Senior Communities – Choosing the Best

by | May 5, 2023

As you know, Eldercare Navigators does not accept any payment from any Senior Community we refer you to. We refer you to a Senior Community after understanding your needs and then researching communities that we feel would be a good fit for you. Most other companies that help match you with a Senior Community, are paid by the Senior Communities to bring them referrals/business, which we feel is a conflict of interest. Also, do you know who is real the customer; the one paying them, which is the Senior Community, not you.

We delve a lot deeper too. We want to topically understand your finances, because the recommendations we make for someone with $10k, $100k or 1 million in savings are all very different. We want to make recommendations that will best serve your potential life span and within your financial parameters. We are also super conscientious about married couples, who frequently don’t age the same, to help ensure assets are more evenly split and not exhausted by the spouse who falls ill first. We also recognize that anything a senior takes out of their savings, they most likely will not be able to put back in, so we try to preserve assets as much as possible.

If Medicaid is potentially in your future, this is extremely important to know in the planning process to help ensure your monies are best allocated to maximize your healthcare, living situation and long term plan. 

Types of Senior Communities

Board and Care Homes

Board and care homes, also called residential care facilities or group homes, are small private facilities, usually with 20 or fewer residents. Rooms may be private or shared. Residents receive personal care and meals and have staff available around the clock. Nursing and medical care usually are not provided on site.

Assisted Living

Assisted living is for people who need help with daily care, but not as much help as a nursing home provides. Assisted living facilities range in size from as few as 25 residents to 120 or more. Typically, a few “levels of care” are offered, with residents paying more for higher levels of care.

Assisted living residents usually live in their own apartments or rooms and share common areas. They have access to many services, including up to three meals a day; assistance with personal care; help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry; 24-hour supervision, security, and on-site staff; and social and recreational activities. Exact arrangements vary from state to state.

Nursing Homes

Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, provide a wide range of health and personal care services. Their services focus on medical care more than most assisted living facilities. These services typically include nursing care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with everyday activities. Rehabilitation services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, are also available.

Some people stay at a nursing home for a short time after being in the hospital. After they recover, they go home. However, most nursing home residents live there permanently because they have ongoing physical or mental conditions that require constant care and supervision.

To look for and compare nursing homes in your area, see Medicare’s Nursing Home Compare. Also get tips for choosing a nursing home.

Continuing Care Retirement Communities

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs), also called life care communities, offer different levels of service in one location. Many of them offer independent housing (houses or apartments), assisted living, and skilled nursing care all on one campus. Healthcare services and recreation programs are also provided.

In a CCRC, where you live depends on the level of service you need. People who can no longer live independently move to the assisted living facility or sometimes receive home care in their independent living unit. If necessary, they can enter the CCRC’s nursing home.

If you DO NOT plan, these decisions may not be your own.