Stay in Your Home
Reverse Mortgages for Seniors
Retirement and Education Preparation
Home Care Services
Senior Housing Alternatives
Senior Apartments
Subsidized Housing
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC)
Retirement Communities
Assisted Living Facilities
Dementia/Alzheimer’s Memory Care
Units for Seniors and Persons With Disabilities
Housing Definitions
Continuing Care Retirement Community
It is also known as “Aging in Place” and offers a campus-style environment that may include villas, apartments/condos, assisted living and skilled nursing services. A large endowment fee may be required that entitles residents to use assisted or skilled services when needed throughout their lifetime.
Retirement Communities
Residents in retirement living communities live in their apartments. The services provided by the association facility vary.
Many of these residences are subsidized. If so, qualified residents generally pay 30% of their adjusted gross income for rent.
Independent Living
These are housing explicitly designed for the seniors. Most are studio rental apartments with one or two bedrooms, full kitchens, and private baths. Services may include:
- Meal Plans
- Transportation
- Scheduled Activities
- Housekeeping
- Laundry
- Maintenance
Additionally, rates are monthly and based on the apartment size and location. Amenities could include libraries, computer stations, and activity rooms.
Assisted Living
Communities are typically apartment-style with private baths. Services may vary but may include companion accommodations, meal plans, cable television, local phone, housekeeping, laundry, maintenance, and transportation. There is also personal assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, grooming, dressing, toileting, eating, and ambulation. Rates vary from all-inclusive to base rates with levels of care.
Alzheimer/Dementia
These communities are either licensed assisted living facilities that specialize in delivering care to the seniors who suffer from dementia or a unit of a skilled nursing facility. There are typically bedroom-style rental units with common areas for dining and activities. Many are also secured for residents’ safety.
Amenities vary and often include meal plans, cable television, local phone calls, housekeeping, laundry maintenance, and transportation. Personal assistance with ADLs is available. Rates also vary from all-inclusive to base rates with levels of care.
Skilled Nursing Care
This level of care is typically found in a nursing home or skilled nursing care unit in a hospital. Daily rates may include a furnished bedroom, private or shared bath, meals, activities, transportation, phone service, cable television, and all personal/nursing care. Payor sources usually accepted are Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and some insurance plans and private sources.
Subsidized Housing
National, state, and local programs provide funding to assist seniors in paying for the cost of housing. Depending on the program, it may cover independent living (e.g., HUD, Section 8), assisted living, and skilled nursing (e.g., Medicare, Medicaid, VA, ALTEC).
Respite Care
It is also known as short-term stay. Many providers of Il, Al, ALZ or SNF care often provide fully furnished accommodations to a person for a short period. Rates are usually quoted daily and typically include all services and amenities.
Day Care/Adult Day Care
Providers of day/night services on a short or long term basis. Rates typically include a place to rest, one or two meals and snacks and activities for the day. Licensed ALFs are prohibited by law to promote these services without a license.