1.What different types of Senior Residential Care facilities are available?
A. Independent Living
Villas or apartments within a community that offer recreational activities, transportation, and security. This housing option usually includes 2 meals per day. Independent Living residents can function on their own, but can opt to bring in their own home health services.
B. Assisted Living
Small homes or larger community residences that provide help with ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) such as eating, bathing, dressing, medication management, toileting. They usually have recreational activities and provide 3 meals per day.
Some assisted living facilities have memory care units, which are secured and therefore separate from the Assisted Living residences.
C. Memory Care
Small homes or larger community residences that provide directed care for residents with Alzheimer’s, dementia and all memory care needs. Memory care residences are secured and can be a unit unto themselves, or they can be part of a larger Assisted Living facility.
D. Continuing Care Communities
They are the “one-size fits all” of Senior Housing. These communities offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care, sometimes with skilled nursing. They offer a variety of rooms and apartments that are in a campus like setting or in multiple story buildings. The different levels of care allow a resident to stay in the same community.
E. Nursing Homes (Skilled Nursing Facilities – SNF’s)
Communities made up of rooms or apartments which provide 24-hour assistance with ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living) and medical care by nurses and therapists. For short term stays, after a surgery, injury, or debilitating illness, patients are placed into a Nursing Home in order to recover. Long-term care residents generally have high care needs and complex medical conditions that require 24-hour skilled nursing services. Shared rooms are common and meals are served in a central dining area. Some nursing homes have memory units for advanced stage Alzheimer’s and Dementia.
2. Does Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance cover the cost of Assisted Living Facilities?
It all depends on your LTC policy. Policies purchased in the 1980’s and 1990’s sometimes cover skilled nursing, but not assisted living, because assisted living was not as prevalent at that time. Newer policies may cover some or all of assisted living expenses, but you need to look over your policy to see exactly what is covered and what is excluded.
3. Will Medicare pay for Assisted Living?
Medicare will never pay for care in an assisted living facility or in a continuing care retirement community.
Medicare will only pay for care in Medicare-certified skilled nursing facilities or through Medicare-certified home health or hospice agencies.
4. What is the cost for Senior Housing?
The cost can be anywhere from $1800 to $9500 per month depending on your level of medical needs, the location and size of the facility. Typically, Independent living is the least costly. Assisted living facilities that help with your basic activities of daily living will be more expensive. Memory Care facilities cost more than Assisted Living, and Nursing Homes can be the most expensive because of its high level of 24-hour nursing care.
5. Do I pay for your placement services?
No, there is no charge to you or your family for our placement service. The Senior Housing facility or home pays us a referral fee when we place you or your loved one.
6. Why use a placement service like Serenity Senior Services?
We can save you time and make the placement process much less stressful. We have done the research to qualify Senior Housing facilities based on their history, reputation and services available. We have also toured each facility to get the feel for it, and continue to vette them to make sure they are keeping high standards.
After we initially meet with you, we will have a good idea of the best possible places to visit. And again, there is absolutely no charge to you for our placement service.
