Different Types of Senior Living Options

By Janice Martin, Senior Advisor / Family Liaison

Thinking about a move to a Senior Living Community? There are several different options available depending upon care needs.

When deciding, it’s important to be honest about the assistance needed. Everyone wants to be as independent as possible, but many are often in denial about their declining health and physical limitations. Let’s take a look at the differences.

Independent Living communities provide services such as dining, housekeeping, basic cable, Internet, maintenance, activities, parking, and transportation. If a minimal amount of care is needed, home care services may be hired privately. Often, an individual must be able to walk or may use a walker. If using a wheelchair, they must be able to use it without assistance to move about the community and evacuate in an emergency. There are no care staff available. There are a variety of apartment sizes from studios to two bedrooms with 2 bathrooms. The price can range between $2,300-$7,000.

Assisted Living communities are designed to help individuals with care while maintaining the highest level of independence. Some choose to live in assisted living because they are experiencing frequent falls or in case of an emergency but have few care needs. Others need significant care. Residents may leave at any time – to go out to dinner, on vacation with family, or even on a cruise!

Many people are surprised that all Assisted Living communities are not equal in the amount of care they are licensed to provide. There are 3 levels of licensing:

Standard license communities can help give medications, manage weekly pill organizers for residents who self-administer them, observe residents and report observations to the doctor, treat Stage 1 pressure sores, provide a one-person assist for transfers, and change resident’s bandages for minor cuts and abrasions.

Limited Nursing Services (LNS) communities are licensed to provide any of the services under a standard license as well as the application of heat and ice packs, the routine changing of colostomy bags, passive range of motion exercises, obtain urine specimens, provide blood glucose testing, replace self-maintained catheters, provide one to two person assist for transfers, and assist with the care of casts or braces. If on oxygen, a resident must be able to use it independently.

Extended Congregate Care (ECC) communities are licensed to provide any of the services listed above, as well as routine care of an intermittent feeding tube, administration of oxygen, care of an amputation or fracture, and treatment of a Stage 2 pressure sore that is stabilized.

Private apartment sizes range from studios to 2 bedrooms with 1 bathroom and cost between $3,100-$6,500. Some offer a shared option for two unrelated people. The included services are the same as Independent Living, however care fees are extra and can be an additional $200-$2,000.

Memory Care is a specialized type of Assisted Living in a secure area. It is designed to help those with a diagnosis of dementia who are advanced or exit seeking, wandering, or can no longer follow simple instructions. If an individual has memory impairment, it does not mean they must be in Memory Care. It does NOT mean a higher level of care – just increased support. There is sometimes an option for a ladies-only area and some communities have a non-secure option for people with early to mid-stage dementia. Residents must be escorted but may leave at any time. Some communities offer an all-inclusive price and others have separate pricing for care. Both private and semi-private options are available from $3,000-$7,200.

A general practice for Independent and Assisted Living is to charge a one-time, non-refundable fee called a Community Services Fee that can cost between $1,500-$3,500. It is used to turn over the apartments between residents, acquire the necessary assessments and paperwork, as well as the maintenance and upkeep of the common areas.

A second person fee is also charged. This may be a spouse, relative, or partner and will cost between $500-$1,100 plus care fees.

In any assisted living, an individual may not be bedridden for more than 14 days unless under the care of Hospice. In addition, no mechanical devices may be used to transfer such as a Hoyer lift.

A Skilled Nursing Community is appropriate if an individual is completely bedridden, requires continuous feed nutrition, needs a Hoyer lift, or requires adaptive devices to keep them in a chair, wheelchair, or bed. Both private and semi-private rooms are offered, and private pay can cost from $10,000 a month and up.

Don’t assume that someone with a high level of care needs to be in a skilled nursing home. It is important to honestly discuss what help is needed to determine the right choice from the beginning. Senior Liaison is available to determine what will be a good fit for your budget, care needs, and location preference. We are “Your Guide Through the Chaos!” For more information, call Janice Martin at 352-477-1866, visit www.SeniorLiaisonCFL.com or Like our Facebook Page at “Senior Liaison.”