50+ Lifestyles

Celebrating Assisted Living

By Cyndi Koenes
Regional Marketing & Sales Director
Park Vista – North Hill
Park Vista – Camanche

National Assisted Living Week (NALW) for 2025 will be held from September 7-13. The theme for this year is “Ageless Adventure”. This is a week set aside every year to celebrate the residents and communities that provide assisted living to seniors.

What exactly is Assisted Living?  Assisted living is a step in between independent living and long-term care. Folks that live in an assisted living community usually need a little more care and help with their activities of daily living (ADLs). Residents are still able to participate in their own daily care and are mobile. Some seniors are able to live the rest of their lives in an assisted living community without having to move to long-term care.

These communities have nurses and/or care givers on staff 24 hours a day to help with things like dressing, showering, giving medications, personal care and bathroom assistance.  Once a senior selects the community they want to live in, medical records are requested, and they are assessed by nursing staff. With input from the resident, family and nursing staff, a care plan is developed to meet the individual needs of the resident. Meals and snacks are provided as well as housekeeping, laundry, utilities and most provide an
emergency alert pendant to reach the staff. Activities and transportation are also available.

Since we are a border state with Illinois, you will find there are different state regulations for Iowa and Illinois.  Payer sources can be different too. Generally, assisted living is private pay with the exception of qualified Veteran’s benefits or long-term care insurance that may have a rider to help with the cost of care. Residents would need to consult the Veteran’s Affair’s office in the county they will reside in to see if there are benefits available to them or a surviving spouse. In the case of long-term care insurance, the resident would need to contact their insurance provider to check their policy. Some communities are all inclusive in their rent and some charge for different levels of care in addition to the apartment rent.

Some folks prefer to be in a community where they can reside in independent living and move to assisted living when more care is needed. There are communities like Park Vista-Camanche that are dual licensed which means we can provide both independent and assisted living in the same apartment, so you don’t have to move if your level of care changes. Most communities allow the addition of a 2nd person such as a spouse for an additional fee. Depending on the selected community, there is usually an entry or lifestyle fee with prices varying and some charge a security deposit.  Other costs may include a pet deposit if you bring your furry friend.

As we celebrate this special week, please feel free to stop by Park Vista-Camanche or Park Vista-North Hill for one of our many daily activities and enjoy a free lunch and a tour.  We are here to help along this journey and most importantly find the community that is right for you as we go on this Ageless Adventure together.

Cyndi Koenes is Regional Marketing & Sales Director at Park Vista Retirement Living in East Moline, Illinois and Camanche, Iowa. For more information, please go to www.parkvistaliving.org or contact Cyndi Koenes at 309-236-0875 or by email at Cyndi.Koenes@parkvistaliving.org.