Aging Parents in an Assisted Living Facility

If you’re looking into assisted living facilities, use the following information to get started.

Know what services are provided and which are not. Assisted living facilities generally provide private living quarters and 24-hour staffing to help residents with basic services such as administering medications and meals. They do not provide skilled nursing services, however, as nursing homes do.
Most residents of assisted living facilities spend their own money or get financial assistance from a relative. Funds may also be available from a long-term care policy, but generally not from Medicaid.
A 2005 report from Consumer Reports found inconsistencies in the type and quality of care provided by facilities nationwide. They also found that residents have increasingly grown older and frailer since assisted living facilities were created in the 1980s, thereby creating “a troubling mismatch between the care a resident needs and the care a facility and its staff can give.”
Start searching for an assisted living facility when an aging parent begins to show evidence of declining physical health. Many facilities have waiting lists.
Consumer Reports recommends calling your state’s long-term care ombudsman to ask whether complaints have been lodged against a facility and to obtain inspection reports, if any. Other suggestions are to look for “senior friendly” furnishings (such as grab bars), observe and talk to residents and staff, and visit unannounced. Once an aging parent moves to an assisted living facility, family members need to monitor the level of care.
Explore additional care options that may be appropriate for aging parents. For example, home care provided by a licensed home health agency or a community adult day care program that provides meals and activities such as crafts and exercise.
Another option for aging parents with substantial resources is a continuing care retirement community (CCRC) that provides several levels of care ranging from independent living units to assisted living to skilled nursing. Most CCRCs charge a six-figure upfront deposit as well as ongoing monthly fees. Thus, a CCRC is an investment in both real estate and long-term care.
Lastly, consider a nursing home that provides skilled nursing care. The average cost of nursing home care in the United States exceeds $70,000 a year. Many people pay for nursing home care by spending down their assets until they qualify for Medicaid. Another payment option is to purchase a long-term care insurance policy.