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Assisted Living
Assisted Living
Assisted Living
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In this write up, we will go over some assisted living basics to help you learn more and make the best choice.
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Assisted living homes can help seniors with performing routine daily activities such as bathing, grooming, getting
dressed, taking medications, and eating at least three healthy meals per day. Many of these tasks can become more
difficult with age, especially for those with health conditions such as vision loss, cognitive decline, and arthritis. The
caregivers at assisted living homes can help seniors perform these tasks and will work with each senior individually to
come up with a daily routine and schedule that works best for them.
Healthy Meals
Nutritious foods contribute to improved overall physical and mental health, and can stave off health conditions
common among older adults, such as dementia and osteoporosis. Assisted living facilities offer healthy, nutritious
meals often prepared by gourmet chefs and served in large dining rooms where residents can socialize with friends,
family, and other residents. Cooking can grow more challenging with age and become tiresome when you're cooking
only for yourself, but assisted living homes can make mealtimes more fun and joyous for all residents.
Independent living communities are highly similar to assisted living communities, but do not offer assistance with
activities of daily living like grooming and bathing. The senior residents who live in independent living communities
are fully self-sufficient and prefer to live among other seniors who share like-minded interests. These communities
offer many of the same activities, services, and amenities as assisted living homes, such as social events,
housekeeping, and fitness centers.
In contrast, assisted living facilities have staff on hand to assist with activities of daily living. These activities include
bathing, personal hygiene, getting dressed, toileting, walking, and eating.
Skilled nursing facilities (informally known as nursing homes) offer a higher level of care and support for residents
who have regular and/or intensive medical needs. Residents in skilled nursing facilities receive 24/7 supervision,
medical care, and daily prepared meals. Skilled nursing facilities offer many of the same services and amenities as
assisted living communities, but ensure that residents are properly taken care of at all times by caregivers, nurses, and
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medical staff. If you or your senior loved one needs only minor assistance with
Skilled nursing accomplishing certain daily tasks, consider choosing assisted living rather than
facilities offer a higher nursing home care for greater independence and more freedom.
level of care and support
for residents who have
regular and/or intensive
What does Assisted Living
medical needs. Include?
The primary service offered by all assisted living communities is assistance
with daily living activities, such as bathing, grooming, dressing, and taking medications. However, each assisted living
community offers a full range of other services and amenities designed to enhance the lives of its senior residents.
Many facilities offer essential services under one convenient roof to prevent seniors from having to drive or travel to
outside destinations. Services typically available at assisted living homes include:
Many of the staff members and caregivers who perform these services at assisted living homes are experienced and
professionally trained to work with the older adult population. As a result, many seniors find that these services are
highly enjoyable and satisfactory, and report developing good relationships with the staff members who provide them.
The types of amenities offered at assisted living homes also vary from one facility to the next. Assisted living
communities share the common goal of making seniors feel as comfortable and as happy as possible by providing
them with plenty of amenities that bring joy, excitement, meaning, and purpose to their lives.
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Keyed entries
General store
Walking paths
Gardens
Before choosing an assisted living community, ask about the types of activities available and the frequency at which
these activities take place. The best facilities should offer these activities to their residents every day or at least once
per week.
An assisted living home may be ideal for you if you are capable Assisted Living (2 of 2): Transitioning t…
t…
of living on your own but need help performing specific daily
tasks such as using the restroom, getting dressed, and
remembering to take medications at the right times. An assisted
living home may also be ideal if you do not suffer from any
serious medical problems that require intensive care and
continuous medical supervision.
Assisted living homes are a good choice for seniors who may
feel lonely, have recently lost a spouse, or do not spend much
time with friends and relatives. Assisted living homes can help
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these individuals rebuild their social lives, as well as offer fun, diverse activities
Assisted living homes are that can bring excitement, new meaning, and purpose to those who feel as if
a good choice for they need positive changes in their lives. If you are a senior who wants to
seniors who may feel devote less time to maintaining your house and performing mundane tasks
related to housework, an assisted living community may be the right fit.
lonely, have recently lost
a spouse, or do not
Here are some questions to ask yourself when determining whether an assisted
spend much time with living home is right for you.
friends and relatives.
