What Does Assisted Living Provide?

For seniors that may need minimal help with ambulation and medical care, assisted living facilities are the perfect fit for an independent quality retirement.

Assisted living facilities provide a broad range of social, custodial, safety, dietary, and medical services to seniors that need little to no assistance with their daily lives. These facilities are best suited for those who are independent but may require monitoring for safety and peace of mind. They provide a nurturing and healthy atmosphere for those that do not need nursing home services.

Basics of assisted living

Assisted living facilities are housing alternatives for older adults. The types of seniors that may benefit from assisted living are those who need help with dressing, bathing, eating, and toileting. These individuals will not require intensive medical care. If they do, they may need to be in a nursing home.

Assisted living facilities sometimes are a part of a private retirement community, nursing home, or senior housing complex. It’s not uncommon for them to be a stand-alone complex as well.

License requirements for assisted living facilities vary state by state. The facilities can be known by up to 26 different names. Some of these names include residential care, congregate care, and personal care homes. (Eldercare)

In America, there are roughly 1.2 million seniors living in assisted living facilities. Those that require wheelchairs for locomotion, severe cognitive decline, or behavioral issues are discouraged from becoming residents at assisted living facilities.

The average tenure of a resident at an assisted living facility is 2 to 3 years. Some reasons a facility might discharge a resident include returning home, hospital visits, financial issues, or moving to another assisted living facility. (Caregivers Library)

What services do assisted living facilities offer?

Residents in assisted living facilities live in their own semi-private or private apartments. Most tend to be furnished with a kitchen area and bathroom. The types of apartments available include studios, one-bedroom private apartments, one-bedroom shared, and dormitory-style bedrooms.

Some of the services provided by assisted living include support with daily living activities, dining programs that include three meals a day, and educational activities.

In regards to safety and health, assisted living facilities are equipped with emergency call systems in private and common areas. For health and longevity, exercise regimens and activities are offered to the residents. Health services available include medication administration and management.

Assisted living facilities even provide convenient services such as housekeeping and maintenance, laundry services, and transportation arrangements.

When a resident joins an assisted living facility, they are oriented about the services provided at that particular facility. An assisted living service coordinator will make an initial evaluation to determine which services are right for a resident. Ongoing evaluations are essential as requirements of care may change over time. The proper protocol for an assisted living evaluation is to provide a copy of each assessment to the resident and family. (Caregivers Library)

Assisted living provides different levels of care

Assisted living facilities are not a primary medical complex. The facilities do offer some health care services that tend to be customized to resident needs. Medication management, pharmacy services, and medical records maintenance are some of the standard services provided to residents.

Emergency first aid in the case of an event is available as well. Most facilities will be staffed with a physician and nurse on duty to provide care and regular check-ups. Each assisted living facility will have its own blueprint for services as preferences vary across the board.

A good assisted living community will help seniors enjoy their independence and provide a good quality of life including primary health care assistance, personal care, housekeeping, and even transportation. (About Assisted Living)

Because there is no concrete definition nationwide for assisted living facilities, they tend to offer different levels of care. They tend to provide a more cost-effective residential approach to care.

It is most likely that they will provide skilled nursing and assistance with activities in daily living. It’s important to note that not all facilities are equal. Some offer lighter care while others give attention to those who are bedridden. The level of care depends on community licensing. The more licensing a facility has, the higher the standard of care they are able to provide. (Anderson 2018)

Each community is unique

The look and feel of the community will vary. Some of the facilities will take on a more formal and traditional design while others may adopt a more home-like environment. Some facilities may feature a mid-century modern design while others will have art decor everywhere.

The spectrum for assisted living communities is vast. The range can go from towering apartment complexes in the middle of an urban area to large complexes in the suburbs or an intimate cottage in a rural area. The most common amount of residents at a facility will be around 20, but some may have hundreds of residents depending on its shape and size.

Be sure to check out multiple communities in your area. Some may even look similar in design and floor plan, but the services and care they offer will be different. Don’t be discouraged if your loved one doesn’t like one community. The next one may be a perfect fit. (Anderson 2018)

Safety and security

One of the most essential features of an assisted living facility is the safety and security 24 hours. Emergency call systems would give residents peace of mind if something unfortunate were to happen. Allowing them to be as independent as possible without fear and worry is one of the most important things you can do for your loved one.

With modern digital health and monitoring technologies, facilities can track and take care of a resident. The monitors will alert the staff if there are extreme changes in a resident’s health.

Patients that suffer from mild dementia or Alzheimer’s can be monitored through security systems to prevent wandering. Cameras will be placed in common areas and surrounding the property to ensure the residents’ safety even if their mental facilities are diminished. (About Assisted Living)

Differences between nursing homes and assisted living

Nursing homes and assisted living facilities are not the same things. The main difference between these two facilities is their access to medical services.

In an assisted living facility, residents generally require very little medical intervention. Someone in an assisted living facility may have memory loss, and therefore, it’s appropriate to be in the facility for their own safety. Another type of resident is someone who requires very little help transferring from their chair to their bed.

