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If someone you love is showing signs of cognitive decline, your instinct is probably to start searching for memory care communities right away. That’s understandable — but there are several critical steps you should take before you even begin that search. Getting these right can save you time, money, and enormous emotional stress.
My name is Michael Gill. I’m a Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)® and the founder of Texas Senior Living Locators. I’ve helped hundreds of Austin-area families navigate this exact journey — and I’ve learned that the families who prepare before they search almost always have better outcomes. Here’s what I recommend.
Step 1: Rule Out Medical Causes First
Before assuming a loved one needs memory care, make sure they’ve seen both a general practitioner and, if warranted, a neurologist. Why? Because several common, treatable medical conditions can mimic the symptoms of dementia — and they’re fully reversible.
The most common is a urinary tract infection (UTI). It sounds counterintuitive, but a UTI can produce sudden cognitive confusion in older adults. A simple course of antibiotics can resolve it entirely. Other reversible causes include:
- Dehydration
- Thyroid disorders (treatable with medication)
- Normal pressure hydrocephalus (water on the brain — reversible with surgery)
If one of these conditions is at the root of the symptoms, a move to memory care may not be necessary at all. This is always the first conversation I have with families.
Step 2: Get a Formal Dementia Diagnosis
Every memory care community in Texas is a secured facility — meaning doors are locked to prevent residents from wandering and putting themselves in danger. Because of this, a formal diagnosis of dementia from a licensed medical professional is a required condition for admission to any memory care community. You cannot skip this step.
If possible, also ask the doctor about the type of dementia. While a definitive diagnosis of most forms of dementia is difficult to obtain in the early stages (the only truly conclusive method is an autopsy), the type of dementia can meaningfully shape your search:
- Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): These individuals tend to do better in larger communities with more space and stimulation.
- Lewy Body Dementia: Often progresses faster than other forms, which can affect both care planning and financial planning.
- Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia: Can coexist; care needs vary by individual.
Even a working or probable diagnosis gives you and your advisor valuable information to work with.
Step 3: Establish Legal Authority to Act
Most memory care facilities won’t admit a resident unless the family has proper legal documents in place. This is especially complex with dementia, because your loved one may not be in a fit mental state to sign legal documents. Act before cognitive decline progresses to the point where this is no longer possible.
The essential documents include:
- Medical Power of Attorney — authorizes a designated person to make healthcare decisions
- Financial (Durable) Power of Attorney — authorizes management of financial affairs
- Directives to Physicians (Living Will) — outlines end-of-life care preferences
- HIPAA Release Forms — allows medical providers to share information with family
- A Will
Families sometimes download POA forms from the internet and get them notarized at a bank. I’d strongly encourage working with an elder law attorney to ensure documents are valid and truly protective.
Step 4: Take a Complete Financial Inventory
Memory care in Austin is not inexpensive. Before you begin touring communities, you need a clear picture of the finances. This means documenting:
- Monthly Social Security and pension income
- Value of savings and investment accounts
- Real estate assets
- Long-term care insurance (if any)
In Austin, TX, memory care costs range from roughly $3,500/month for a shared room to over $10,000/month for a premium private room. The median price for a private room in a dedicated memory care community is approximately $5,600/month. Planning for a multi-year stay — potentially 5 to 10 years — is essential.
“It’s important to plan financially to take care of someone for the rest of their life. This inventory is a necessary prerequisite for placing someone in a memory care community.” — Michael Gill
The Bottom Line
Before touring memory care communities in Austin or Central Texas, make sure you’ve:
- Ruled out reversible medical conditions
- Secured a dementia diagnosis
- Gathered legal authority
- Built a financial plan
Skipping these steps leads to bad placements, unnecessary stress, and costly mistakes. Getting them right sets you up for a smoother — and more confident — decision.
Why Work With a Free Senior Living Locator?
Once you’ve completed these preparatory steps, you’re ready to begin the search — and that’s where I can help. My placement service is completely free to families. I’m compensated by the community where your loved one ultimately moves, so there’s no cost to you and no obligation.
I’ve personally visited all 56 dedicated memory care communities in Travis, Hays, and Williamson Counties. I know which ones have excellent caregiver ratios, which ones offer the right environment for your loved one’s specific personality and dementia type, and which ones I wouldn’t recommend based on firsthand experience.
Need Help Navigating Memory Care in Austin?
At Texas Senior Living Locators, we help families across Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, Leander, and surrounding areas find the right memory care fit — at no cost to you.
We know which communities:
- Match specific care needs
- Fit your financial situation
- Have current availability
Start here: texasseniorlivinglocators.com | Call or text Michael directly: 512-630-7133 | Email: MGill@TexasSLL.com
Next in the series: When is the right time to move someone to memory care? (Part 2)
Explore our Memory Care services page to learn more about what to look for in a community. Not sure which type of care is right? Visit our Services overview to compare memory care, assisted living, and personal care homes.
