47 Memory Care Facilities near New York, NY

VA benefits for memory care in New York City

New York and New Jersey veterans who need memory care services may be able to use a pension or benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for care costs. Below are answers to common VA benefits questions.

Will veterans pensions cover memory care services?

Yes, a Veterans Pension is a monthly payment that can be used towards a senior’s assisted living expenses, like memory care. To qualify for a Veterans Pension, seniors must have been a wartime veteran and at least one of the following must be true:

• A veteran must be age 65 or older
• A veteran must have a permanent and total disability
• A veteran is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance
• A veteran is receiving Supplemental Security Income

Will VA Aid and Attendance benefits cover memory care services?

Yes, VA Aid and Attendance benefits can help cover assisted living and memory care costs with monthly payments on top of a Veterans Pension. To qualify, a senior must have a VA-recognized disability. If dementia is a result from wartime, it may qualify under the VA health care requirements. Additionally, a veteran must fall under one of the following:

• Need assistance with some activities of daily living
• Have an untreated illness that requires them to stay in bed for a majority of the day
• Have very limited eyesight
• Already reside in a nursing home

Will the Housebound allowance cover memory care services?

Yes, if it is in-home memory care. The Housebound allowance is specifically for veterans with a permanent disability that is the result of natural aging. This disability must cause them to be confined to their home, or housebound.

How to find assistance with veterans benefits

Applying for veterans benefits can be a long and difficult process, but it is well worth the effort to obtain benefits you are entitled to as a veteran. Since applying is a demanding process, the New York City area has many local resources to help aid seniors with understanding and applying for assistance. Both New York and New Jersey have veterans resource centers where seniors can apply and learn more about benefits. The New York City Department of Veterans’ Services (also known as NYC DVS) staffs care coordinators that help seniors with their benefits through the online service VetConnectNYC.

Many non-profit organizations like Disabled American Veterans or Veterans of Foreign Wars also have local service officers in New Jersey and New York to help seniors understand and apply for benefits. They may also help you appeal denied claims with legal advocacy. New York veterans organizations like American Legion and Paralyzed Veterans of American can also advocate for veterans seeking their eligible benefits.

New York City Medicaid for memory care

New York State Medicaid and New Jersey Medicaid are state-run insurance programs for low-income adults. While these programs cannot cover the entirety of memory care facilities, they can help cover certain medical services.

New York State Medicaid

New York residents may qualify for New York State Medicaid if they meet eligibility requirements. However, different factors can affect their eligibility, including the following:

• Age
• Disability
• Income
• Household/family size
• Residence

Additionally, Medicaid eligibility can be affected depending on other types of programs you are eligible for. Your loved one may be eligible for New York State Medicaid if they qualify for the following programs:

• Medicaid Savings Program
• COBRA
• AIDS Health Insurance Program
• Medicaid Buy-in Program for Working People with Disabilities^[03]

Additionally, if your loved one wants to remain in their home, but requires in-home care, there are New York Medicaid related programs, such as the following:

• Long Term Home Health Care Program: Your loved one must qualify for nursing home care, but choose to remain in their home to receive in-home care services.
• Program of All-Inclusive Care for# Elderly (PACE): Your loved one must be age 55+ and qualify for nursing home care. This program helps arrange in-home long-term care.
• Managed Long-Term Care Program: Seniors can receive help with in-home care costs, such as home health aides and home attendant services.

A full list of eligibility requirements can be found on the NY Medicaid — How to Apply web page. Your local Medicaid office can help you understand what benefits they may qualify for and how to apply.

NYC Medicaid programs for seniors

The Special Needs Assisted Living Voucher Demonstration Program for Persons with Dementia (or SNALR) is a Medicaid program that helps prevent seniors with Alzheimer’s disease from having to move out of a SNALR facility because they can no longer pay. The facility must be enrolled in the SNALR program.

To qualify for this voucher program, a senior cannot be enrolled in or be eligible for Medicaid. A senior may qualify for the voucher program if they meet the following requirements:

• Have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and/or other types of dementia
• Have lived at their facility for at least one year
• Meet monthly household income standards ($7,382 or less for New York City)
• Meet the standards for the average regional monthly SNALR costs, which is $10,602 or less for New York City
  • Assets cannot be more than this cost over a six month time frame
  • Assets over three months of this cost cannot be transferred for a year prior to the application^[05]

Additionally, the Aged, Disabled and Blind in New York City (ABD) program helps low-income seniors aged 65 and older or adults living with a disability apply for Medicaid and programs that can help pay for Medicare.

Every borough in NYC has a Certified Application Counselor (CAC) available at a local Medicaid office to help individuals apply for their eligible benefits.

New Jersey Medicaid for disabled seniors

New Jersey Medicaid offers the NJ FamilyCare Aged, Blind, Disabled (ABD) Program, which provides coverage for seniors aged 65 and older, as well as adults with a disability. To qualify, a person must meet the following requirements:

• Cannot be receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Must meet SSI income standards
• Pass a financial evaluation
• Pass a clinical evaluation^[06]

While ABD does not cover rent costs for memory care facilities, it can help cover certain care services:

• Home-delivered meals
• Care management
• Personal care services^[06]