Assisted Living Guide: A One-Stop BoomersHub Solution
Table of Content
Introduction
A high number of elderly people require daily assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) after they retire. For most of them, the first option that comes to their mind is shifting to a nursing home. But the first and most preferred residential care option for seniors who don’t require continuous medical care can be an Assisted Living Facility (ALF).
ALFs offer supportive services and assistance from qualified professionals to allow seniors to maintain their independence while receiving the care they require. But still, there might be numerous questions related to assisted living. For instance, how much can it cost for a senior to live in an assisted living community? How do seniors know that they really need assisted living? And many more!
Our guide will help seniors learn more about assisted living and decide if it's the perfect senior care option. We will also go through assisted living costs, how to pay for it, and many more topics.
What Is Assisted Living?
Assisted living is a type of senior care that offers seniors supportive services and assistance as required on ADLs such as bathing, hygiene, eating, dressing, and shopping and IADLs like managing budget, doctor appointments, medication management using the internet and telephone, and other extracurricular activities. This type of senior living arrangement is ideal for seniors who prefer independence in their daily lives with regular assistance. Assisted living communities often provide semi-private and private rooms; communal amenities such as a lounge, courtyard, fitness center, pool for members to enjoy; and social activities for residents.
Nursing homes, another long-term residential care option for seniors, are sometimes mistaken with Assisted Living Facilities (ALFs). However, there are a few vital differences between the two. Nursing homes, first and foremost, provide a greater degree of medical care than an ALF. Nursing homes are for those with a significant medical condition that necessitates round-the-clock care or who need it temporarily while recovering from an injury, illness, or surgery.
But one thing is for sure: as an adult gets old, the need for daily care increases. If you find yourself or your loved one in a similar situation, it would be best to consider Assisted Living.
What Types of Services Are Provided in Assisted Living?
Most Assisted Living facilities have arrangements for 24-hour non-medical care, oversight, and support. Many Assisted Living facilities offer different programs, events, and services, depending on the preferences and abilities. Therefore, the facilities and amenities may vary from one place to another. But most of them provide the following:
- Assistance with ADLs & IADLs
- Personal hygiene
- Semi private or private room of various sizes
- Reliable staff who are ready to provide any support, 24/7 emergency care
- Healthy and nutritious meals served 3 times a day
- Events and activities, social gatherings, and fitness facilities
- Transportation when necessary
- Certain medical services
- Medication monitoring
Who Needs Assisted Living?
Assisted living is for those seniors who have previously lived independently but now require extra assistance with their daily routines. For example, they may have observed that they forgot to take their meds recently or that getting appointments to see their doctor is difficult. Perhaps they are unable to drive to their preferred destinations. Or they may not be able to perform grocery shopping and lack the willingness or strength to perform home chores. These are some very common activities that seniors might need assistance with when they become old.
Another situation would be when a senior's spouse passes away, and the person now is bound to live alone. They will certainly feel more comfortable in an ALF with social activities, assistance with cooking and cleaning, and on-call healthcare support.
What Are the Key Signs Indicating It’s Time for Assisted Living?
One of the most challenging and difficult decisions a family can make is when to move to Assisted Living. As a family member starts needing care, it is possible for someone to remain at home with in-home care. This is accomplished through a combination of home health (time-limited and covered by Medicare) and personal care. Personal care is an out-of-pocket cost unless the senior has a long-term care insurance policy. So, where is the tipping point at which a senior would consider Assisted Living?
The cost of in-home care exceeds that of Assisted Living:
At $20-$40 an hour and higher, the cost of private or live-in caregivers may become too expensive. Especially if a senior loved one requires anything close to 24-hour care. Costs can soar and it may make more sense for someone to be in Assisted Living where they can be cared for safely and more affordably.
Care in the home becomes too complicated or unsafe to manage:
If a family member begins to need nursing access or transfers in and out of bed, it may be too much for caregivers to safely handle. There may be medical needs such as diabetes, wound care, or breathing treatments.
The caregiving strain on the family is too much:
It is not unusual for family members to assume much of the caregiving duties for a loved one. This can have significant economic impacts from lost wages to difficulty getting back into the workforce. Not to mention the psychological and emotional impact of caregiving.
How to Convince Seniors to Move to Assisted Living?
Assisted Living minimizes the need for relocation and commute because it accommodates certain less demanding medical treatments and also provides a sense of community and togetherness within the location. Seniors may need to move to assisted living because:
- They will have their space without the unnecessary hassle of doing everything by themselves.
- They won't have to worry about forgetting to take medicine or overdosing ever again.
There are more reasons to move to assisted living for a senior. But the major question is how do you talk to your senior loved ones about it?
The process starts with expressing whatever you feel to your parents. You can change the type of care by constantly updating your parents about assisted living benefits. There could be other people or even legal support for you to consider.
Assisted Living Care: Ways to Assess Need
Assisted living includes different facilities for seniors. Depending on many factors, the care level will vary. The ALF conducts the following assessment to determine the level of care required for the seniors.
Health assessment
The first type of assessment is done to the overall health condition of the senior. Because many seniors have health issues, the staff will want to know if there is a history of high blood pressure, cancer, heart difficulties, lung diseases, and so forth. When assisting seniors in explaining their medical history, it's vital to be open and honest. To offer a full health assessment, make a list of medicines that they are regularly taking.
Mental health assessment
If there is any serious mental issue, assisted living might not be suitable. As a result, a mental health expert will conduct a cognitive function evaluation. If your senior loved one is unable to follow directions, has acute memory loss, is susceptible to wandering, or has any other concerns that could jeopardize his or her safety, the personnel at the assisted living home will need to know. If the facility offers a memory care unit, they may be able to provide high-quality dementia care.
Assistance with daily activities
Finally, seniors will need to be clear about how much assistance they need with ADLs and IADLs. Assisted living facilities are initially for those who need minimal assistance in daily living. Therefore, it's crucial to be thorough and truthful so that the ALF can determine the level of care required and plan accordingly.
How Much Does Assisted Living Cost?
The cost of assisted living varies from one location to the next. Some other factors that can determine assisted living costs can be:
- Location
- Amount of assistance required
- The sizes of the apartments
- Community amenities
- Pricing models of the communities
The cost of assisted living varies upon your preferences. According to Genworth, in 2020, the median cost for Assisted Living was $4,300 per month.
Most assisted care facilities include two types of cost structures. The first one is the all-inclusive bill. This consists of a complete package of the services provided to the seniors. The bill remains the same every month unless there is a price increase
And the second structure is called “Fee-for-Service”. This means that the facilities provided to the seniors are itemized. So, the cost can vary from one month to another and be expensive.
Housing, meals, utilities, transportation, housekeeping, and social activities are usually included in an assisted living basic charge. Yet, some amenities among these may charge extra. Other possible additional costs are:
- Personal care assistance.
- Internet services
- Pet and laundry expenses.
- Beauty and barber services
The costs are high but assisted living is also budget-friendly.
Expenditures of $4,300 a month or $51,600 a year on living costs might seem expensive. But if you compare this amount to the services you are getting, assisted living doesn't seem that costly after all.
Also, consider the mortgage, healthcare, utilities, property taxes, groceries, entertainment, or travel. Of course, seniors need to pay for these when they live in a private home. But the cost of Assisted Living includes many of these expenses.
Moreover, with Assisted Living, seniors get an extra pair of hands ready to help in every possible way. Moving to an assisted living community can be extremely cost-effective and satisfying.
Cost efficiency often results from the best combination of services, cost, and comfort. Seniors can choose Assisted Living communities from 3 pricing levels. The choice will depend on the care needed and the extent of luxury they can afford.
