Comparing the Costs: Living at Home, Assisted Living, or Long Term Care

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) February 24, 2010 --

“When comparing the cost of daily assistance for a health challenged senior adult, Assisted Living centers compare very favorability when it comes to quality, convenience, and affordability.” states Tara Koestner, Administrator, The Continental at St Joseph’s Assisted Living Center. Of course, everyone wants to live in their own home as long as possible. This is understandable and always the ideal situation as long as the aging adult is able to maintain a reasonable quality of life at home. Gradually, over time, subtle signs appear that indicate that aging adult may not be doing as well at home alone as the family would hope. Lora Lyons, Healthcare Coordinator at CSJ recommends that the family look for the following signs of unsafe behavior:

* Falling and unable to get up without assistance.
* Missed doses of medications and out of date medications.
* Gradual loss of weight.
* Lack of personal hygiene.
* Unable to hear the phone or call for help.
* Inability or unwillingness to leave their home.
* Gets lost or looses objects frequently.
* Living space shrinking to a space around the favorite chair.
* Periodic little driving accidents.

All of the above behaviors happen normally with age and individually do not necessarily indicate unsafe behavior.. However, when an ongoing trend starts to appear, it is time for the family to consider making arrangement to assist this adult. There comes a point in time in this process where Assisted Living becomes the most cost effective means of providing quality of life assistance for a loved one.

When comparing the cost of Assisted Living and living at home, families need to take into consideration the following costs:

* Rent, or mortgage, property taxes, and insurance.
* Utility costs including: gas, electric, water, trash pick-up.
* Home maintenance including; furnace maintenance, lawn care, snow removal, and home repairs. Consider the inconvenience of arranging maintenance and waiting for repairs.
* Cost of food and/or meal delivery. Consider the quality of nutrition and the lack of enjoyment eating alone.

* Cost of outside assistance for housekeeping, laundry services, transportation to medical appointments, or home health.
* Cost of technology, such as cable TV, Life Line, and medical monitoring devices.
* Concerns about management of medical issues, for example; oxygen use and obtaining oxygen supplies, diabetes management and obtaining diabetic supplies, and proper incontinent management.

When considering all of the costs associated with living at home, Assisted Living Centers like The Continental at St. Joseph’s, become more affordable than one might initially think, especially when long term care insurance could pay most if not all of the costs. If you compare the cost of living in an Assisted Living apartment compared to the cost of living in a Long Term Care facility, Assisted Living Centers costs less.

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