50+ Lifestyles

Aging and You

Considerations When Choosing  Assisted Living

By Julie Arndt
Marketing Director at Ridgecrest Village

Most people do not give a lot of thought about what goes into making a decision about assisted living until they actually need care. If you are seeking the best value to match your needs and to conserve costs, there are several things to consider including, size, cost, quality of care, and what’s available should you need more care down the road.

Recently I’ve been having issues with mobility for the first time in my life due to a knee issue. I find myself contemplating my movement in new ways, like gathering all the ingredients to cook at the same time to save steps in the kitchen or piling things at the bottom of the stairs to make only one trip up. I’m a high-energy person who only knows one speed to walk, and that’s fast, so this has been quite an eye-opening experience.

What does this have to do with assisted living?  Sometimes more or bigger is not necessarily better. A smaller or compact studio apartment with everything you need within a few steps may be more suitable when mobility is an issue. In assisted living, all meals are served in a communal dining room, removing the need for a full-sized kitchen.

Assisted living facilities have different pricing models: (1) Monthly Flat Rate Model which is all inclusive, including the apartment, utilities, meals, phone, internet, nursing care, activities, medical transportation, medication assistance, bathing assistance, help with dressing and with getting to meals. You are not charged based on the individual service provided. (2) A La Carte Model charges for the apartment and each of these services separately. For example, if you need help with a shower or help with taking your medications, you are charged a fee each time that service is provided.

Ridgecrest offers a Monthly Flat Rate with no surprises. Unlike most assisted living communities in the area, there are no a la carte charges for assistance with activities of daily living; it’s all included. When considering assisted living, factor in the base rate and ask if there are any additional fees for services like bathing, dressing, medication assistance, and any other assistance you think you may need. These individual charges can add up quickly, in some cases costing an additional $2000 per month or more on top of base rent.

It takes a great deal of energy, both physical and emotional, to make the transition to any new living situation, so it’s important to get clarity on potential costs right from the start, rather to find out later after you are all settled in.

Size and cost are certainly factors, but it’s also important that you feel good about being in your new home. When you tour, can you see yourself living there?  Is the staff friendly and attentive to residents, family, and other staff members? Is the food good?  Do the residents look happy and engaged? It’s not scientific, but generally when you tour and it feels right, it is right.

It’s not an easy thing to think about, but what’s the plan if you eventually need more care than the assisted living can provide. What happens to you? Having a health center on site simplifies access for residents who need long-term nursing care or temporary skilled care after hospitalization.

Ridgecrest Village is a faith-based local Continuing Care Retirement Community offering all levels of living, including independent living apartments and cottages, assisted living, memory care and long-term and skilled nursing care. The organization is overseen by a local volunteer board of directors and remains committed to the mission of maintaining a happy and healthy living experience with the highest quality of service for the community. Located on the 22-acre parklike campus, this community has many options to choose from, including monthly rental in select independent living units starting at $2150/month, cottages with yards and garages; and assisted living with a monthly flat rate fee – no surprises.

Finding the right balance between good care in the right setting is key to making the right decision for you. It’s important to understand the cost from the start.

Julie Arndt, is a licensed social worker and Director of Marketing at Ridgecrest Village with over 35 years’ experience working in the field of geriatrics and senior advocacy. She can be reached at jarndt@ridgecrestvillage.org.