Why do assisted living places refuse to just give you the rates? You can't visit ALL of them.
I wish the government would regulate assisted living! And The one my mother lives in refuses to give me a breakdown of what they do in regards to what we pay!
pattielattie, in my area, we have a source book that gives the rates of Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, and Nursing Home, for the Wash DC/Maryland/Virginia area. Said "source book" is also on-line. It's a great help as it will also say if pets are allowed, etc. Wish other metro areas would offer something like this.
Anyway, one has to visit each place to find out what the monthly rent includes. Sometimes the least expensive place has a menu of items that once added up will cost the same as a higher price facility that includes everything in the rent. Plus by visiting a place, you get to see the floorplan of the building. I scratched off one place because of the floorplan, it just didn't feel comfortable.
Sorry, just saw that this is just calling around. They should be able to give u room and board but without evaluating the person, they can't give you a price for level of care.
With the room price, it depends on the size you want. In Moms AL they have some apts. Bath and bedroom are separate from kitchenette and sitting area.
I don't see the problem why they don't do this unless ur asking for every pill given, every bath given, etc.
There are usually two charges. Room and board is one and is constant until new lease. Second part is the level of care needed. This can change during the year as resident needs more help. At Moms its level 1, 2, 3 and 4. 4 being the highest level of care. Each level has its price. My Mom needed bathing, reminded to go to meals, dressing, med management, toileting, and getting up in morning and being put to bed at night. Each of these things have a price. And, I was told what her careplan involved and the price.
A breakdown is crucial. Call the Ombudsman for your state, or let them know that without a complete breakdown you will do so. Now by complete breakdown I am uncertain what you mean. There will be the room rate. Sometimes two rooms or larger rooms cost more. Then there will be the care rate and that is assessed most often by level of care. Is the patient not completely demented, safe in a cottage or rooming in facility, able to come to dining for meals, able to take own meds, able to shower self, not incontinent? That would be level one. Usually goes to four levels and then to memory care. Most places in your area are likely about the same. I would visit as many as you are able. In San Francisco that would be TOO many but in Palm Springs there are fewer. You will want to see the grounds, the residents, the people and how you are greeted, the cleanliness, a meal time, and so on. There is no easy way. Enlist something free like "A Place for Mom" for instance, and those people will have to do a form about needs, and be able to guide you in those you should see. Good luck. In the United States, of course, Government DOES regulate assisted living into what is expected of them. The rules are quite strict, and licenses can be lost, and that is taken very seriously. Good luck.
A place for mom is not a good idea. Her mom is already in an AL, a place for mom is a referral service and they will call and harass her. They get paid a hefty commission if they recommend a facility and you place your loved one there and for that reason you absolutely cannot trust them! They do not have your best interest in mind. They want to get the person placed in a facility ASAP so they can collect their $5,000 commission.
A few years ago when I was in a panic trying to find placement for my MIL, I did come across a comparison chart that listed services and prices but now I can't find it but I know it can exist. It even listed if there was a waiting list and a fee to be on the waiting list. You may want to contact your state's Council on Aging to see if they can direct you or maybe have that info.
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Anyway, one has to visit each place to find out what the monthly rent includes. Sometimes the least expensive place has a menu of items that once added up will cost the same as a higher price facility that includes everything in the rent. Plus by visiting a place, you get to see the floorplan of the building. I scratched off one place because of the floorplan, it just didn't feel comfortable.
With the room price, it depends on the size you want. In Moms AL they have some apts. Bath and bedroom are separate from kitchenette and sitting area.
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There are usually two charges. Room and board is one and is constant until new lease. Second part is the level of care needed. This can change during the year as resident needs more help. At Moms its level 1, 2, 3 and 4. 4 being the highest level of care. Each level has its price. My Mom needed bathing, reminded to go to meals, dressing, med management, toileting, and getting up in morning and being put to bed at night. Each of these things have a price. And, I was told what her careplan involved and the price.
https://www.ahcancal.org/ncal/advocacy/regs/Pages/AssistedLivingRegulations.aspx
Now by complete breakdown I am uncertain what you mean.
There will be the room rate. Sometimes two rooms or larger rooms cost more.
Then there will be the care rate and that is assessed most often by level of care. Is the patient not completely demented, safe in a cottage or rooming in facility, able to come to dining for meals, able to take own meds, able to shower self, not incontinent? That would be level one. Usually goes to four levels and then to memory care.
Most places in your area are likely about the same. I would visit as many as you are able. In San Francisco that would be TOO many but in Palm Springs there are fewer. You will want to see the grounds, the residents, the people and how you are greeted, the cleanliness, a meal time, and so on. There is no easy way. Enlist something free like "A Place for Mom" for instance, and those people will have to do a form about needs, and be able to guide you in those you should see.
Good luck.
In the United States, of course, Government DOES regulate assisted living into what is expected of them. The rules are quite strict, and licenses can be lost, and that is taken very seriously.
Good luck.