Assisted Living info needed...

[MouseLover]

Does anyone have a loved one in an assisted living center? Could you give me a rough estimate of services covered and monthly cost? (I have no idea if we're talking $2000 per month or $10000 per month or what).

Also does Medicaid or medicare usually cover any of this?

I need to find out for my MIL whose mind is fine but can no longer physically care for herself independently. I have no idea where to start looking.

 

[golfgal]

Neither Medicaid nor medicare pay for assisted living. Medicaid will pay for nursing home care if she qualifies (medically and financially-everyone eventually will qualify financially if they start out paying on their own and spend all their money doing so).

As far as cost goes, in our area it is about $300/average for nursing home care costs, so around $9000/month depending on the level of coverage needed. Now, some nursing homes are less, some are more.

Assisted living runs about $3000-6000+/month, on average, for an apartment and probably one meal/day. If you want extras like laundry, cleaning, medication set-ups, etc. those all usually cost extra. Some places will package all of them but you are then looking at a higher per month cost.

 

[Mimi1965]

We just went looking at both
Assisted living-pretty much patient gets up on their own goes to dining room to get meals
#3500-5000 Month

Nursing Home-needs help getting out of bed, havinng diapers changed , nurse dispense all meds etcetc-$4000-8000 Month

 

[diz8297]

In my state, some assisted living residences have medicaid beds, called waiver beds. The individual still has to qualify for medicaid financially and as you can imagine, these are hard to come by.

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm sure assisted living costs vary as drastically as home costs in different areas. Where we have my father, we're paying $1900, plus $30 for weekly laundry. He shares a room with another man and there are living areas in each wing of the home, and they get three meals a day plus snacks. He has spending money for things like the newspaper and haircuts.

This would be very affordable if we weren't also maintaining his home at the same time.

 

[Traveliz]

It depends on the state and what they offer as to whether or not Medicaid qualified residents will get a break.

In Illinois they do...they residents have to qualify...basically if you are on Medicaid you do qualify and then your payment is your Social Security check minus about 20-30.00 dollars that the resident keeps (I can't remember the exact amount).

Where I am located there are beautiful facilities that house both residents who are paying and those whose payments are waived (or taken care of through the state). There is not a particular shortage here as Supportive Living Homes are popping up all over. They are the same as Assisted Living with all the same assistance given the residents.

I would check with your state agency on aging or just stop by one as they can let you know what the particulars are for your state.

Liz

 

[doxdogy]

Here is a link for Arkansas Council on Aging. I would start there for any information.

http://www.daas.ar.gov/

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

In Massachusetts the costs for Assisted living are about $3,000 for the least expensive room. We had my father in Assisted Living for a while. He had 3 full meals in the Dining Room and furnished his own little studio apt. with his bed/couch/cofee table/T.V. etc. It came with a microwave and small refrig. It was very nice actually...all he needed. He got about 45 min of care if he needed it per day. I think they "watched over" while he showered ....they were in the room and encouraged him. He could shower himself as he used a walker.They also picked out/layed out his clean clothes for the day...that is something he needed help with , as he would wear the same outfit for days if they let him. We picked up and paid for his meds from the pharmacy and they made sure he took them as scheduled. Either I or the visiting nurse would fill his pill box for the week/month. He also qualified for a visiting nurse so she came once a week to see him.We did his laundry when we visited..free washing machines/dryers in the hallways for the residents to use.I think they changed his bed linens weekly or as needed as well.

Also, if your mom is a Vetern or entitled thru her husband for Veterns Benefits...Look into "Aid and Attendance'...that will help significantly with the monthly fees due. The Assisted Living Manager will help you in seeing if your loved one is eligible for "Aid and Attendance".

Ask for a tour of a "few" Assisted Living Residences in your area..they'll be glad to show you around and answer all of your questions...that's what I did!

 

[arminnie]

Does anyone have a loved one in an assisted living center? Could you give me a rough estimate of services covered and monthly cost? (I have no idea if we're talking $2000 per month or $10000 per month or what).

