" Medicare was designed to pay for skilled care that has a beginning and an end to restore [a person’s] function. Since dementia is typically irreversible and there is no skilled care that can essentially turn back the clock, Medicare doesn’t participate in the cost of care for someone who has Alzheimer’s or dementia. For Medicaid, it really depends on your circumstance, and what state you are in [to qualify for Medicaid and to use it for covering dementia care costs] … it’s really important to consult with an elder law attorney, because while you do have to meet certain income thresholds in order to qualify for Medicaid, there may be ways … for the person who doesn’t need care to use assets to pay off mortgage, create a stream of income, or other strategies depending upon the state that you live in … But in general, Medicaid typically does require that you deplete a lot of your assets. "