(See Paying for Assisted Living for more information on the sources available for paying for care.) Overall Costs. Costs for Assisted Living Care Homes vary greatly. Apart from the level of care needed and the cost adjustments there, there are variables such as the size and type of room or apartment, amenities, special services provided, and location. For a senior with dementia who needs assistance with bathing, dressing, grooming, medications and so on the average cost nationwide is probably in the $2,500 to $3,000 per month range. That is for a room (shared or perhaps private) in a smaller board and care style facility. It is certainly possible to find some shared rooms in small care homes in the $1,500 to $2,500 range, but one always has to look carefully to see if there is enough staffing and service at that level (especially for dementia care). At the other end of the spectrum it is not uncommon these days to find monthly fees ranging up to $7,000, $8,000 or even more per month. With costs always rising families must plan carefully for the future! Up-Front Fees. It is increasingly common to find Assisted Living Care Homes charging fees to bring a prospective resident into their community. These maybe called “Admission Fees”, “Community Fees”, “Application Fees” or something similar. These fees may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. Be sure to clarify with the person helping you the purpose of the fee, when it must be paid, under what circumstances it is refunded to you, etc. Be sure that all agreements are in writing in their admissions agreement. Be sure to read the agreement carefully as some fees may not be returned even if your loved one does not enter that community. Basic Monthly Fee. After evaluating the needs of your loved one and agreeing on the type of accommodations your loved one will reside in (private room, shared room, apartment, etc.) the care home will tell you what they will charge on a monthly basis. This amount will be included in the Admissions Agreement that you will need to sign in order to complete the contract. Be sure to read the Agreement carefully and to ask questions to determine any other costs that might be incurred. It is not always the case that all costs are covered in the basic monthly fee. Here are some Possible Additional Costs to look for and ask about: Fees for Personal Care. It is especially important to know what is or is not covered in the basic monthly fee regarding personal care. If such care is not included in the basic monthly fee then the facility may bill per service (e.g. a bathing service fee) or per period of time spent by staff (e.g., 30 minutes for bathing on Tuesday, 45 on Wednesday, etc.). It may also happen that the care home finds that the level of care they thought your loved one would need is actually too low. The Admission Agreement will probably have a clause that allows them to make an adjustment in the monthly fee if the level of care increases significantly. Most Assisted Living Care Homes will do their best to give your loved one good care and provide a quality living environment. It should not be assumed that they are out to cheat you…that is no way to begin an important caregiving relationship! Providing quality care for people with dementia is both challenging and costly. It is also very common for a new resident to need more care than was anticipated. For some people the move itself is traumatic and causes a decree of decline, which can be temporary or not. But the impact is that they require additional care. ALZCARE will always strive to send you referrals to care homes that are sincerely trying to do their best to provide the right kind of living space and the right kind of care. It is up to you to really get to know the people administering the facilities you are visiting—to choose not just the HOME, but the PEOPLE you are comfortable with and to be as clear as possible regarding all of the details of cost, service and expectations. Let ALZCARE put you on the right track.
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