Living Options & Skilled Nursing

Most Assisted Living Communities offer individual apartments, allowing residents a continued independent lifestyle with their own furniture and belongings. Typically, these communities offer 24-hour staffing along with a nurse on duty during specified hours to administer medications and monitor care plans. Assisted living communities offer three meals a day as well as provide planned activities and transportation for scheduled appointments, shopping trips, and outings. When you begin your search for a new residence in an assisted living community, some things to consider might be:

• What are the varying levels of care and the charges associated with those levels? If needed, do they assist with bathing, dressing, incontinence care, etc.?
• What care(s) are they able to assist with and what are common reasons that will require moving to a skilled nursing community or hiring home care? For example, are they able to provide two-person assisted transfers?
• What is the “additional person” fee?
  • This fee is for a second person living in the apartment.
• Is there a meal plan, and if so, what does it entail?
  • Eating a meal in the community may be a good way to assess the quality and variety of the food.
• Ask to see their activity schedule. Do they offer things you like to do? Do they offer physical activities to help keep you healthy?
• Is the community in a convenient location for you? Will you be near the things that are important to you?
• Do they offer religious services of your denomination?
• Do they allow pets?
• Will they have a garage for your car? What is the fee?
• What payment options are accepted in this community? (ie. Private Pay, Long-Term Care Insurance, Medicaid Waiver, VA)

Talking to the current residents about what they like and dislike about the community may help in your decision.

Residential Care Homes are small private communities, usually located in a neighborhood setting, with 20 or fewer residents. Rooms may be private or shared. Residents receive personal care and meals, and have staff available around the clock. These are all licensed as assisted living, regulated by the state, and offer many of the same services you would find in a larger assisted living community.

Memory Care Communities have a secured area designated for those with memory needs. Many of the offered services and activities are geared towards those with Alzheimer’s/Dementia.

HUD housing is a federal program that helps apartment owners offer reduced rents to low-income tenants. To apply, visit the property you want to move into. Eligibility allows you to live there only and is not transferable. HUD pays the difference between what you pay and the total rental amount.

HUD.gov

Public assisted housing for the elderly is independent living in apartments offered to low-income, eligible individuals through government-funded programs. This section lists subsidized independent living for seniors. Other public housing options in the community accept people of all ages, including seniors.

For more information and a complete listing of low-income/affordable senior apartments, please visit your local Area Agency on Aging.

Click HERE for Low-Income-Affordable Senior Apartments in Dodge, Douglas, Cass, Washington & Sarpy Counties