Independent Living
What is independent living?
Independent living is typically somewhat institutional setting but there's really very little as far as an institutional structure or requirement. Typically it would be a pretty good sized building with a lot of units and generally you'd have you're own unit or you and your spouse would have a unit. There would be some services that would be available although maybe not required that you take them. For example, the ability to go to a central dining area, laundry services, and sometimes transportation services. That would be a typical independent senior living setting.
What types of independent living facilities exist?
There are a variety of independent living settings. They can go anywhere from senior trailer parks that have some degree of additional services available to other kinds of senior communities where there are single-family homes or duplexes. Then there are single-building with multiple units like apartment buildings that are set up for seniors that would have a dining room, and a van that would take them around and things of that nature.
What are the requirements for independent living facilities?
Do independent living facilities provide medical care?
Independent facilities, generally, don't provide medical care - they're not care providers per se. But, they may have a physician who comes out and sees patients there. There may be a little physician's office, or at least a nurse office on the campus. And certainly residents of independent living settings can obtain home health services through home health agencies on the orders of their physician.
How expensive are independent living facilities?
Independent living facilities have a wide range of pricing. I'd say probably the lowest might be in the range of 1500 dollars a month or something in that range. And they might go up - for some of these really fancy ones they could be upwards to 6000 dollars a month. But generally they're less expensive of course, then the higher levels of care.
Does Medicare or Medicaid pay for independent living facilities?
Neither Medicare or Medicaid will cover the costs of an independent living setting. They may cover medical care that's provided in that setting for example for a Health Home Agency, but they don't cover the room at all or any meals or things of that nature.
How can I find a good independent living facility?
As far as having to find a good independent living facility, I think there's no substitute for going around and touring them. Word of mouth is a huge factor and I think beyond that just taking a look at a place and seeing what the physical plant is like. I think it's really important to talk to people who live there and see how they like it, see what the whole vibe of the facility is, and what kind of other people are there, and make sure it's the kind of place where it's a good fit.
