Paying over $2000.00 for Independent living is way too much. I paid $761.00 in Vancouver, WA. You can get help with cleaning if you want to pay some for it. No meals, sometimes a pot luck. I was on Meals of Wheels. My daughter took me the VA for appointment and stopped at the store for things I needed. Now I am in an assistant living and I don't like it. It cost too much for what you get. If you need extra care, like someone pushing our wheel chair to the dinning room or ordering you meds, you pay a lot extra for things like that. I use a walker and still order my own meds from the VA. They have a bus to take folk to the VA 3 days a week. If you can't get an appointment on those day, too bad. I don't know about civilian hospital appointments. My daughter takes me to the VA appointments. She wants to keep up with my health. They do clean rooms once a week here. You can go on line to A place for Mom and get a lot of information. Good luck. Verna
I think it depends on what you mean by "independent living". There are places that offer "independent living" where there are meals and cleaning, but no medical support. Then there are apartment buildings that are for seniors only, sometimes for low-income seniors only, where no meals or care are offered. The type of independent living facility that offers meals and cleaning tends to be quite expensive, but senior apartment buildings with no services aren't nearly as much. My parents' building has a wing that is independent, each home is a little cottage, they're very cute little houses with full kitchens and all, plus residents get two free meals each day I think. They also have the same emergency pull cords that the residents in the main building have, but not the same level of care - for instance, they won't provide your medicine or deliver meals. The cost is about $2700 a month, if I recall correctly. Down the street, my MIL lives in a senior building with no services or meals, and pays about $800 a month. It's a tiny efficiency apartment, but it does have a full kitchen and two bedrooms. The difference is, she can take care of herself - my parents can't, or they'd still be in their home. I wish everyone the best of luck in dealing with all this! I wonder if things will be different in 30 years when my hubby and I reach that age?
Hi Debra1957 - There's a website that lists low income apartments by city, called Help for Texans. You can find it with a web search. (I think we are not allowed to post links here!) - once you find the site, look for the Low Income Vacancies list. Good luck!
I'm looking for the senior apts on 1400 block of Snyder ave .What are the qualifications .what are the rent cost Does your rent go by how much your social security is
Rates vary from city to city and vary greatly within each city. Be careful of levels of care on top of the base rent. This is where prices can increase substantially. If you are looking in Southwest Florida, our service may be of some use to you.
My parents had a two bedroom/two bathroom in a retirement community. Their apartment was Independent Living and the rent included a roughly a $250 monthly dining room allowance. This was about three years ago and it was around $2,500. The apartment wasn't anything special and if it were a regular apartment outside of this community would have rented for half what they paid. It did come with fall alert pendants, garage parking and access to activities and shuttle bus transportation. This was in Portland, Oregon.
By all means; their newsletter is very well done in a reasonable professional manner. Articles for all types of elder care questions. I highly recommend it. So sign up for it. Will save you time and energy in all elderly concerns. Thank you and good luck in this arena. It can be daunting.
Started looking at assisted living homes for spouse who has Alzheimer's for over 10 years. I was totally shocked at the cost. So far the 3 I have toured the basic, and I emphasize BASIC, the lowest fee was $3,700, the highest over $4,000 a month. This was Level One, the most economical of all the fee structures. The monthly fee would wipe out my husband's pension, social security and require approximately another $500. And, that does NOT include all the tack on fees; room cleaning, wastepaper basket emptying, laundry, meds filled, vaccines given, etc. So depressed leaving these facilities wondering how do people cope. There would be nothing left for me to survive on. I do not have a pension and my social security is a pittance being a mother and housewife most of my life. We would lose our home. I could not pay bills, buy food, maintain any required maintenance. And, at nearly 80 years of age, I could try and find a part-time job, but who would want to hire me? Please know, I would like someone to explain to me, where is the quality of life for loved ones of those living, or attempting to live, in assisted living homes? There are horror stories of the treatment that some dementia patients receive in their homes. However, with the outrageous costs and some not-so-good treatment in assisted living homes, I have become more understandable as to why caregivers 'give-up' and only do what is absolutely necessary with home care. This has become a health epidemic and I do not know where the solutions or answers are found. It seems no one does. Caregivers are innocent victims given a sentence of decades of caring for people they love, but they lose their own life by doing so.
GrammyM, I know what you mean about cost of Independent Living/Assisted Living facilities.
My parents had saved big time for "rainy days" and now it is storming out there. Dad [94] was shocked at the cost of living while elderly. I tried to have around the clock caregivers at his home [after my Mom was placed in long-term-care] and that was costing Dad $20k per month not including the cost of maintaining his house.
