I used to work in long-term care. When my mom needed memory care, that experience helped me navigate the costs.

Aurora McKenzie, 47, hails from Illinois and has a background in long-term care. McKenzie, who worked in the accounting field before transitioning to human resources, recently shared her story about caring for her mother in memory care. Her mother had lived in a memory care facility for the last two years of her life, and McKenzie emphasized that being prepared helped the family mitigate many of the costs associated with long-term care.

McKenzie's parents met while serving in the Navy, and both worked in the aviation industry before retiring early due to disabilities. Her father passed away in 2024 after a heart attack, and her mother suffered a massive stroke shortly after. Despite her mother's memory never fully recovering, she initially regained some function during a stay in a skilled nursing facility.

However, her memory never fully returned, and she became combative and unable to perform basic tasks. McKenzie's family worked together to get her approved for Medicaid, with her mother receiving about $80,000 from her father's life insurance. After the approval, her mother was transferred to a memory care unit, where she received Medicaid coverage for only 4 months.

The rest of the time was covered by private pay. McKenzie sold their house, vehicle, and consolidated their bank accounts to pay for the care facility and any unpaid bills. She visited the facility daily to ensure her mother received proper care. McKenzie attributes her ability to navigate the complex system to her previous experience in long-term care.