Options to Review When Choosing Long-Term Care

Not all long-term care looks the same. What to weigh when comparing assisted living, memory care and nursing homes — from daily services to how you'll pay for them.

Many people dream of aging in place, but they may realize that they need some extra help with daily tasks. Finding the nursing home or assisted living community that meets your needs is important so you can feel at home while you enjoy your life. Not all long-term care facilities are the same — services can vary greatly.

Services Offered

There are some basic services that most assisted living communities offer. These include things like group activities and outings, three prepared meals per day, and basic housekeeping assistance. Some also offer transportation to medical appointments. Medication management is another possible service that an assisted living community may offer.

Banyan Place has suites for the residents. These usually include one bedroom, but some have more than one. They also have private bathrooms, a living space, and a kitchen. Residents are usually free to keep groceries in their suite, but our facility provides three meals a day included in their rent.

Nursing homes usually have single or multiple occupancies in each room. There typically isn't a kitchen space in the room, but most have a bathroom. Nursing support is greater in a nursing home than in an assisted living community. This option is a better choice for someone who needs help with several daily living tasks or more intense medical supervision.

Escalating Care

Assisted living communities usually offer various levels of care. As your needs change, you might be able to continue to remain in the community. Some special services you may find include incontinence care or memory care. At Banyan Place, we partner closely with Hospice services to allow residents to age in place when appropriate — avoiding a difficult transition out of their home.

Typically, transitioning into a memory care program means moving into the secured area. This is done so staff members can prevent wandering and elopement. These programs maintain a standard routine since consistency is key for people with dementia-related conditions.

Nursing homes usually offer a full range of special services, including hospice services. Residents will usually only have to move out of the home if they need to transition to hospital-based care.

Financing Your Care

One factor that impacts your options for nursing homes or assisted living communities is how you're going to pay for them. Medicaid may cover some services, but this comes with a five-year look-back period to help determine what benefits you're eligible for. Medicaid considers the sale or transfer of assets that occur during that period.

If you have a home, you may opt to sell it to help pay for your life in the assisted living community or nursing home. You'll need to figure out what you'll be able to put toward the expenses. You have to consider the sale price of the home minus the real estate professional's fees and any existing balance on the mortgage.