For the very old, it’s often the little chores of daily life that finally prompt a move.
Cooking a meal or hauling dirty clothes to the laundry gets difficult. Navigating the bathtub or a narrow flight of stairs not only gets hard, but downright dangerous.
At that point, total independence just isn’t possible anymore. So what then? A nursing home seems unnecessary. But moving in with a family member just isn’t practical, especially when it may seriously muddle treasured relationships.
Assisted-living facilities are filling the gap for the elderly who need help with the activities of daily living, but don’t require round-the-clock supervision. And these homes are on the rise because many families find it’s often this in-between kind of help that frail seniors need most.
There’s lots of confusion about assisted-living facilities. They may sound like nursing homes, but they’re not. Nursing homes are supposed to provide just what the name implies, nursing care. That means supervision for medical conditions.
Assisted-living facilities are designed for seniors who need some help, but still can manage many tasks on their own. Assisted-living facilities have rooms, or apartments, just like any other building. But residents also get whatever help they need, including meal service.
The concept of assisted living isn’t new. For the last 25 years, people who need a little help have received care in residences, called board and care homes. Typically, these are actual houses that have been converted into a residence for five or six seniors.
Though small assistance homes are still around, development of large assisted-living facilities has surged in the last 12 years. The Assisted Living Federation of America (ALFA) of Fairfax, Va., estimates there are now about 40,000 assisted-living residences nationwide, home to about 1 million people.
Most seniors are well into their 80s when they move into assisted-living homes. Residents usually prefer a single room, but sometimes shared rooms are available, especially for those without a lot of money.
Residents can bring their own furniture. Common areas have homey touches, such as lace curtains and antique-looking furniture.
Meal service is important. Most big facilities have a really classy dining room. In newer assisted-living facilities, units have a microwave oven and sink. Some places have communal kitchens for residents if they feel like cooking a meal or baking cookies for the grandkids.
Each unit has senior-friendly features. Shelves are placed near the door for packages. Lever handles instead of knobs are used to make door opening easy for those with arthritis. Grab bars are routinely placed in bathrooms.
Some assisted-living facilities have special sections geared for people with memory problems. This allows the person to stay put, despite a disability that might otherwise force him or her into a nursing home.
Residents usually pay monthly rent. Unlike some retirement homes, assisted-living facilities generally do not charge an entrance fee. Instead, monthly payments are based on room rental, plus a package of services. Some facilities charge a base rent and bill extra for each service used during the month. Average monthly costs range from about $1,800 to $3,200.
Most assisted-living facilities are private pay. That means residents have to pay the bill themselves.
Some states will help seniors pay for an assisted-living arrangement, but Illinois does not.
A recent study by ALFA shows that about 53 percent of assisted-living residents rely on friends and family for some financial assistance.
The ALFA study also shows that only about 9 percent of assisted-living residents eventually leave there for a nursing home.
“We even have people who do the reverse. They move from a nursing home into an assisted-living facility,” says Karen Wayne, president and chief executive of ALFA.
She figures about 30 to 40 percent of the nursing home population may be misplaced because they don’t need medical supervision.
Locally, there are a number of assisted-living facilities. And more are being built: About 15 to 20 new facilities are on the drawing boards.
However, most places are in the suburbs.
Resources
For more information, the Assisted Living Federation of America publishes a free consumer brochure on selecting an assisted-living facility. It includes a checklist that covers everything from signing contracts to what to expect from the dining room.
For a free copy call, 703-691-8100.
ALFA also offers free nationwide referrals for caregivers trying to help relatives find an assisted-living residence in their state.
Another resource is the National Eldercare Locator Service at 800-677-1116.
Run by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, this hotline provides the names of local agencies that help seniors, or their relatives, find housing.
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Jane Adler is a Chicago-area freelance writer. If you have questions or information to share regarding housing for senior citizens, write to Senior Housing c/o Chicago Tribune Real Estate Section, 435 N. Michigan Ave., 60611.