Also does Medicaid or medicare usually cover any of this?

I need to find out for my MIL whose mind is fine but can no longer physically care for herself independently. I have no idea where to start looking.

I posted this very LONG reply about my experiences is Arkansas. I have company coming in a few minutes so this will be the summary version. I don't know what happened to my first reply.

Little Rock - my dad, 1 BR independent living 1 BR $2100, eff - $1700 at Andover. GREAT place. My dad loved it. So many activities. Covered everything but phone. They provided cleaning, sheets and towels once a week. Food was wonderful. No kitchen just micro, refrig and sink. You were allowed to have toaster and coffee maker too.

Many of the residents needed help with their personal needs. One lady was 108!!!! Several were in their 90s. Most everyone had a walker or a few had a scooter. Personal assistance was contracted with outside help if needed. Many, many residents had someone come for an hour a day. Most agencies want a 4 hour minimum, but as these were all in the same place you could just get an hour if needed. I think about $20 for an hour. Or you could come do that part yourself if it was needed. My dad didn't need that. He died in Dec. after a massive stroke. He loved it there.

Andover is part of a national chain. I can't speak for the other locations but this place was great. The food was so good I ate there often with him.

Chenal - Little Rock very upscale nursing home $6000 a month. Probably the most expensive in area.

Medicare pays for nursing home care when the person's assets are gone. In some states the homes that take Medicare are just awful. Arkansas has plenty of great homes (starting about $4000) that accept both private and Medicare. Same exact care for both. Riley in Little Rock is disgusting. I wouldn't even walk my dog through there.

 

[dejr_8]

Does anyone have a loved one in an assisted living center? Could you give me a rough estimate of services covered and monthly cost? (I have no idea if we're talking $2000 per month or $10000 per month or what).

Also does Medicaid or medicare usually cover any of this?

I need to find out for my MIL whose mind is fine but can no longer physically care for herself independently. I have no idea where to start looking.

If your FIL (or MIL) served during Wartime there is a VA benefit to help with assisted living. The paper work is a bear and the review time can be almost a year.

 

[luvavacation]

My mom is in assisted living in Illinois, in a two bedroom/two bath, that takes pets, and I pay $5,500 per month.

The place she is at specializes in memory care assisted living, so they have activities each day to help keep the brain active. Fees are on a points basis, depending on how much care is needed. At this time, my mom just barely falls into the low end, as she only needs them to handle her meds and control her wandering. I take care of her laundry, cleaning the unit, etc. The facility is monitored 24 hours at the door, and you need a code to go in or out. My mom calls it prison, but I call it safe, as she does wander. She is woken every morning for breakfast, and brought to the dining room for meals, as otherwise she will just stay in her room all day and do nothing. The activities are great, but she won't go to them, so you may want to see how that is handled at the places you are considering.

Three meals a day are also offered. I would suggest, as previously mentioned, that you visit any facilities of interest, and get a menu and stay for a meal. My mom says the food at her place is not fit for dogs, but every meal has two options, and I have found the food to be tasty. Some places we looked at, the food really was just slop, so look into that if the person is a picky eater.

Also look into transportation for residents. Where my mom is, there is a nice van that takes residents whereever they wish to go. However, the name of the facility is on the side of it, so my mom won't go anywhere because she is embarrassed. If transportation is important, make sure the facility has a way to get their residents to where they want to go.

The places I have looked at around me that take Medicaid are horrid and smelly. The residents just stared off, no one was smiling or appeared engaged in any activities. My mom won't qualify quite yet anyway, I believe she needs to have less than $2000 in assets, and though her house is not included in assets for Medicaid purposes, when she passes we have to sell the house and Medicaid comes back and retroactively takes its share from the proceeds of the house. At least, that is how it was explained to me.

Good luck in your search. I hope you find something that pleases your MIL and helps her to live a full and happy life to the best of her abilities!

 

[arminnie]

If your FIL (or MIL) served during Wartime there is a VA benefit to help with assisted living. The paper work is a bear and the review time can be almost a year.

