possible for your family member with dementia.
Schedule a tour of Cottonwood Creek today to see our memory care homes in Cheyenne, WY for yourself.