My grandmother lived in one for a while, before she was moved to a nursing home. It was a nice place, the staff was really nice. Pets were allowed, alot of people had dogs or cats.
The apartments had a small kitchen type area, and plenty of room for a bed, desk, table, etc. She was never forced to go out an socialize, though she seemed to like it.
And yes, it was expensive. She had money of her own, and was able to pay for it. They also offered additional services for more money, like bathing, physical therapy, etc.
They were helpful, polite and caring. They told us when she needed to move on to a nursing home. It was a good experience, I thought.
Oh, I already know about the Alien Life Forms in NJ. I’m looking into this place outside Phila. Everyone in the brochure looks so preternaturally cheerful that it reminds me of that Nazi propaganda film The Fuhrer Gives a City to the Jews.
I am a huge, huge advocate of adult day care centers, assisted living facilities and medical apartment communities.
I worked for a few years with a group that had adult day care centers and assisted living facilites across the US. If you find a good one with a caring staff it is worth every penny you will have to pay for it.
But, there are bad ones out there and you must research fully where you are putting a loved one. Just as I could tell you wonderful success stories, I could share some of the claims I ran across that would make you sick.
In many cases I saw some of these client’s (who had previously been in nursing homes) lives extended by a few years because they got so much more interaction with others and regained a sense of indepence that they didn’t have in the nursing home.
My mother-in-law is in one in Lancaster, PA. She chose it and paid for it.
It’s a graduated thing. Right now, at 74, she’s in a VERY large condo (which she bought) and pays some amount for maintenance and health services and such.
Part of that purchase gets her into more assisted living when needed and even nursing home care (in the same compound) if needed.
My very Roman Catholic aunt spent her final years in a Jewish nursing home. It is a great facility where she was well cared for. Although she didn’t participate much in group activities, she made friends there and was as happy as she probably could have been considering her state of health.
Religion was never a factor. Her priest visited often and was always welcome.
I have no idea what the cost was, but I can tell you that she was surviving on Social Security before she went in there.
No matter what your religious affiliation or lack of same, my feeling is that a facility run or sponsored by a church may be worth a serious look.
I am the Executive Secretary in a large, not for profit, retirement facility in Deep South Texas. We have about 260 residents, most of them live independently in their own apartments or cottages; the others are in the Assisted Living or Medical Center units. We do not take Medicare or Medicaid. Residents must buy into the facility and pay a monthly maintenance charge, based on the size of their living unit, but once they are here, they receive whatever assistance or nursing they need at no additional charge. We have a few Private pay patients (not permanent residents). Rates in the Assisted Living unit are $60.00/day Med Center is $95.00/day. This includes three meals a day, laundry, housekeeping and nursing. The Assisted Living rooms are studios with refrigerators but no cooking. No pets are allowed, but the nurses often bring in their own pets and we have an aviary.
My advice to you is to drop in at unexpected times. If the staff is always happy to see you and accommodating, that will tell you a great deal about how well the place is run. Also, when you visit, take the sniff test. If it smells clean it is clean. If it smells like urine or Lysol or other disinfectants, find out why. You should also check on line for their latest State Inspection score. These inspections are done annually and the deficiencies are noted. One or two is nothing to be worried about, but if you see a pattern of many deficiencies over several years, be wary. (We just had our State Inspection this week, and received no deficiencies in Med Center and only one in Assisted Living). Try to meet the Medical Director of the facility you are interested in. Talk to the administrator, nurses and aides.
Asking questions is the best protection for your loved one.