Options For Seniors was founded to be a true advocate for seniors. We are an insightful, empathetic and progressive referral and placement service dedicated to helping aging citizens find the right living alternatives.
Choosing a retirement or extended care home for yourself or a loved family member is sometimes confusing and always a time-consuming effort. For this reason, Options For Seniors has provided this easy-to-follow guide that defines the types of senior housing options.
Senior Apartments
Senior apartments are for people 62 and older. These may be subsidized or be available for reasonable rents. Subsidized rents are based on a percent (example: 30%) of tenant’s income; others rents may start from $600. You should ask the senior apartment community for an application and a rental agreement for details about the subsidies. Meals, housekeeping and assisted living services are not offered in this kind of housing option.
Retirement Communities
Retirement Communities are designed for older adults who are able to live relatively independently. The major advantages offered by a retirement community include: meals, no maintenance, upkeep or repairs; independence and privacy with your own apartment decorated with your furnishings; safe, secure setting; companionship and readily accessible social and recreational activities.
There is a wide range of services offered by retirement communities. Many offer varying degrees of assisted living services. Some are month-to-month rentals, while others charge an entry fee with an additional monthly maintenance fee. In some communities you may purchase a town-home or condo. Some offer luxury features and services such as a health club, swimming pool and formal dining room. Included in the category or retirement communities are: Assisted Living, Dementia Specialty Care and Continuing Care Retirement Communities.
Assisted Living Communities
Assisted Living Communities target an aging population whose need for support services is growing as they “age in place”. This would include more frail elderly who are no longer able to care for themselves in their own homes, or independent retirement community, but are not in need of the medical interventions provided in a skilled nursing facility. Assisted Living Communities are able to provide support services such as medication reminders, assistance with bathing, dressing, and toileting, special diets and behavior interventions, while the resident live in their own apartments.
Dementia Specialty Care Communities
Dementia Specialty Care Communities can be a locked part of a larger retirement assisted living community or stand alone as a locked dementia care community. These communities serve people with dementia related symptoms such as wandering, and behavioral issues that require intensive interaction and supervision throughout the day. These communities have special amenities to help residents with memory loss function at there highest level.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s) is a residential community for adults that offers a range of housing options (normally independent living through nursing home care) and varying levels of medical and personal care services. A CCRC is designed to meet a resident needs in a familiar setting as he/she grows older. People most often move into such a community when they’re healthy. These communities typically charge an entry fee with an additional monthly maintenance fee. A CCRC resident has to sign a long-term contract that provides for housing, personal care, housekeeping, yard care and nursing care.
This contract typically involves either an entry fee or buy-in fee ($100,000 to $900,000+) in addition to monthly service charges ($2,000 to $4,000+), which may change according to the medical or personal care services required. Fees vary depending on whether the person owns or rents the living space, its size and location, the type of service plan chosen, the current risk for needing intensive long-term care. Because the contracts are lifelong and fees vary, it is important to get financial and legal advice before signing.
Adult Family Homes
Adult Family Homes are private homes that offer personal care for up to six residents. Generally residents need assistance with personal care such as bathing, meals, medication management, mobility, and close supervision. Some provide nursing care, hospice care, specialized care for people with mental health issues, developmental disabilities or dementia. Homes are licensed by the state to meet fire, sanitation, and state DSHS regulations. Each home is unique, providing a homey, family atmosphere, home cooked meals and individualized care. Fees on the Eastside range from $3,500 – $7,000 per month. A few homes accept state pay clients. Visit www.OptionsForSeniors.com for list of those homes currently accepting state clients.
Skilled Nursing Facilities
Skilled nursing facilities provide a high level of medical care for both short term and long term residents. Residents receive an in-house physician, skilled nursing staff available 24 hours a day for complex medical conditions, nutrition management, organized activities, social services, surgical recovery, respite and stroke rehabilitation. Fees: Medicare may pay for some short-term nursing home stays, but generally only Medicaid and private pay cover long term stays. Average daily costs from private pay patients range from $240 – $389 a day.
Options for Seniors can easily help you with the complex tasks of assessing, searching and selecting the best possible choice of living alternatives available. For a complimentary, no obligation consultation, please contact us (425) 827-0894.
