Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities are a great option for older adults who need more help than family or in-home help can provide. They give seniors the personalized care they need while also offering a healthy lifestyle and social engagement.
Choosing an assisted living facility is a big decision. The National Center for Assisted Living recommends visiting multiple facilities to get a feel for the different levels of care.
assisted living facilities
Assisted living facilities provide housing and services for seniors who require assistance with some of their daily activities. They also offer meals, laundry, cleaning, and transportation to medical appointments or social events.
Typically, residents live in self-contained apartments with their own bathrooms. Some offer specialized care for Alzheimer’s or other memory-related conditions.
Many communities, such as Grand Oaks, use an aging well model that helps maintain physical and mental health. They include wellness programs, on-site healthcare access, emergency preparedness plans, and a staff-to-patient ratio that keeps everyone safe.
Moving into an assisted living facility is an adjustment. Your loved one will have to make a lot of changes in their daily life and get used to new people, noises and rules.
does medicare pay for assisted living
Most seniors rely on a combination of public and private sources to cover their assisted living costs. Depending on your financial situation, these sources can include Medicaid, Social Security benefits, pension payments, personal savings, and long-term care insurance.
Medicare pays for hospital visits, doctor’s fees and some medically-necessary items in assisted living facilities, but does not cover the costs of room and board. Seniors can also sign up for a stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan if they live in the area where it is available, although these plans are not required to cover assisted living services.
Alternatively, you may qualify for Medicaid coverage through a state-based waiver program. However, these waivers can be difficult to receive, and many states cap the number of people who can get them.
how much is assisted living
The costs of assisted living vary by location and service level. A senior may pay for assisted living using funds from private sources such as retirement accounts or savings.
Long-term care insurance often covers a portion of the cost, and some states also offer Medicaid waivers to help low-income seniors pay for assisted living.
When looking for an assisted living community, make sure you know what kind of pricing is offered and how that price changes if your loved one needs more care. Some communities offer a la carte pricing, where the resident can add or remove services as their needs change. Others are all-inclusive, where everything is included in one monthly fee.
who pays for assisted living
Most people who move into assisted living facilities do so with the idea that they will use their own personal resources (like savings or a home equity line of credit), long-term care insurance coverage or Social Security benefits to cover costs.
Assisted living residents also frequently pay an additional fee for onsite health care or pharmacy access. Some communities offer bundled packages of services based on need, while others have a flat monthly fee for all residents.
Medicaid, a state-funded program that helps low-income people with health care expenses, may help cover some assisted living costs. However, there are often income requirements and enrollment caps.
assisted living vs nursing home
Assisted living facilities are a good option for people who need help with everyday activities but don’t require round-the-clock health care. Unlike nursing homes, assisted living communities are designed to promote independence and a sense of belonging for residents.
Alternatively, nursing homes provide 24-hour medical care for elderly patients with chronic conditions or severe mobility issues. These facilities also offer rehabilitative services for those with physical, mental or emotional disabilities.
Whether your elderly parent needs help with daily activities or is recovering from an illness, finding the right facility can be a difficult decision. But knowing the differences between assisted living and nursing home can make the transition easier for you, your family and your loved one.