Good catch! I'd forgotten about that. My mother and dad were both in WWII. We looked into the benefits, but my dad never needed more than the independent living before he died.

I wish my dad had gone to Andover a year before he did. He wanted no part of it, but when he finally checked in he cried because it was so wonderful! He never missed a meal because they were all paid for. He was of the generation that didn't waste anything. Plus he made lots of friends and participated in some of the activities.

They had transportation, but my dad never used it as my sister and I both only lived about 5 minutes away. I am retired and my sister is self-employed so there was always someone to take him.

But I look to something like that for myself as I get older if I need it. My social security would pay for me to live there. If I were older and not too active it would be a good alternative.

Tomorrow I am taking a friend to lunch who has been living in an independent facility in New Orleans since a little after post Katrina. She has a 2BR/2BA place, but does not use the meal option. She pays about $2100 a month plus utilities. If she went to assisted living she would move into a single room, and it would be $4000. They also have another building that is a nursing home if needed. The nice part is once they are there they are guaranteed a room if they need to up the support they need. It is a top notch facility. I've been there often.

Trust your instincts when you check out places. I've been in many dealing with relatives in the past 15-20 years. Honestly I can usually tell within 10 minutes of walking in the door if the place is bad. Not that you don't have to keep checking as it can change.

 

[arminnie]

One more thing. My dad's place took pets too. When my dad and I lived together I had two very active (and large) cocker spaniels.

As we were doing the contract they asked if he was bringing the dogs. They had stopped by the house a few times and had met them. He could never have walked those boys - 40 and 30 lbs. I could barely walk them.

Most everyone who had a pet had a cat or one of those tiny little dogs.

My dad's place had a chef - not a cook. The food was really, really good. Everything was made from scratch on the premises. Absolutely no institutional food. Homemade cookies were available most afternoons.

 

[HeatherC]

We are in the process of looking for a subacute rehab for my mom who is currently hospitalized. The social worker told us to look at our parents.com or .org.

Also US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT rates the best nursing facilities in the country.

Maybe these can be a reference point for you. I know how hard it can be.

Best wishes to your family.

 

[MouseLover]

Thank you all for the replies!

My FIL is retired Air Force. Her served during the Korean Conflict.

You have given me good information and places to start. MIL needs help with toileting and bathing. She has a scooter but needs help transferring herself. FIL also has health problems. Both have been hospitalized multiple times over the past year.

Thanks again.

 

[LindaG4458]

DH's aunt was in an apartment with assistance with meds, showering, and such until she fell and fractured her right humerus. She could do almost nothing for herself including getting to the bathroom. We had to hire 24 hour personal assistance. With the home itself being $6000 per month and the assistance $12000 per month we had to move her into a nursing home to make her money last as long as possible. Otherwise she would have been flat broke in 12 months.

This was in Vero Beach, FL.

 

[MEG&MINNIE]

If your FIL (or MIL) served during Wartime there is a VA benefit to help with assisted living. The paper work is a bear and the review time can be almost a year.

It was alot of paperwork and documentation...but I tried to stay organized with it all and "photocopied everything" before I mailed into them.( To me it was like all the documentation needed for FAFSA for college students...and I had been used to that already).
It took about 4 months and my father was found eligible for the "Aid and Attendance" Payment thru the VA Dept.A great program for veterns...but I wish I had found out about it sooner...it's a well kept secrect ,I think !

I don't think alot of our older veterns know about this. But, once admitted to Assisted Living the administators there will tell you that you may be eligble and have the forms needed for you. I got alot of my info on this by doing a google search before my father was admitted to Assisted Living.

Good luck in finding the right placement for your MIL.

 

[arminnie]

So would it be the two of them together in a place?

Some nursing homes (quite a few) do not allow men and women to share a room even if married. Weird isn't it?

For the independent living places it is the same charge for a room plus maybe an extra few hundred for meals for the second person. The cost is not double. In a nursing home the cost is double.

What part of Arkansas are they looking at?