Dad decided after my Mom had passed to move to senior living as he could no longer do stairs. Doing that cut the cost in half, but it was still very expensive. My parents house has sold so the equity will help in future costs.
Grammy, maybe your husband could qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid would pay for nursing home care if your husband is at that level. Each State has their own programs. It is worth checking it out.
Are these actually rent increases or level of care increases? The agreement that was signed would dictate how often rent can be increased. But, that same agreement probably permits for level of care increases whenever necessary.
aseret, one has to check the lease as Gladimhere had mentioned above.
My Dad's rent was set in stone for one year, in fact he got a discount because it was December just after Christmas and the unit was sitting vacant.... but eventually I needed to add extra services, like pill management, and night service which helps Dad get ready for bed.
@GrammyM, I really feel for you. I don't know what level of care your husband needs, but if he's not wandering (or what they call "exit seeking"), there are likely to be assisted living buildings that would have an apartment suitable for both of you. While you live there, you could rent out your home in order to maintain it. I know this isn't what you have in mind, but I am suggesting this because, as expensive as ALF's can be, they're not as expensive as specialized dementia care. And many can and will provide highs quality care for your husband along with comfortable living for you (including meals and basic housekeeping). The "second person" fees range from $600 per month at the low end to $1000 per month at the high end, and would include everything for the 2nd person except for things like giving medications.
The other question I have is whether your husband served in the military during a period of active war. If so, he'd likely qualify for Aid & Attendance once the personal funds have been depleted.
As for finding a suitable place, I'd highly recommend talking with someone from your local Area Agency on Aging to find out what your options are, or even checking with one of the commercial outfits that get commissions from the assisted living places. The person they'll connect you to is often a knowledgable local.
Finally, I'm concerned for your own welfare. Have you tried calling the Alzheimer's Association to talk to a counselor when you're feeling frustrated? Are you attending any kind of support group for caregiving spouses? It's very helpful to be able to reflect with others going through the same thing.
Hang in there -- there are ways to make this work!
There has to be some solution for GrannyM. People do manage. The lady across the street was put into a facility, and her boyfriend (in his 80's! whose wife in another state! was getting his social security), they both had dementia. So they were placed in this AL together. Not sure how the lady's son was paying for it, or the old man, but there they are, in a nice little place together. I think the lady's son is selling her house (sadly run down)... If GrannyM's husband gets Medicaid, she can stay in the house, they can't take the house while she's still alive, correct? I feel bad for her, but there have to be solutions out there. Contact office for the aging through the county, first of all!
The rent for a HUD subsidized-specifically a section 8 property is generally going to be 30% of their adjusted income. That means that medical expenses and assets are netted against income to come up with their portion of the rent. HUD pays the rest. They may still also have to pay for their utilities. Inquire of the specific property for more specific information.
It depends on what their needs are and the place. My aunt was in a assisted living and was paying 4,000.00. The price went up and they had to move her to a Place for Mom advertised on TV. These places can get pretty expensive. My aunt went through her money quick and had to get on Medicaid to help. I hope this was helpful. My cousin did get a elder care attorney to over look her financials affairs.
My parents had saved big time for "rainy days" and now it is storming out there. Dad [94] was shocked at the cost of living while elderly. I tried to have around the clock caregivers at his home [after my Mom was placed in long-term-care] and that was costing Dad $20k per month not including the cost of maintaining his house.
Dad decided after my Mom had passed to move to senior living as he could no longer do stairs. Doing that cut the cost in half, but it was still very expensive. My parents house has sold so the equity will help in future costs.
Grammy, maybe your husband could qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid would pay for nursing home care if your husband is at that level. Each State has their own programs. It is worth checking it out.
My Dad's rent was set in stone for one year, in fact he got a discount because it was December just after Christmas and the unit was sitting vacant.... but eventually I needed to add extra services, like pill management, and night service which helps Dad get ready for bed.
The other question I have is whether your husband served in the military during a period of active war. If so, he'd likely qualify for Aid & Attendance once the personal funds have been depleted.
As for finding a suitable place, I'd highly recommend talking with someone from your local Area Agency on Aging to find out what your options are, or even checking with one of the commercial outfits that get commissions from the assisted living places. The person they'll connect you to is often a knowledgable local.
Finally, I'm concerned for your own welfare. Have you tried calling the Alzheimer's Association to talk to a counselor when you're feeling frustrated? Are you attending any kind of support group for caregiving spouses? It's very helpful to be able to reflect with others going through the same thing.
Hang in there -- there are ways to make this work!