Most Alzheimer's specific residences are assisted living facilities, rather than nursing homes, and according to our research most Alzheimer's assisted living residences accept private payment only. A limited number of assisted living residences do participate in state Medicaid programs. Your state may have a list you can get your hands on, but usually you will have to telephone them individually to ask.

You will probably find that, since you will be using Medicaid funding, a nursing home will be your most likely option.

We haven't discovered many Medicaid nursing homes that specialize in dementia only. Many of the residents in any nursing home will have some degree of dementia, whether from Alzheimer's Disease or one of the many other causes. Those nursing homes that say they have an Alzheimer's or dementia section will usually mean that they have a secured area within their facility. This area, wing, or section of the nursing home, is kept locked so that residents prone to wandering cannot leave and become lost.

Whether or not there is special programming on these units for dementia sufferers will vary from residence to residence.

The Medicare website will tell you which nursing facilities in a particular area - by state, by city, or by zip code - accept Medicare and or Medicaid. Click on "Compare Nursing Homes in Your Area" on the first page. I just looked up the city of Denver, for instance, and 22 of the 24 nursing homes in the city do accept Medicaid.

Once you have your list it will be important for you to do your legwork. Let your telephone be your friend. Telephone the facilities you think might be good candidates for what you are seeking. In an hour on the phone you will be able to eliminate most, if not all, of the ones that don't offer what you need. Then make a personal visit to the few that look like good candidates. The administrator or marketing representative will be able to answer most of your remaining questions.