. Do you struggle with performing everyday tasks, such as taking a bath or
shower, or remembering to take your medications?
. Do you want to reduce your homeowner responsibilities in regard to maintenance and repairs?
. Do you want access to lots of fun activities and a new social community?
. Do you want to live in an environment that brings you closer to peers in the same age group?
. Do you want to experience a seamless transition from assisted living to skilled nursing care when you need more
help managing an existing health or medical condition?
If you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, it may be time to start searching for assisted living homes
near you.
Here are signs it may be time for you or your loved one to transition to assisted living.
Poor Nutrition
Maintaining good nutrition can become more challenging
with age, especially if it involves cooking, using complex
kitchen appliances, and making frequent trips to the grocery
store for fresh fruits and vegetables. Some seniors may lose
the motivation to shop for healthy foods and cook healthy
meals, and start reaching more frequently for convenient
foods that are less healthy, such as frozen pizzas and fast-
food hamburgers. Poor nutrition can be addressed and
resolved at an assisted living home, where residents can be
served healthy, nutritious meals at least three times per day.
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Seniors become more prone to experiencing falls and injuries as they get older. This may occur due to decreased
balance and coordination, clutter in the home, side effects from medications, or weakened bone conditions such as
osteoporosis. The increased presence of bruises and minor injuries in seniors can indicate it may be time to move to
an assisted living community.
Driving/Transportation Issues
Has your senior loved one been in one or more auto accidents or has their vehicle accumulated a number of new
dents and scratches? If so, they may be experiencing difficulty with operating a vehicle and could benefit from having
a personal driver or other means of transportation. Many assisted living communities offer driving services to help
seniors perform important errands and tasks outside of their homes including rides to and from medical
appointments.
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facilities should their health conditions progress. If your senior loved one has one or more medical conditions, it may
be time to consider an assisted living home where they can get a head start on receiving regular live-in health care.
Care level is another important variable that plays a role in the cost of assisted
Seniors who require a living. Seniors who require a higher care level will typically pay more for
higher care level will assisted living than seniors who require a lower care level. For instance,
typically pay more for seniors who need daily assistance with administering injectable medications
and bathing may pay higher costs than seniors who need assistance only once
assisted living than
per week with washing and drying their hair or driving to the grocery store.
seniors who require a
lower care level.
What does Medicare Cover for Assisted
Living?
The majority of residents in assisted living homes are Medicare beneficiaries, however, Medicare does not cover long-
term care services associated with assisted living. Medicare beneficiaries who need help paying for assisted living can
discuss their available payment options with the facility.
While Medicare does not cover independent living and generally doesn't pay for assisted living expenses, Medicare
Advantage may pay for personal care or other supportive services in assisted living facilities.
Almost all state Medicaid programs will cover some assisted living costs for eligible residents. However, similar to
Medicare, Medicaid does not pay for the cost of living in an assisted living community.
Look into long-term care insurance, which may help cover costs that are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or
your current health insurance plan.
Ask the facility about move-in specials and incentives that may help lower the monthly or yearly cost.
Look into veterans (VA) benefits if you are a wartime veteran or the spouse of a veteran.
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Explore your options for bridge loans and reverse mortgages.
Find out whether your life insurance policy or that of your senior loved one can help pay for assisted living.
Find a senior roommate who can split the cost of room and board.
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Click on “Find Communities (https://findcontinuingcare.com/communities)” at the upper right corner of the page to
browse nearby assisted living homes. Look up communities for free and see if the ones you are interested in have a
red button called "Request Tour or Brochure". Here you can get in touch with your communities of interest and ask
them to contact you with more information, all at no cost or obligation to you.
In conclusion, assisted living can be a complex topic, but we hope this information has helped prepare you to
research your options. Ready to get started? Visit us at FindContinuingCare.com (https://findcontinuingcare.com/) to
find the perfect home for you.
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