Independent Living and Retirement Communities
For those seniors who are totally independent and want to
maintain an active senior lifestyle, retirement communities
offer the ideal choice. You will have the option of living
in a senior apartment community or a residential community
set up to cater to the unique needs and desires of the
active senior population. You will typically have the option
of either securing a lease or buying a unit within your
community complex. Additionally, some of these communities
offer laundry, meal preparation, housekeeping, and concierge
services. These are socially rich environments where many
will enjoy lots of activities and recreation. Expect
anywhere between 50 to 300 units per community. Costs for
independent living will vary depending on geographical
location, amenities, buying versus leasing, and ancillary
services offered.
Home Care
Is a popular choice for those seniors and elders who
strongly prefer to stay in their homes with the assistance
of a professional home companions and caregivers. These home
caregivers and companions offer a variety of services all
aimed at enabling an enhanced quality of life in an
environment that most people are most comfortable. Some of
the services offered include:
- Companionship
- Housekeeping
- Assistance with routine activities of daily living such as bathing & showering, meal preparation, medication reminders, errands and appointments, laundry, restroom assistance, dressing. Also referred as custodial or personal care
- Taking care of pets
- Transportation assistance
- Skilled medical home care offering more intensive medical care provided by nurses and therapists
- Respite Care for family caregivers who need some relief or downtime to take care of personal and professional business
Caregivers and companions are available based on your needs
and can provide you with 24/7 care and are open to a
“live-in” situation where they will be there at your
beckoning call.
Although this option is preferred by most, it can be
extremely expensive. Be prepared to pay $25 per hour for
personal care and up to $90 per hour for skilled home care.
The monthly bill can easily climb to tens of thousands of
dollars per month.
Assisted Living
This senior residence option is ideal for those individuals
who need a little assistance and/or supervision with
activities of daily living (i.e. bathing, dressing, eating,
medication reminders) but do not require intensive
supervision and medical care like a nursing home. Simply
put, assisted living is the midpoint between home and a
nursing home. Seniors who choose this option are alert but
are no longer able to safely live on their own. Residences
can maintain a respectable level of independence and
privacy. Assisted living facilities can range from large
houses in residential neighborhoods with a few private or
shared rooms to large complexes with over 200 units. Most
facilities range from 25 to125 units. You can expect 24/7
on-call service, 2 to 3 meals daily, recreational
activities, exercise and social programs, laundry services
and transportation. Some assisted living facilities will
offer specialized care for Alzheimer’s/ Dementia residents
and some will be granted hospice waivers to care for hospice
residents. Costs will vary significantly (from $1,500 to
$6,000 per month) depending on the geographical area and
services requested. The national average base price is
around $30,000 a year and does not include various services.
Residential Care Home—"Board and Care Homes"Residential Care Homes are operated in private homes in residential communities and are an excellent choice for residents who are looking for a more intimate, private, “home like” assisted living experience. You will be taken care of by a staff of professional caregivers and will often live with up to 6-8 senior residents. Often times, many of the facilities maybe in close proximity to a client’s previous homestead; thus, allowing residences to stay connected to their communities that they have grown accustomed. Some Residential Care Homes will offer specialized care for Alzheimer’s/Dementia residents and some will be granted hospice waivers to care for hospice clients. Costs will vary significantly (from $1,500 to $6,000 per month) depending on the geographical area and services requested. The national average base price is around $30,000 a year and does not include various services.
Alzheimer’s & Dementia Facilities This option is ideal for those seniors who exhibit or have
been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or Dementia symptoms. Some
of these symptoms include, but are not limited, to the
following:
- Confusion and forgetfulness
- Difficulty remembering names and faces of close friends and relatives
- Abusive and unpredictable behavior, combative and refuses care and supervision
- Will wander away from their homes and forget where they live
Alzheimer’s Care and Dementia care are ideally suited for
those who need extensive personal care and assistance of
activities of daily living. Facilities are often modified
with special doors, locks, alarms and devices suited for
residents who often find themselves wandering. The staff at
Alzheimer’s and Dementia facilities often receive specialty
training aimed at caring for the unique and demanding needs
of Alzheimer/Dementia clients. Costs are often times higher
than your base rates for assisted living and residential
care home and can range anywhere from $36,000 to over
$100,000 a year.
Skilled Nursing Homes and Facilities
Nursing homes, also referred to as skilled nursing
facilities, are for seniors who require round-the-clock care
and have significant deficiencies with activities of daily
living requiring round-the-clock nursing supervision and
medical care in addition to meals, personal care, laundry
services, recreation, rehabilitative programs, pharmacy and
laboratory services, and counseling. While skilled nursing
is typically needed for long term care, nursing homes are
also available for short periods of time while a residents
recovers from an injury, surgery, and/or illness. The
average national cost for skilled nursing is more than
$60,000 per year and can easily pass over $100,000 per year.
|
|
|
