Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you decipher the different types of housing options available to seniors, and recommend some good resources for locating them? I need to find a place for my elderly mother and could use some help.
There’s a wide array of options available to seniors, what’s appropriate for your mom will depend on her needs and financial situation. Here’s some of the different levels of senior housing and resources to help you choose one.
Independent living: If your mom is in relatively good health and self-sufficient, “independent living communities” are a top option that can offer a sense of community. Typically available to people over age 55, this type of senior housing is usually apartments or townhomes. Many communities also offer amenities such as meals served in a common dining area, housekeeping, transportation and a variety of social activities.
Contact your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number), or use an online search tool like Caring.com. Most of these communities are private pay only and can vary greatly in cost.
Assisted living: If your mom needs help with daily living chores, she’ll need an “assisted living facility.” These facilities provide help with the activities of daily living as needed, as well as meals, housekeeping, transportation, social activities and medication management. Many also offer special “memory care units” for residents with dementia.
Most residents pay for assisted living from personal funds, while some have long-term care insurance policies. And many state Medicaid programs today also cover some assisted living costs for financially eligible residents.
Another similar, but less expensive option to look into is “board and care homes.” These offer many of the same services as assisted living facilities but in a smaller home setting.
Nursing homes: If your mom needs ongoing medical and personal care or has very limited mobility, a nursing home, which provides 24-hour skilled nursing care is the next option. Use Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. This tool will help locate nursing homes in your area, it also provides a 5-star rating system on recent health inspections, staffing, quality of care and overall rating.
Nursing home care can be very expensive. Most residents pay from either personal funds, a long-term care insurance policy or through Medicaid after their savings are depleted.
Continuing-care retirement communities (CCRC’s): If your mom has the financial resources, a “CCRC” is another option that provides all levels of housing (independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing home care) in one location. To search for CCRC’s visit Caring.com.
If you’re not sure what is needed, consider hiring an aging life care expert (AgingLifeCare.org) who can assess your mom and find appropriate housing. Or use a senior care advising service like A Place for Mom (APlaceForMom.com) for free.
Send senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
