Paying for Senior Care - Senior Living and Assisted Living Cost Considerations

Senior living communities are attractive to residents for their resort-style amenities and services, chef-prepared dining, personalized care, wonderfully convenient amenities, and resident quality of life. Most people put off considering a move without fully understanding the senior living and assisted living cost comparisons between a move and their current lifestyle. Also, the financial commitment when paying for senior care in a community tends to be comparable to what many currently pay for housing costs and in-home care services, but if you compare your budget side-by-side, you might be surprised at what you can afford.

Most do not understand the full value of moving to a senior living community. Many residents offset their current home expenses with a lifestyle filled with more enjoyment, daily programs, quality meals, social opportunities, independence, possibilities, and choice. Visit one of our community pages to Download our Senior Living and Assisted Living Cost Comparison Guide and Community Pricing to help better understand your options and Brightview Senior living costs.

Many residents utilize their private assets to cover their senior living and assisted living costs. Most residents utilize a combination of social security payments, pensions, veteran benefits, long-term care insurance, life insurance policy conversions, retirement savings, and assets, such as the sale of a house.

Paying for Senior Living and Care

• Pay special attention to the balance between entrance fees and monthly fees. There are two common financial arrangements to consider when paying for senior care:

• Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) typically require an entrance fee, which can range from $100,000 up to $1 million dollars. After you move in, you’ll also pay a monthly rate. There may or may not be added fees for assisted living services, and only a percentage of the entrance fee is refundable when you move out of the community.

• Senior Living Rental communities like Brightview Senior Living usually require one simple, all-inclusive Monthly Fee with an initial smaller community entry fee (varies by Brightview Community) and is comparable to what area seniors currently pay to occupy and maintain their homes each month. The monthly rent is usually a little higher than a CCRC, but since you don’t have to pay a large entrance fee, it typically costs less to live in a senior living rental community. Additionally, there is a little more flexibility, when you move out, there is no forfeiture of money. There may or may not be added to your memory care or assisted living cost if you have add on care services.

• Monthly bills for utilities, lawn care, housekeeping, groceries, and home owner’s insurance disappear, and you’ll also be relieved of the risk of costly home repairs, such as replacing a roof or heating system. Be sure to consider all of the expenses that will be eliminated with the transition.

• Take the time to fully grasp exactly what is – and is not – included in the fee you are quoted. It’s nearly impossible to make price senior living and assisted living cost comparisons on a rate until you understand what that rate includes and what additional fees may be added.

• Don’t always settle for the lowest price, because in many situations, you’ll get what you pay for. Lowest-priced providers don’t always invest in a caring staff or clean environment.

• Some communities can lure residents with a low senior living and assisted living cost introductory rate, then add hidden fees, or implement large rent increases every year. This can make it difficult for people on a fixed income to afford. Make sure you understand what increases you can expect in future years.

Contact a Brightview Senior Living community to learn more about pricing and how you might best be able to accommodate paying for senior care. We have also developed a helpful senior living guide and our senior living and assisted living cost comparison guide to help with your overall decision making process.

The content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.