When a loved one reaches a point in his life that he can no longer live alone, assisted living arrangements may be the next option. Studies show that the average age for seniors moving into assisted living is 84-years old and is usually the result of a medical emergency. In 2016, the cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in a Texas assisted living community was $42,180 or about $3515 per month for long-term care.
Assisted living communities often offer resort-like amenities with hotel-like service and a guarantee that tenants will receive all the help that they need. These communities are often geared toward high-functioning and active seniors, and sales and marketing people are filling apartments with the lure of high-end amenities. But as a senior family member ages and becomes more frail and sickly, the assisted living arrangement may no longer be the perfect fit.
These communities, while spa-like, often lack the resources or medical expertise to meet the elders’ needs, especially when their health starts to deteriorate. This can be particularly alarming since assisted living dwellings are normally not regulated at the federal and state level and rarely have trained nurses like that of a nursing home that provides 24/7 care. In 2014, over 800,000 elders resided in these communities.
It is important that seniors plan for their golden years long before they begin to decline in health. Whether they choose to live out their lives at home, in an assisted living facility or nursing home, having a plan in place for long-term care is critical. A Texas attorney who specializes in estate administration can address the needs and formulate a plan that will put the seniors mind at ease, protect their assets and help them attain the best living arrangement to meet their health needs.
Source: consumer reports.org, “Elder Care and Assisted Living: Who Will Care for You?“, Penelope Wang, Aug. 31, 2017
