The idea of Assisted Living is tremendously appealing – an older individual receiving necessary care and services in a home-like environment, while retaining choice and autonomy.

The idea of Assisted Living is tremendously appealing – an older individual receiving necessary care and services in a home-like environment, while retaining choice and autonomy.

Assisted Living, is the fastest growing form of residential housing for older Americans and has filled the space between nursing homes and the residential home.  With the assisted facility, many people enter their Assisted Living homes with the expectation that this will be their home for the rest of their lives.  Also, they develop friendships and relationships with other residents.  Therefore, the facility becomes their primary community.

Most Assisted Living facilities are licensed to care for residents only up to a particular need of care.  A generic multi-level system might designate three levels: low, moderate and high (excludes skilled nursing care – nursing home level).  When a resident has low care needs, the resident may reside at any type of Assisted Living facility.  When the resident's care needs reach the moderate level, the resident is allowed to reside only at a facility licensed for moderate or high care needs.  When the care needs increase to the high level, the resident is allowed only to reside in a facility licensed for high care needs. Quality of care standards is set for each level, to assure that residents receive care, which is adequate to meet their needs.

However, momentum toward Assisted Living, should not lead one to assume that Assisted Living is always the right choice, or that any and all health care conditions can be accommodated within Assisted Living.  

All assisted facilities are not the same, and can vary within the State. Therefore, proper evaluation of the facility and their contracts must be performed, because the obligations and rights pertaining to the Assisted Living facility may not protect your rights, but the facilities. Consequently, unenforceable contract language can be devastating to a resident if the provider is less interested in a resident's health and satisfaction, and thus takes advantage of the vagueness of the contract to provide the bare minimum services.

Some Assisted Living Facilities in the Frederick County area are:

                        Country Meadows

                        Somerford

Additionally, how will you pay for the facility? Usually, ALF's are private pay, and Medicaid will not cover the cost, except in a waiver situation.

If a veteran, we can help you obtain an increase in monthly income to pay for home care or an assisted living facility. Consequently, you can live with dignity and respect. Veterans and their family members who have specific questions regarding VA benefits are urged to see our website for upcoming VA workshops.

Senior Life Care Planning will host a meeting for all veterans and their families who wish to learn more about their earned VA benefits on October 12 th at 10.00 a.m. at 1560 Opossumtown Pike, Suite A-12, Frederick, MD and, on October 13 th at 10.00 a.m. at Suite 450, 1 Research Court, Rockville, MD.

Many veterans have benefited from the help from Senior Life Care Planning, “I could have never done this alone” or “someone out there to listen, understand, and guide has been invaluable” and another who said, “it had given me the opportunity to plan in a non-crisis environment.”

To increase your monthly income, please contact us about "VA benefits.", for a FREE HANDBOOK about VA Benefits, written by David Wingate, an accredited VA attorney, of Senior Life Care Planning, LLC, go to www.seniorlcp.com or info@seniorlcp.com to request the FREE article.

Also, Senior Life Care Planning has produced an “Assisted Living Guide” to request this FREE guide go to Assisted Living Guide.