How to Determine if You Are Ready to Move to an Assisted Living Facility

If you are feeling isolated, you feel at risk for falls in your home, you need assitened w/ managing yoru medicatoins or you are having difficulty with cooking and cleaning, you may want to consider a move to an assisted living facility.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Realize that if you live in an assisted living facility (ALF), whether it is stand-alone or in a wing at a continuing care retirement community (CCRC), you may have your own place, live with a spouse or share a room with another senior.

2. Know that prices range from $1,500 to $3,500 per month for ALFs, which range from small six-bed homes to those with 200 people. Fees can increase with increasing levels of assistance.

3. Note that if you choose a CCRC at the independent level, you may later make a transition into the skilled nursing or assisted living units as your needs change. The same monthly fee of $1,500 to $3,500 would apply.

4. Think about moving into an ALF if you or your spouse will soon need more assistance. Here you can remain as independent as you like, paying only a base rate that does not include daily assistance.

5. Opt for an ALF if you are feeling alone and depressed. They offer group activities such as off-site excursions and on-site entertainment, classes and religious services.

6. Consider moving into an assisted living facility where social activities are close by and transportation is available when you wish to go out.

7. Ask yourself if you need assistance today. Are you able to move through your home safely, or are there stairs or other areas that make it unsafe for you? Is it difficult to cook three meals a day, clean and do laundry? An assisted living facility will help you with some or all of these activities if necessary.

8. Are you having trouble with your memory, but not at the level where you would require 24-hour skilled nursing care? An assisted living facility can offer you increased levels of assistance with specialization in memory impairment.

9. Do you have family close by with whom you regularly interact? While an assisted living facility is not a substitute for family, it does provide a community of seniors you can engage with daily.

Tips & Warnings

• Facilities usually staff certified nurse's aides and/ or other resident assitants they train on the job.
• Make sure you know what type of reciprocal agreement a CCRC has with other CCRCs should the assisted living wing be full at the time you wish to make a transition from independent living.
• Medicare does not cover assisted living. Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) does cover skilled nursing facilities for those who are eligible. In some states it may also cover assisted living facilities.

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