Assisted Living

Assisted living communities provide assistance with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) such as bathing, showering, dressing, walking, toileting, personal hygiene, physical therapy, mental therapy, and some nursing services. Assisted living communities differ from nursing homes in that they don’t offer complex medical services. The physical environment of an assisted living community is usually more appealing than that of a nursing home. ALF's offer an apartment like lifestyle and creates a home like environment for the resident and their families, which usually includes a kitchen, living room, bedroom, dining area, and a bathroom.

Who needs Assisted Living?  

Aging in place is the first choice of the majority of older adults.  What most families don't realize is that the cost of continuous in-home care can be just as expensive as a nice Assisted Living Community. Assisted Living residents are usually seniors who have had a slight decline in health and need assistance performing one or more activities of daily living. Generally speaking, residents have as much independence as they want, while at the same time receive the proper care that they need. Many seniors choose assisted living so that they can live in a social environment with minimal responsibilities, but feel confident in the fact that care is provided in the event that they need it. Most assisted living residents are vehemently independent of body and spirit, have family and friends that live close by, and are usually within a 10-15 mile radius of where they used to live.

Additional services provided at an Assisted Living Community: 

Most assisted living communities will offer their residents three prepared meals per day, laundry services, housekeeping services, medicine management services, and transportation services. Some communities will have a fitness room, swimming pool, garden area, beauty salon, activity center, and even a post office. As far as entertainment is concerned, many assisted living communities will offer live music, happy hour, educational workshops, games, trips, and lounges to watch TV.

How much does an Assisted Living Community cost?

The national average cost of a one bedroom unit in an assisted living community is $3,750 per month. Many assisted living communities will also charge a one time community fee which usually covers the administrative costs of moving into the community, refurbishing a room, and maintenance for the common area.  Most assisted living communities will then charge for additional services such as assistance with activities of daily living like bathing, dressing, toileting, walking, etc... The cost of this assistance varies based on the type of care that is needed and the amount of time it requires.  Depending on the state, the cost can range anywhere from $1,800 - $10,000 per month.  An Assisted Living Community is more expensive than an Independent Living Community, but usually less expensive than a Memory Care Community or a Nursing Home.

Memory Care:

Memory Care is a special kind of care provided to those with varying degrees of Dementia or Alzheimer's. Memory Care offers 24-hour supervised care.  Meals, health management, and activities are provided for the residents.  Memory Care Communities should provide a stress-free lifestyle in a structured environment that ensures the health and safety of a senior, while focusing on programs that increase cognitive skills and slow the progression of Dementia or Alzheimer's. 

If you are not sure if you can afford Assisted Living or Memory Care, please complete our Care Assessment Form and a Senior Living Consultant will contact you with options.