Nursing homes, on the other hand, tend to acquire around-the-clock care for their residents. These residents will have more complex health conditions and will require assistance from nurses, doctors, respiratory care, and even physical therapists. (Five Star Senior Living)

Assisted living: A self-assessment checklist

It’s essential to determine if an assisted living facility is the right fit. One of the ways you can find out if an assisted living facility is the right fit is by speaking to an advisor at one of the communities. If that’s not something you have done, you can also educate yourself by knowing the criteria.

The following is a short guide to help you determine what type of care is necessary for your family member.

Ambulation

– Assisted living facilities usually require the residents to be able to ambulate somewhat or get around on their own.

Chronic wounds and acute health issues

– If your loved one requires a colostomy bag, constant insulin injections, ongoing medical attention, or chronic wound treatment, an assisted living facility may not be the best option.

Rehabilitation

– If your loved one is recovering from a surgery or hospitalization and requires rehabilitation services, you may want to explore nursing homes. It’s common after rehabilitation to be moved to an assisted living facility.

Alzheimer’s or dementia

– Assisted living facilities are usually not equipped to handle late-stage Alzheimer’s. If an assisted living facility has a special memory care unit, they may be able to facilitate up to a certain amount. Once it becomes late-stage, it’s best to move to a nursing home (Assisted Living 2017).

What does assisted living cost per month?

Many of the services at an assisted living facility will be covered through its basic service cost. Because no facility is the same, the fees and prices will always be different. The average cost of an assisted living facility per month tends to be around $2,000. The range can fall between $500 and $3,500 depending on size, location, and availability. (Caregivers Library)

Even though assisted living costs less than a nursing home, it is still expensive. Depending on the services requested and the facility, the yearly cost can fall anywhere between $25,000 all the way up to more than $50,000 a year (Eldercare).

How can you pay for assisted living?

There are different pricing models you can use to pay for assisted living.

One of the models is all-inclusive pricing that spreads the total cost of services for the facility across all residents. It’s important to note that some all-inclusive facilities have a cap on the services they provide under the inclusive price.

In theory, those that require extra services beyond the all-inclusive price may have to pay extra if their needs are beyond the average resident. The advantage of this pay model allows residents to accurately plan for their monthly cost over an extended period of time regardless of care received.

The other pricing model is merely a la carte version. What this means is, you pay for every single service rendered and are billed monthly. The advantage of this model is those that require little care may pay less than an all-inclusive price. (My Life Site)

What does Medicare cover for assisted living?

One of the misconceptions among consumers when it comes to paying for assisted living is that Medicare will cover the cost. The reality is Medicare only covers skilled medical care for a small amount of time. It’s important to assess your ability to pay as the cost for assisted living can rack up quickly. (My Life Site)

Can assisted living facilities be covered by Medicaid?

It’s most common for residents to be able to pay for assisted living without assistance. Some states do provide public aid with payment in the form of Medicaid, and Supplemental Security Income. Some states even offer Social Services Block Grants to help those pay.

Private long-term insurance may also assist with the cost while living at an assisted living facility. States that do subsidize assisted living facilities and services do so with Medicaid 1915C waivers. These state programs have limited participation because these waivers are only available to those that meet the criteria for nursing home care (Caregivers Library).

Medicaid can be used to pay for senior care for those with low incomes. For more information on this, contact a local Area Agency on Aging Office. These agencies can be located at https://www.eldercare.gov/ . (Anderson 2018)

Does Social Security pay for assisted living?

State Social Security Supplements, unfortunately, are complicated and confusing. An uncomplicated explanation is that there are two different models of assistance for which states can help low-income residents afford assisted living or adult foster care.

Money for assisted living room & board

Those who are financially eligible for optional state supplements can receive assistance to help pay for room and board fees associated with assisted living. The additional money is provided as a benefit over and above the amount they receive from Social Security. The money is not given to the individual directly. It is sent to the assisted living facility or adult foster care home. Depending on the state, the range of assistance can fall between a few dollars to $1,000 a month.

Limiting the amount assisted living can charge

Another strategy used to help residents afford assisted living is to put caps on the amount they can be charged by the facilities for room and board. Because the health care system is a free-market, states cannot merely put caps on all assisted living residences. The only ones they can cap are those that accept Medicaid. To be specific, this only helps those that receive Medicaid and reside in an assisted living facility that also takes Medicaid. (Paying For Senior Care)

Final word

Get with an advisor if you’re unable to determine if your loved one requires a nursing home or an assisted living facility.

It’s vital to research assisted living facilities as there is not a one size fits all for your loved ones’ needs.

The most common time spent in these facilities is 2-3 years before they may need to relocate to something more permanent.

Assisted living facilities offer many services. Look at pricing models as the needs of your family member will most likely differ from other residents. Make sure the services provided are a good fit for your loved one, or you may find yourself paying for unnecessary services.