- The beginning of Assisted Living: Support and amenities might be minimal, but seniors get professional aid and hygiene
- The perfect balance between cost and comfort is to enjoy private apartments, medical care, and other amenities.
- The extravagant option: These resort-style facilities allow seniors to enjoy life as if they were on vacation. Seniors can enjoy personal care, fine dining, large apartments, top-class services, and a lot more.
Besides, almost everything is negotiable nowadays; so is the cost of Assisted Living! Get contacted by our expert Senior Living advisors today and visit some facilities near you. Then, you'll get a clearer idea about the costs and how to make the best of your money.
How Can You Pay for Assisted Living?
Once seniors have determined that assisted living is the best option, they'll need to figure out how to pay for it. First, investigate all the alternatives for reducing the expenses of assisted living. The first consideration for many families is to pay for assisted living through lifetime savings. But there are other options as well.
Seniors can prepare themselves to request long-term care insurance for assisted living funding. Also, government services like Medicare and Medicaid can help pay for Assisted Living. Let's take a look at various options to pay for Assisted Living costs.
Private pay
Paying out-of-pocket is the safest way to pay for Assisted Living homes. But for some seniors, it might not be the easiest way to finance Assisted Living expenses. Many families often use a combination of private pay and other benefits for which they're eligible. Seniors can also resort to the other options even if they can afford private pay.
Property sales
Leaving the old family life behind and starting a new one in a Senior Living community isn't easy. It requires great courage and also can be financially challenging. As a result, many often decide to sell off their home to pay for assisted living care to make the transition easier.
Renting out your house
Deciding to sell one's house is a tough decision; seniors might not want to leave the place where they've made countless memories. However, by renting out their house, seniors won't hand over the house's ownership to somebody else. They can also earn a decent amount of money from the rent to pay for assisted living.
Reverse mortgage
Any senior owning a house or having a small mortgage can consider a reverse mortgage. They can trade in the home's equity for a loan with a reverse mortgage. This also means that the ownership of the house remains to the seniors as before.
Life insurance
Seniors can turn their existing life insurance policy into a pre-funded account. There are no waiting periods, care limits, application costs, or terminally ill requirements. Premium payments or fees are null as well! For making payments to a Senior Living community, seniors can use their account with no tax at all.
Long term care insurance (LTCI)
Long-term care insurance (LTCI) often is a phenomenal resource to pony up for Assisted Living care. However, be careful that not all LTCI policies are equal and can cover the expenses. The best exercise is to consult an insurance provider and get details beforehand.
Bridge loans
Seniors don't always have ample time to get ready for Assisted Living; there might be a medical emergency, and none of the above-mentioned methods might apply.
Thus, they can also consider a third-party bridge loan. Bridge loans help to cover the expenses during an unexpected transition period. Many senior financial services offer bridge loans. Seniors can repay the loan when they've got the cash available. However, a bridge loan is a risky option. As a result, seniors should approach it with caution.
Veteran benefits
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers the veterans with various privileges; one of these privileges is Aid and Attendance (A&A) pension. In addition, housebound veterans and their surviving spouses can finance part of their Assisted Living with it.
Medicare
All Americans are eligible for a federal healthcare insurance program once they turn 65. The program is known as Medicare. Most people eligible for Social Security also qualify for Medicare. Medicare is a federal program that provides healthcare coverage to pay for medical costs in assisted living in different “parts.” Part A provides coverage for hospital insurance. Part B provides coverage for outpatient services.
Seniors who are at least 65 years of age who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents are eligible for Medicare. People younger than 65 with specific disabilities also qualify to use Medicare for medical expenses in senior living facilities. For example, seniors with kidney issues can consider both Medicare and Medicaid benefits for medical expenses while living in ALFs. However, Medicare does not cover the cost of room or board or any other personal care services in an assisted living.
