Assisted Living Costs You Should Know

In recent years, assisted living facilities have become a popular option for elderly people who don’t need the level of care offered in a nursing home but need assistance with activities of daily living.

To make an informed choice among the many facilities available, you need information about staff qualifications, services, costs, potential increases in fees and the circumstances that could lead to an involuntary discharge from the facility.

The average monthly base rate varies in different parts of the country. Residents often pay additional fees for special care units and other services, such as medication administration and transportation. Two thirds of assisted living residents pay out-of-pocket, although long-term care insurance may pay some costs for those with coverage.

In general, there are three rate structures to consider:

1. Flat Monthly Rate.This varies depending on the accommodations (semi-private or private rooms, suites shared bathrooms, studios with or without kitchens and one, two, or three bedroom apartments.) The monthly rent usually includes daily meals, housekeeping, laundry and transportation services. Ask about the number of meals served, inclusion of snacks, size, location and view of the room. All of these can affect the rate.

2. Base Plus.Under this structure, you pay the flat monthly fee and choose other services, each adding to the bill. For example, the amount of care under the base rate could be 30 minutes a day and anything else, such as bathing, grooming, dressing and monitoring medications, will cost extra. This can add as much as $2,000 a month to the cost.

3. Tiered Rates. This structure blends the flat rate and à la carte menu into specific levels of care, with the costs increasing along with the assistance provided. A facility’s tiered structure might work like this:

The tiered structure typically continues to a level five with additional fees as the care becomes more intensive.

The price you pay the first year is likely to increase over time, perhaps substantially, so look into the past decade of price changes at facilities you are interested in. That can give you an indication of future costs.

When calculating costs, keep in mind that many of the usual costs of living will no longer apply to the person moving into an assisted living facility, including: