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Watching someone that you love slowly forget everything about themselves and others around them can be heartbreaking. Unfortunately, that's the case for millions of family members and friends of the over 5 million Americans that are living with Alzheimer's. If a loved one is living with Alzheimer's, you might not have the ability to provide them with the constant care and attention that they require. In most cases, your loved one will benefit from staying at a nursing home or a memory care facility.

If you're like most folks entering the golden years of life and facing the challenges of aging, you don't want to leave your own home under any circumstances. However, oftentimes, this transition becomes necessary, due to safety and wellness reasons. While it may not be easy to give up the home you've lived in and loved for so long, the more positive you are about the situation, the better it will turn out for you.

If you have an aging parent or other senior you love, then you may have a good idea of clues to look for that signal they would be healthier and happier living in a nursing facility than in their home alone. Seniors typically move into a nursing home when they are experiencing health problems that they need daily treatment for, are developing dementia, and/or are experiencing mobility problems. However, if the senior you love is still relatively healthy, mobile, and has been lucky enough to not develop dementia, then you may wonder when to suggest that they make a move to senior independent living facility.

If your loved one needs to be placed in a nursing home, but they don't have enough resources to pay for long-term care, he or she can apply for Medicaid. All institutional Medicaid applications must go through the local County Board of Social Services. Timing is essential when applying for institutional Medicaid because retroactive eligibility is limited to three months. People often have questions about the documents and forms required to apply for Medicaid, and the short time frame often makes people flustered.

If your elderly parent has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, there is a good chance that they may wander off in the future. According to the Alzheimer's Association, six out of ten people who have dementia in association with their Alzheimer's will wander off. Unfortunately, the situation is as frightening as losing a child. Your parent with dementia may not know their name, address or who authorities can contact to help them.