How Do I Choose?
Assisted Living Cost
Assisted living is a great option for those who need help with the activities of daily living, and are interested in living a social, community-based lifestyle, but the real question you’re probably asking is, “How much is this going to cost?” Unfortunately, this clear-cut question doesn’t come with a definitive answer. There are a number of factors that contribute to the cost of your personalized assisted living experience.
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Where Do You Live? – The cost of an assisted living facility isn’t going to be the same in Los Angeles as it is in Topeka, Kansas. The cost of living in general tends to have a similar effect on assisted living communities.
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What Kind of Living Situation Are You Interested In? – Just like any house or apartment, the cost is going to differ between a studio apartment, a one-bedroom, two-bedroom, etc. Location within the facility can affect the cost as well.
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How Much Assistance Do You Require Throughout The Day? – Do you need help getting out of bed, showering, getting dressed, or eating meals? How about remembering to take or receiving your medication? Has memory care been discussed? The more assistance you require in a day, the more the cost is likely to be.
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General Services – Three meals a day, medication monitoring, housekeeping, laundry, social & recreational activities, transportation, personal assistance if/when needed, and 24-hour emergency care. Often bundled, these services can add up over time.
It’s also helpful to keep in mind that assisted living communities are “private pay,” more commonly referred to as “out-of-pocket.” Because assisted living is considered non-medical, Medicare and Medicaid will not cover the cost, and Social Security payments will likely only be able to cover a small amount of these monthly fees.
Many assisted living communities also require a community move-in fee. Whether you choose to pay this fee upfront or prorated on a monthly basis, it can run upwards of $1,000 – $5,000. Oftentimes a portion of this community move-in fee can be tax-deductible, so make sure to bring this up to your accountant or tax professional come tax season. Depending on the facility, you may have the option of selecting a bundled package based on your specific needs. Other communities offer a flat monthly fee, which is considered all-inclusive, and residents pay the same amount each month, based on their required level of care.
The majority of assisted living residents pay out-of-pocket with either personal savings, from long-term care insurance, a pension plan, or with help from their adult children or other family members.
How do I decide on the care and services that are best for my loved one or me?
Senior lifestyle and care options vary widely, and the choices can be overwhelming. It’s important to think about what kinds of assistance and/or medical care you or your loved one needs now, and what additional care may be needed in the future. At Glen Park Senior Living, we can assist you with assessing those needs and finding the right lifestyle and care for you.
Independent living is for seniors who do not need assistance with everyday life, but who want to live a maintenance-free lifestyle in a community with social activities and others like them.
Assisted living is for seniors who can no longer live on their own, but who do not need complex medical supervision–just friendly assistance with the activities of daily living, such as bathing and dressing, getting around, or medication reminders.
Skilled health care (also called skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes) is for those who need ongoing medical care and supervision because of medical needs. It is also for anyone who needs short-term concentrated nursing or rehabilitation while recovering from surgery or an illness.
Full service retirement communities, sometimes called continuing care retirement communities (CCRC), offer two or three levels of care services, so seniors who are independent can live there knowing that if they ever need assistance or care due to age or medical needs, it will be available right where they are.
A Breakdown of Assisted Living Residents by Age & Gender
Retirement and assisted living communities vary greatly depending on:
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levels of care and assistance provided
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amenities offered
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number of residences
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location
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and price
In addition, although Glen Park has four communities, each one maintains a distinctive flair and style unique to its location and history.
All of our Glen Park Senior Living communities specialize in memory impairment but can also offer services for those who are in need in independent living and assisted living. All of our communities offer social and recreational activities. Others are located in more rural areas and offer a more peaceful, quiet environment.
Take some time to visit several communities before deciding which is the right one for you or your loved one.
Assisted Living vs Nursing Homes
It is a common misconception that nursing homes and assisted living communities are one in the same. In fact, if you’re just starting your search into long-term care options, you’ll likely come across quite a few unfamiliar phrases that seem similar but have different meanings. Aside from assisted living and nursing homes, here is a list of the most common names for long-term care options:
SNF – Skilled Nursing Facility
B/C – Board & Care
RCFE – Residential Care Facility for the Elderly
CCRC – Continuing Care Retirement Community
A nursing home, or a skilled nursing facility, is a medical facility that houses its patients for long-term or short-term stays, depending on the need. While assisted living communities might have a resident nurse on-call, patients who are appropriate for skilled nursing facilities usually require a higher level of care with round-the-clock nursing staff. Skilled nursing facilities feel much like hospitals, whereas assisted living communities have a home-like quality.
A typical assisted living resident requires support with at least one aspect of daily life, but in general, they still live a quality life full of social interaction and companionship. While a nursing home resident is more likely someone in the process of recovery and rehabilitation following a recent hospital stay or someone in need of considerably more physical assistance and overall health care. But remember: assisted living communities can also cater to more specific demographics such as those living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, as well as physical and developmental disabilities, and other conditions or needs which require 24-hour supervision and aid.