Georgia Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living facilities in Georgia for couples

More and more retirees are showing an interest in assisted living facilities, as this retirement solution presents obvious benefits. By moving into a retirement community, senior adults receive assistance with activities of daily living. Assisted living residents also have access to a wide array of services and amenities, enjoying the best possible quality of life. Married couples can move into assisted living together, which is a significant benefit to take into consideration.

How many assisted living centers are there in GA? In the state of Georgia, there are 680 assisted living facilities. These senior living centers can be found in the following locations: Macon, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Savannah, Athens, and Warner Robbins. All of these senior living facilities are licensed and regulated by Georgia's Division of Healthcare Facility Regulation. ALFs can be divided into two categories, according to the complexity of assistance offered (medication administration, emergency evacuation): assisted living communities and personal care homes.

Admitted residents receive an individualized service plan, which is meant to ensure they are healthy, safe, and happy, for the duration of their stay. The plan is designed to cover both medical and physical needs, as well as care preferences. Interviews may be conducted to establish the care plan for each resident. Should major changes occur to one's health, the plans are reassessed. For the assisted living facilities that have integrated memory care units, the ISPs might be updated more often.

Senior adults who require restraints or isolation are not accepted into assisted living facilities. The same goes for seniors who are bedridden, require 24/7 skilled nursing care, or are diagnosed with chronic infectious conditions, such as tuberculosis. If the required care exceeds the available scope of the facility, admittance will be refused. On the other hand, ALFs accept those with limited mobility or who require help to take medication.

Financing and costs of assisted living in Georgia

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Georgia is $3,100. This is more affordable than the national median, which is around $4,000. From all the states in the southeastern region, Georgia has the most affordable fees for assisted living. Only Alabama has similar costs. For the other states – Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, North Carolina retirees should expect to pay more.

Within the state, the costs of assisted living vary considerably. The most expensive ALFs are located in dense-population cities, such as Macon or Atlanta. However, the monthly fees in these communities are still well below the national average. ALFs cost less than memory care, home health care, or nursing home care. Cheaper options include adult day healthcare and independent living.

Financial assistance is available to all residents who cannot afford to cover the costs of assisted living by themselves. One of the options is Georgia's Medicaid for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled. Eligibility criteria regard: age, residency, income, and health status. There is also the Community Care Services waiver program, which has been established by the Department of Community Health and Area Agencies on Aging. Residents must be nursing-home eligible, have a low income, and require occasional care. A number of limited applications are accepted, with priority given to those with complex medical needs and financial difficulties.

Assisted living costs in Georgia

Assisted living facilities provide long-term care and housing to seniors. These communities also offer assistance with a wide range of ADLs, limited healthcare, services, and amenities. In the state of Georgia, there are different assisted living centers from which one can choose. Their care packages include the most diverse options, with the overall costs varying accordingly. It is important to remember that most communities do not offer skilled nursing care or this service is only available for a limited period of time. Keep on reading to discover details on the costs of assisted living, along other useful information. As a result, you will be able to choose the most suitable long-term care option for you or your loved one.

Average costs of assisted living and memory care in Georgia

How much does assisted living cost in GA? In the state of Georgia, the average cost of assisted living is $3,500 per month or $42,000 per year. This is considerably lower than the national average of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive assisted living facilities are located in Athens, averaging at $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year. The most affordable communities of this kind are found in Macon, with an average cost of $2,800 per month or $34,000 per year.

How much does memory care cost in GA? The average cost of memory care in Georgia is $4,400 per month or $52,000 per year. This is also significantly lower than the national median of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive memory care communities are found in Brunswick, averaging at $6,600 per month or $79,000 per year. The most affordable facilities of this kind are located in Savannah, with an average cost of $4,300 per month or $51,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

All seniors who apply for assisted living have to cover a deposit fee, which will be returned when the move into the respective community has been completed. Assisted living communities do not have entrance fees, only monthly fees to be paid. These are influenced by the care offered, services and amenities, spouses living together, type of living unit and size. Residents have access to various utilities, as well as meal plans, general maintenance, housekeeping, laundry and linen service, etc. Additional services might be available, but the residents will have to cover the respective costs themselves.