Medicaid
The services covered by Medicaid differ by state and the program in which a senior enrolls. It does not cover the cost of room and board in the assisted living facility. But Personal care services (ADLs) are available in every state, although their delivery varies greatly. The following services are generally covered through Medicaid in an assisted living facility:
- Personal care ADL services
- Meal preparation, laundry, and other homemaking services
- Transportation management
- Response to personal emergency
Assisted Living vs. Other Types of Senior Living
Assisted living is a rapidly expanding category of senior care. According to the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living (NCAL), more than 800,000 Americans reside in assisted living facilities.
While there are various types of senior care facilities available, they differ from one another in many ways.
Assisted Living vs Nursing Home
We sometimes have a misconception that assisted living and nursing facilities are the same, but there are many differences. Assisted living and nursing homes provide accommodation, meals, and assistance with ADLs. One of the most significant differences is that assisted living residents do not require expert nursing care like those in nursing facilities.
More on the differences between assisted living and nursing homes are shown in the table:
Assisted Living | Nursing Home |
Focused on ADL and IADL assistance | Focused on ADL, IADL, and full-time medical assistance for any elderly patient |
Skilled nursing availability is limited | Skilled nursing availability is 24/7 |
Professional medical supervision is limited | Professional medical supervision is always available |
Home-like environment, comparable to residential apartments or hotels | Minimal home-like environment, with more similarities to hospital settings |
Assisted Living vs Independent Living
Seniors with varying needs might choose between independent living and assisted living. Both alternatives provide secure, senior-friendly accommodation, amenities, social events, and ready meals. However, the key difference between the two is that independent living does not offer assistance with activities of daily living like dressing, grooming, and bathing.
More on the differences between assisted living and independent living are shown in the table:
Assisted Living | Independent Living |
Focused on ADL and IADL assistance | Very minimal personal care on ADLs |
Skilled nursing availability is limited | Skilled nursing facilities are not available on-site |
Professional medical supervision is limited | Professional medical supervision is not available on-site |
Home-like environment, comparable to residential apartments or hotels | Complete home-like atmosphere, similar to luxury apartments or condos |
Assisted Living vs Memory Care
Memory care, like assisted living, is a residential institution that provides meals and assistance with everyday activities. The key difference between assisted living and memory care is the particular help that memory care facilities provide for people who are suffering from memory loss.
More on the differences between assisted living and memory care are shown in the table:
Assisted Living | Memory Care |
Focused on ADL and IADL assistance | Focused on ADL,IADL and full-time medical assistance for Alzheimer’s, dementia or amnesia patients. |
Skilled nursing availability is limited | Skilled nursing availability is 24/7 |
Professional medical supervision is limited | Professional medical supervision is always available |
Home-like environment, comparable to residential apartments or hotels | Minimal home-like environment, with more security to prevent wandering or getting lost |
Assisted Living vs Home Care
Home care provides assistance and respite for caregivers and cares for seniors who choose to grow old in one place. Companionship, assistance with ADLs, light housework, cooking, transportation, and other services are available from home care assistants.
Home care differs from assisted living when it comes to sociability, intellectual stimulation, and expenses.
Assisted Living | Home Care |
Focused on ADL and IADL assistance | Focused on on-call ADL,IADL and medical assistance |
Skilled nursing availability is limited | Skilled nursing availability is only on-call |
Professional medical supervision is limited | Professional medical supervision is only for special cases |
Home-like environment, comparable to residential apartments or hotels | Receive care from the comfort of their own homes |
Choosing an Assisted Living Facility: Questions to Ask
Why Should You Choose BoomersHub for Assisted Living?
Are you searching for senior assisted living near you? BoomersHub is the one-stop reference point where you can get all the essential information to find a home you'll love. BoomersHub gives you free access to informative blog posts, pricing, and Partner Assisted Living facilities all over the country. In addition, our experienced Partner Local Advisors will give you guidance and facility tours for free!
We aim to walk alongside you from the beginning to the end of your journey to finding your ideal home. BoomersHub advisors will also support you after the move-in by taking feedback.