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Assisted Living Explained: What They Are, What to Expect, How to Pay For One & How to Find One

What They Are

Assisted living is a general term used to describe residential facilities that provide care for individuals who cannot live independently, but do not require twenty-four hour skilled nursing care. These facilities typically serve individuals age sixty and older, although younger persons with similar needs may be served as well. Some facilities also offer Alzheimer's and/or dementia care. Here is some more specific information about Alzheimer's care facilities.

There are two types of assisted living facilities:

Large-scale facilities may have both shared and private rooms, as well as private apartments.

Board and care homes are smaller-scale facilities, housed in a private residential home setting. They typically do not offer Alzheimer's or dementia care.

What to Expect

Assisted living facilities provide room and board, some housekeeping, social activities, supervision and assistance with basic activities like personal hygiene, dressing, eating and walking. Facility staff either provides or arranges transportation for residents. Most facilities offer three meals per day, as well as snacks in between meals.

These facilities are considered nonmedical facilities and are not required to have nurses, certified nursing assistants or doctors on staff, although many facilities do have medical staff either onsite or on call. Medications can be stored and distributed for residents to self-administer.

Paying for Assisted Living Facilities

Medicare, Medigap and Managed Care do not cover care in assisted living facilities. In some states, Medicaid will pay for assisted living; however, very few facilities accept Medicaid as reimbursement. Long-term care insurance policies (LTCI) and Veterans Benefits sometimes can cover the cost of assisted living facilities. Most assisted living is private pay.

Read a detailed description of all types of reimbursements.

LTCI

What It Covers

Facility Only and Comprehensive policies pay benefits in an assisted living facility, but the amount of coverage depends on the individual policy. For information on how to determine what kind of LTCI policy suits your needs, visit our blog.

Veterans Benefits

What It Covers

Veterans Benefits refers to care in an assisted living facility as Community Residential Care. The program provides health care supervision to eligible veterans who are unable to live independently and do not have anyone to provide the required supervision and care. The veteran must be able to function with minimal assistance.

Conditions and Limitations

• Veteran must meet eligibility criteria for VA benefits, and
• Demonstrate need for this type of care

Finding and Assessing an Assisted Living Facility

Gilbert Guide provides national assisted living facility listings along with information on how to assess assisted living facilities so that you can find a facility that will best fit your needs both now and in the future.

Posted in: Alzheimer's Care, Assisted Living, Assisted Living & Alzheimer's Care Communities, Paying for Care, Weighing your Housing Options

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