Care fees are sometimes paid, in accordance with the number of daily living activities seniors require assistance with. As for the care packages, these might also include the emergency response systems installed in the living units, daily planned activities, medication management, physical and occupational therapy, and scheduled transportation. For spouses who decide to live together, a second occupancy fee has to be covered. In some facilities, certain utilities are only available at extra cost, for instance the Internet and cable access. Limited healthcare is often offered by third-party providers, requiring additional payment.

What goes into memory care costs?

Memory care facilities welcome dementia seniors, offering 24/7 monitoring, amenities and services, specialized care, room and board, and healthcare. They help seniors delay the progression of dementia, catering to their specific needs. The care packages offered are designed to meet the challenges of this degenerating condition, with consideration to the type and disease stage. Safety features are employed to minimize the confusion experienced and eliminate the risk of injuries or wandering. All residents benefit from assistance with common daily living activities, according to their level of functionality and/or independence.

It is also worth mentioning that residents have access to a wide array of therapies, destined to help them work on their speech, cognitive, and memory skills. As for the available services, these include general maintenance, meal planning and preparation, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, laundry and linen service. Specialized care is offered as well, including mobility assistance, diabetes care, wound care, and incontinence care.

Cost comparison with other states

The average cost of assisted living in Georgia is well below the national median. The state of Alabama has similar costs for assisted living, averaging at $3,500 per month or $42,000 per year. The other neighboring states have higher rates, as follows: Florida - $4,000 per month or $48,000 per year; Tennessee - $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year; North Carolina - $4,000 per month or $48,000 per year; South Carolina - $3,600 per month or $43,000 per year.

When it comes to memory care, the average cost is also well below the national median. The state of Alabama has more affordable rates, averaging at $4,300 per month or $51,000 per year. The other neighboring states have higher costs, as follows: Florida - $5,000 per month or $60,000 per year; South Carolina – $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; Tennessee - $5,100 per month or $61,000 per year.

Finding the best facility for your needs

Georgia has a wide array of long-term care communities, so the best thing you can do is take some time to research the benefits each has to offer. Whether you are looking for assisted living or memory care facilities, remember that each center has its own rates, in accordance to the services offered. In-depth research can help you save a lot of time and energy, not to mention it will get you closer to the best facility for your loved one. As a side benefit, you will no longer have to carry the caregiving burden, knowing that your loved one is well taken care of.

Allow us the pleasure to guide you through the entire decision-making process. Just give us a call and we will gladly offer detailed information on the costs of each senior living facility that you are interested in. Through our years of experience and dedication to quality service, we are able to assist caregivers in discovering the most suitable communities for their seniors. We always consider both your needs and available budget. The more information you have, the easier it will be to take a decision. All senior living facilities, regardless of the type, are happy to provide additional information on their costs and acceptance guidelines.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in Georgia

Both couples and individual residents have access to all the services provided within the assisted living facility. The list of available services might include the following: general maintenance, housekeeping, cleaning, laundry and linen service, Internet and telephone, 24/7 security, emergency call system, meal preparation and planning. Additional services are offered, such as: transportation to/from appointments, guest admissions, health services (diabetes care).

Specific services are offered to dementia residents, who are often housed in memory care units. These residents are constantly monitored, and they receive enhanced assistance with activities of daily living. Moreover, they might be taken on guided walks, and receive assistance with their treatments.

As a general rule, residents receive assistance with everyday tasks, such as getting dressed, eating, bathing, toileting, and oral hygiene. Depending on their mobility level, they might also be helped in this area. Medication management is available as well; residents can be supervised while self-administering medication or they can receive assistance with their treatment. Transfers might also be performed for less capable residents in case of emergency evacuations.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in Georgia

Georgia ALFs are not required to have apartment-style units. However, many facilities of this kind offer both apartments and private or semi-private rooms. Couples can choose either of them, depending on their personal preferences and available budget. All living units are equipped with accessible facilities and the doorways/corridors are large enough to accommodate mobility devices. Pets are allowed in some facilities, but inquiries should be made before committing to a certain facility.

To guarantee the health and happiness of on-site residents, ALFs offer a wide array of amenities. Some of these amenities cater to physical fitness, including: swimming pool, gym, wellness center, tennis court, golf course. Others allow senior adults to purchase hobbies and passions. These can include: woodworking shop, social club, art studio, learning center, etc. Dementia residents have access to specific amenities, including learning courses, cognitive and speech therapy, guided walks, memory garden, etc.