CareStaff Assisted Living
As you age, you may feel the need for an extra pair of hands to support you in doing daily activities, getting around the house, or running errands. Assisted living — a care option for older age adults who want or need help with some activities of daily living, including cooking meals, going to the bathroom at night, upkeep of home, or traveling to appointments — may be a good choice for you. An assisted living facility is the best option if you require more personal care services than what you can get at home or an independent living retirement community but do not need the round-the-clock medical care and supervision of a nursing home.
Is CareStaff Assisted Living for You?
Services available in an assisted living facility includes three meals served in a common dining area; assistance in personal care like eating, bathing, dressing, or walking; housekeeping and laundry services; access to health and medical services, medication management, and exercise and wellness programs; social and recreational activities; transportation round-the-clock security; emergency call systems in each resident’s living space; and staff available to help with scheduled needs and unexpected issues.
Need for more help than what family and friends are able to provide: Do you feel that daily activities are becoming stressful or overwhelming? Are your family members or friends unable to provide the support when and as you need it? Consider assisted living where you will have access to reliable help 24/7 without losing your independence and autonomy.
Feeling of loneliness or isolation at home: With the busy lives that your family members live, do you find yourself alone in the house with nothing to do? This is a recipe for depression, which you can avoid with the social benefit of an assisted living facility. Most offer a range of social and recreation activities and opportunity to meet like-minded peers and make new friends.
Concern about safety: Is your mobility limited? Do you worry about the difficulty of getting out of bed or going to the bathroom by yourself in the middle of the night? The help from an assisted living facility can provide you the peace of mind to wake up each day and continue doing daily activities.
Feeling tired of upkeeping your home: Do you feel that living in your own home requires a lot of energy and responsibilities that you cannot keep up? Assisted living facilities can provide you a home-like atmosphere without you having to think about cooking, cleaning, shopping for groceries, and doing laundry.
Issue of transportation: Do you used to drive but are now having difficulty to do so? Is public transportation not an option because of inconvenience? Do you find yourself stuck at home because you can’t go to places you want to go to? Transportation services offered by assisted living facilities can take you where you need to go without relying on families and friends.
The Cost of a Standard Assisted Living
Assisted living facilities are owned and operated by for-profit and nonprofit organizations and can range in cost from $800 to $4,000 a month or more, depending on location. Check with your insurance if your plan will cover any of the costs of assisted living. Medicare does not cover assisted living costs but Medicaid may provide a limited benefit.
In evaluating costs, remember that expensive does not always mean better. Focus on what the facility has to offer specific to your wants and needs and the quality of care and service of the staff. Make sure you know how the billing system works. Will you pay a flat fee or do additional services require more costs? Ask about increase in rates so you will not be surprised in future fee hikes.