Senior Living

Senior Living Options

There are many senior living options for aging seniors. At SeniorGuidance.org, we are dedicated to helping seniors, their loved ones and their caregivers to find appropriate senior facilities and communities that may be of interest to seniors who are looking to retire or need special care. Some people will want to retire in the state where they currently live, but some will want to relocate for numerous reasons – to be closer to family, for better weather, for better services or simply to make a change in their lives. Below you can see all senior living communites inside every state in the U.S. On each state page we have also provided you with various senior living resources such as: overview of each city, various supportive services available from the state and federal goverment, senior assistance programs, best places to retire in each state, notable places of interest for senior living, assisted living costs and much more.

Aging seniors have a number of senior living options available to them and different lifestyles they can choose from, depending on their preference, financial situation and most importantly, their health needs. Below are various senior living and senior care options that every elderly person can take advantage of:

• Assisted Living Facilities
• Independent Living Communities
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities
• Senior Congregate Care
• Senior Veteran Housing
• Respite Care
• Senior Cooperative Housing
• Nursing Homes
• Adult Day Care
• Alzheimer's and Memory Care
• Home Health Care

Assisted living facilities are great for seniors who need help with daily living but do not need as much care as is available in skilled nursing facilities such as nursing homes. Independent living Communities are great for seniors who can still do many, if not most of the daily living activities but want to live in a senior community. Alzheimer's and memory care is offered at many facilities - both assisted living facilities and nursing homes have special memory care divisions, but you would need to inquire at each of those facilities as not all of them specialize in memory care. Adult day care is exactly what it sounds like - care for the elderly during the day, where they go to their own home for the night. Senior cooperative housing is similar to any other types of cooperatives, in the sense that a corporation will own the apartment complex and the senior will purchase stock, or part ownership, in that complex. Senior Congregate care allows seniors to share common areas with other elders and their peers, while maintaining a private apartment to go to at night. And finally, respite care is transient care, usually for caregivers who want or need to take a short break from giving care to the elderly, for whatever reason.

Choosing your senior living lifestyle:

Of course, there are many different options for senior living, but some of the first things that you should consider are these questions:

• Age-Segregated Communities – are you the type of person that enjoys living with or around people of a similar age, or are you one that would prefer to live in an environment where all ages are represented. Many facilities and communities have strict rules regarding the age limit – be it 50, 55, or 60. However, due to the move to include those who have disabilities may lead to these historically age-segregated communities accepting younger people who need assistance
• Independent Living Communities -  these are similar to apartment buildings, but expect that all of the residents are over a certain age. Many of these facilities offer meals for residents but within the individual apartments there are often kitchenettes, refrigerators, pantries, etc.
• Assisted Living Communities – to qualify for Assisted Living, a person must meet physical or cognitive requirements which are called Activities of Daily Living (ADLs). These ADL’s are tasks that are required for independent living, including: dressing, bathing, toileting, meal preparation, medication reminders, grooming, work, homemaking and leisure. The average cost of a care in an Assisted Living Facility is over $3,500 monthly and most, if not all, is paid for by the families or the resident.
• Skilled Nursing Facilities – Many people mistakenly believe that Medicare will pay for long-term care in a nursing home. This is not true. Many facilities will accept Medicaid, but they can be hard to find because the beds fill up fast. There are also income requirements for Medicaid Care in facilities, which vary from state to state, but a good rule of thumb is that the person can’t have income of greater than $2,000. In some states spouses are penalized and in some they are not. You should check with your state to see what the requirements are in your state.
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) – as the population ages most people prefer to “age in place” which is what a CCRC provides. CCRC’s provide the spectrum of care – from independent living, assisted living, and nursing facility care if necessary without having to move to another facility and re-learn the politics of the facility. If a resident needs care higher than their current living arrangement allows then they can move to the next higher level, alternately if someone gets healthier they can move to a lower level of care without any increases in charges. However, most people who move into a CCRC are required to “invest” a large amount of money before they move. It is imperative that you read over the paperwork to see if these funds are refundable and what would happen to the space if it is no longer a good fit for your loved one.

About Assisted Living

What is assisted living? Assisted living is a senior housing option for older adults who are struggling with daily living activities and need a specialized facility where they receive both housing and care. Assisted living facilities provide skilled caregivers who will help senior citizens with 2 or more activities of daily living, which can include showering and bathing, personal hygiene, feeding, mobility, dressing and more. The average age of an assisted living facility resident is 87. There is no right age for assisted living – you or your loved one should choose this senior living option whenever the need arises.

In addition to housing and care services, assisted living facilities include numerous amenities for all residents. Most facilities include dining with at least 3 daily meals, as well as special dining options for senior citizens with allergies, diabetes or other dietary requirements.

Assisted living cost nationwide is $3,740 per month, and it can vary from as low as $2,220 per month (10% cheapest assisted living facilities average) to as high as $6,340 (average for the 10% most expensive assisted living facilities). Translated to yearly cost, assisted living costs $44,880 per year on average. Costs vary substantially from state to state and from city to city.

Most popular cities for assisted living: