| “When comparing the cost of daily assistance for | | | | - Cost of food and/or meal delivery. Consider the |
| a health challenged senior adult, Assisted Living | | | | quality of nutrition and the lack of enjoyment eating |
| centers compare very favorability when it comes to | | | | alone. |
| quality, convenience, and affordability.” states | | | | - Cost of outside assistance for housekeeping, |
| Tara Koestner, Administrator, The Continental at St | | | | laundry services, transportation to medical |
| Joseph's Assisted Living Center. Of course, everyone | | | | appointments, or home health. |
| wants to live in their own home as long as possible. | | | | - Cost of technology, such as cable TV, Life Line, |
| This is understandable and always the ideal situation | | | | and medical monitoring devices. |
| as long as the aging adult is able to maintain a | | | | - Concerns about management of medical issues, for |
| reasonable quality of life at home. Gradually, over | | | | example; oxygen use and obtaining oxygen supplies, |
| time, subtle signs appear that indicate that aging adult | | | | diabetes management and obtaining diabetic supplies, |
| may not be doing as well at home alone as the | | | | and proper incontinent management. |
| family would hope. Lora Lyons, Healthcare | | | | When considering all of the costs associated with |
| Coordinator at CSJ recommends that the family look | | | | living at home, Assisted Living Centers like The |
| for the following signs of unsafe behavior: | | | | Continental at St. Joseph's, become more affordable |
| - Falling and unable to get up without assistance. | | | | than one might initially think, especially when long |
| - Missed doses of medications and out of date | | | | term care insurance could pay most if not all of the |
| medications. | | | | costs. If you compare the cost of living in an |
| - Gradual loss of weight. | | | | Assisted Living apartment compared to the cost of |
| - Lack of personal hygiene. | | | | living in a Long Term Care facility, Assisted Living |
| - Unable to hear the phone or call for help. | | | | Centers costs less. |
| - Inability or unwillingness to leave their home. | | | | According to Tara Koestner, “Assisted Living |
| - Gets lost or looses objects frequently. | | | | Centers are places where senior adults thrive not |
| - Living space shrinking to a space around the | | | | simply exist.” A daily social interactions, outings, |
| favorite chair. | | | | physical exercise, etc. keep seniors mentally sharp |
| - Periodic little driving accidents. | | | | and physically strong. Monthly tenants can enjoy |
| All of the above behaviors happen normally with age | | | | social activities, like Bingo or Wii Bowling, and musical |
| and individually do not necessarily indicate unsafe | | | | entertainment. At The Continental at St. Joseph's, all |
| behavior.. However, when an ongoing trend starts to | | | | of these amenities are included in the basic rent, in |
| appear, it is time for the family to consider making | | | | addition to weekly shopping, transportation to and |
| arrangement to assist this adult. There comes a point | | | | from local appointments, and three well-balanced |
| in time in this process where Assisted Living becomes | | | | meals each and every day. Most important to families |
| the most cost effective means of providing quality | | | | is the peace of mind that comes with the healthcare |
| of life assistance for a loved one. | | | | monitoring services. of 24 hour security services and |
| When comparing the cost of Assisted Living and | | | | daily on site health aide visits which most seniors just |
| living at home, families need to take into | | | | don't have at home. |
| consideration the following costs: | | | | The main thing to remember here is quality of life. |
| - Rent, or mortgage, property taxes, and insurance. | | | | Our loved ones have worked very hard to get to |
| - Utility costs including: gas, electric, water, trash | | | | where they are. Don't they deserve every |
| pick-up. | | | | opportunity to relax and enjoy this phase of their |
| - Home maintenance including; furnace maintenance, | | | | lives? Why not let someone else do the things that |
| lawn care, snow removal, and home repairs. Consider | | | | they don't enjoy so that there is more time for them |
| the inconvenience of arranging maintenance and | | | | to do the things they love. Assisted living is a unique |
| waiting for repairs. | | | | environment where seniors can do just that. |