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Assisted Living Costs

Costs for assisted living facilities vary widely depending on the size of the living areas, services provided, type of help needed, and where the facility is located.

Typically, Medicare and Medicaid do not cover assisted living. Residents usually pay monthly rent as well as additional fees for services. The typical cost of living in an assisted living facility ranges from $900 to $3,000 per month. Costs are often higher in urban areas or in upscale facilities.

Assisted living facilities provide help with activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, using the bathroom, taking medicine, and getting to appointments. Residents often live in their own room or apartment within a building or group of buildings and have some or all of their meals together. Social and recreational activities are usually provided. Some assisted living facilities have on-site health services.

According to the Assisted Living Federation of America, an association that represents assisted living providers, more than 1 million Americans call an assisted living facility their home.

What level of assistance do you need?

There are three kinds of assisted living facilities — Type A, B, and C. Which type of facility you would reside in depends on how much assistance you would need in the event of an emergency. When you visit the facility, the staff should let you know if you meet the qualifications for their level of care.

• Type A facilities may only accept residents who are able to evacuate the premises unassisted, are able to follow directions under emergency conditions, and do not require routine attendance during nighttime sleeping hours.
• Type B facilities may accept residents who do not qualify for a Type A facility but only if these residents are not permanently bedfast.
• Type C facilities are four-bed facilities that meet the minimum standards and rules for enrollment in the Adult Foster Care program.

Aging in place

As a Texas resident, you have the right to "age in place," which means you can enter a facility at a relatively healthy point in your life (needing only assistance with minor activities of daily living), and remain in the facility as your needs increase. This can be done by the facility or through outside resources, such as home and community support services agencies.

Disclosure statements

All assisted living facilities in Texas must provide each prospective client with a disclosure statement that includes the following information.

• The basic service-package cost and what's included, such as room, board, supervision, amenities, and personal care.
• The availability of additional resident services (skilled nursing care or therapy), who will provide those services, and their cost.
• The circumstances under which costs may increase, such as when your care needs increase.
• How the facility monitors resident health care needs, including requirements for regular health examinations, and how the facility coordinates with your physician.
• The qualifications of the staff who provide personal care, medications, and health services.
• Discharge criteria, such as when you may be required to leave the facility because your health or supervision needs have change, and procedures for resident notification and relocation.
• Grievance procedures, including your right to challenge care decisions.

Choosing a facility

Finding the assisted living center that is right for you or a family member is an important task. Some things to consider when making your choice include location, atmosphere, physical features, how well it meets your needs, cost, and types of services offered.

A searchable list of assisted living facilities in Texas, based on the level of care needed, is on the DADS website. (Note: DADS inspects and regulates assisted living facilities in Texas. The agency conducts routine survey inspections of licensed facilities and also conducts complaint investigations in those facilities.)

Information you will find in the site includes information about:

• Ownership
• Size
• Facility investigations
• Facility surveys

SOURCE: Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services