Assisted Living Alternatives

I wrote this blogpost inspired by a friend who is attempting to navigate care for her aging parents from thousands of miles away. I could hear the stress in her voice as she explained to me how her parents were declining and the difficulty she’s facing in deciding if her folks should stay home or go to an assisted living facility (ALF).  Millions of adult children in the U.S. are facing this same question, and many of them are navigating this challenging time from afar.

For many people, an ALF or Independent Living Facility (ILF) may not be financially feasible, and most times there are wait lists a year or more long.  Television commercials, newsprint and social media ads lead us to believe that all seniors are moving to ALFs, when in reality, it is only about 2% of seniors that move to an ALF. On average, seniors live in an ALF for 28 months. National averages for MONTHLY ALF cost is $5,000, although many places charge closer to $8,000 with their a la carte services. Generally, the monthly fee includes meals, distribution of medicine, light cleaning/vacuuming and activities but it is crucial to clarify with the ALF exactly what they cover.

A critical piece to know is  what LEVEL of care your parent/loved one has to be at to remain at the facility.  A level 1 facility will NOT provide any hands-on care for ADLs (personal care which includes bathing, dressing, toileting, transfers). A level 2 facility can provide hands-on assistance with only ONE ADL.  Check out this article  for more in depth details on ALF levels.

Another question to ask is if the facility allows for outside caregivers. This is important to know because if they do allow you to independently hire someone to come in, it may allow your loved one to remain in the facility longer. If they do not allow an outside caregiver and many do not, then you would need to find a new place for your loved one if the level of care can not meet their needs.

The good news?  Home modifications in one’s physical space can create significant improvement in function for your loved one.. Home modifications  tailored to the individual have been shown to reduce fall risk and promote independence. Add to this additional support and education for caregivers and you’ve now created a safer home for your loved one to be in, whether it’s forever, or for the duration of the ALF wait list.

You may also want to check in with your local area council on aging (a quick google will get you there) and see if they offer a home share situation. A home share is when both parties agree on the expectations and the person that moves in with you is responsible for fulfilling their duties to you in exchange for a place to live. There are also residential care facilities that may offer a more unique group home setting. Some states offer medicaid programs that once you’re qualified for, you can receive financial help to hire caregivers to care for you in your home. Vermont, where I live, is one of those states and offers a program called Choices for Care which allows for flexibility and financial assistance for those wishing to remain home.

There are A LOT of variables to consider that are unique to each person in determining the next steps, but thankfully there is consistency in where to start; a home safety assessment and interview to determine needs, goals and barriers. Contact Us to learn more about our home safety assessment and how we can help you and your family meet your goals. We offer remote sessions in most cases if we are unable to travel to you.

Stay tune for our next blog post about how to interview your loved ones to get an accurate capture of their needs and goals.

Thanks for reading!  – Dena