Missouri Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living in Missouri for couples

Senior adults often think about their retirement and the way they will spend their golden years. As retirees realize that living on their own might become difficult, many of them turn towards alternative retirement solutions. One potential choice might be assisted living, with such senior living communities offering room and board, healthcare, general services and amenities. Most importantly, assisted living facilities allow couples to stay together, provided their health and level of independence allows it.

How many ALFs are there in Missouri? In the state of Missouri, there are over 480 assisted living facilities. These senior living centers can be found in the following cities: Columbia, Kansas City, Cape Girardeau, Jefferson City, St. Louis, and Joplin. All the senior living facilities available in the state are licensed and regulated by the Department of Health and Senior Services. Depending on the type of care offered and the residents they accept, these can be divided into ALFs (assisted living facilities) and RCFs (residential care facilities).

Once a senior adult moves into a long-term care facility, an interview will be conducted to establish his/her needs and how these might be met. Based on the results of the interview, a residential agreement will be created, covering both rights and responsibilities. Individualized service plans are created for all residents, including details on medical conditions, treatments, and other specific needs.

Assisted living facilities will accept senior adults who need minimal assistance with daily living activities. ALFs will not admit those who are mentally unstable, have limited mobility or require 24/7 skilled nursing care. Residential care facilities have similar admission criteria, with the exception of the fact that residents must be able to get to safety without assistance in case of an emergency. Such facilities might accept residents who are recovering or are temporarily incapacitated.

Financing and costs of assisted living in Missouri

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Missouri is around $2,800. By comparison, the national average is of $4,000. Compared to neighboring states – Tennessee, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska – Missouri has the most affordable rates. The biggest difference is between Missouri and Tennessee, the latter with an average monthly cost of over $4,500.

Within the state, the costs of assisted living vary significantly, the higher rates being encountered in cities with dense population. The most expensive ALFs are found in Columbia, while the lowest rates are in Joplin. Assisted living is less expensive than independent living, but all the other long-term care options, such as nursing home care, in-home care, and memory care are more expensive.

Assisted living costs in Missouri

Assisted living facilities are long-term care communities that welcome seniors who require assistance with daily living activities, such as eating, dressing, and bathing. Residents move into adapted living units and have access to specialized care. In addition, they benefit from a wide array of services and amenities. In the state of Missouri, there are various assisted living communities seniors can choose from. The overall costs depend on the available care packages and the benefits offered. If you are looking to discover more information about the costs of assisted living in Missouri, just keep on reading.

Average costs of assisted living and memory care in Missouri

How much does assisted living cost in MO? The average cost of assisted living in Missouri is $3,000 per month or $36,000 per year. This is considerably lower than the national median of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive assisted living facilities are found in Kansas City, averaging at $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. On the other hand, Jefferson City has the most affordable communities of this kind, with an average cost of $2,000 per month or $24,000 per year.

How much does memory care cost in MO? When it comes to memory care, the average cost in Missouri is $3,750 per month or $45,000 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 located in Kansas City, with an average cost of $5,700 per month or $68,000 per year. Jefferson City has the most affordable memory care facilities, averaging at $2,500 per month or $30,000 per year.

Assisted living costs more than adult day health care, but it is more affordable than in-home care, home health care, and nursing home care. Memory care costs more than adult day health care and assisted living, but it is more affordable than home care, home health care, and nursing home care. The latter averages at $5,900 per month or $70,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

Seniors are expected to pay a deposit fee to reserve their spot into the desired assisted living community. The fee is returned per standard once the contract concludes and the residential stay begins. Assisted living fees have only monthly fees, there are no entrance fees to be covered. The overall assisted living costs are influenced by several factors, including the available services and amenities, the resident's marital status, and the living unit type and size. All residents have access to utilities and general services, such as maintenance, meal plans, laundry and linen service, and housekeeping. Additional services are mostly offered at extra cost.

Naturally, the fees to be covered will also be influenced by the number of daily living activities the resident in question needs help with. Care packages include a wide array of benefits, including daily planned activities, emergency response systems, physical and occupational therapy, scheduled transportation, and medication management. Should spouses desire to live together, a second occupancy fee will have to be paid. Some assisted living facilities require additional payment for certain utilities, such as the cable and Internet access. Limited healthcare might be available from third-party providers, with the associated costs paid by the residents themselves.

What goes into memory care costs?

Dementia seniors benefit from specialized care and support within memory care communities. They also have access to room and board, assistance with ADLs, and 24/7 monitoring. Specific services and amenities are available around-the-clock as well. Memory care facilities in Missouri welcome seniors who suffer from different types of dementia, catering to their current and future needs. The available care packages are designed with consideration to the type of dementia and the illness stage. Safety features are selected with care, with the purpose of reducing the confusion experienced and eliminating the risk of wandering or self-harm.

Daily therapy sessions, provided by experienced therapists, help seniors work on their memory, cognitive, and speech skills. In this way, they are able to delay the progression of dementia. Seniors also benefit from general services, such as general maintenance, laundry and linen service, housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, etc. Care-related services are provided on a daily basis, including diabetes care, mobility assistance, wound care, and incontinence care.

Senior living in Missouri - cost comparison with other states

The average cost of assisted living in Missouri is well below the national median. Missouri is more affordable than all of its neighboring states. The overall costs are as follows: Kansas - $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; Iowa - $4,300 per month or $51,000 per year; Illinois - $4,400 per month or $52,000 per year; Kentucky - $3,400 per month or $40,000 per year; Tennessee - $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year; Arkansas - $3,700 per month or $44,000 per year.

As for memory care, the average cost in Missouri is also well below the national median. Missouri is more affordable than all of its neighboring states when it comes to memory care. The overall costs are as follows: Kansas - $5,700 per month or $68,000 per year; Iowa - $5,400 per month or $64,000 per year; Illinois - $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year; Arkansas - $4,700 per month or $56,000 per year.

Finding the best senior living facility in Missouri for your needs

The search for the right long-term care community requires a lot of patience and dedication. Whether you are interested in assisted living or memory care, please remember that the overall costs will vary from one facility to the other, in accordance with the care offered. You can explore different communities and compare the benefits promised, coming one step closer towards taking a final decision.

We are more than happy to assist you in finding the best community for you or your loved one. All you have to do is give us a call and we will gladly provide all the desired information regarding the costs of each assisted living facility. Our experience is the number one reason for which we are able to match people with the right long-term care options.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in Missouri

Assisted living facilities must provide a wide range of services to both married couples and single adults, including: housekeeping, meal planning and preparation, general maintenance, 24/7 security, Internet and telephone access, scheduled transportation, shopping, errand running, linen and laundry service.

Personal care services are available in all communities. Residents receive minimal assistance with the daily living activities, such as eating, dressing, toileting, bathing, and grooming. Some facilities also provide specialized healthcare, such as diabetes care, wound care, or tracheostomy services. However, they do not offer 24/7 skilled nursing and if a resident requires a higher level of care, the transfer to another community is recommended.

If ALFs have integrated memory care units, they will provide services for dementia residents as well. Apart from the general range of services, they might offer 24-hour care and monitoring, with added assistance for ADLs. Known as "protective oversight", this service ensures that residents who are in advanced stages of dementia will not harm themselves or others.

All residents benefit from medication management, with the staff being familiar with the treatment schedule of each senior adult on site. Moreover, this schedule is re-assessed every couple of months or after any major health event. The staff can monitor the resident while taking his/her medication and ensure the prescription is followed to the letter. Registered nurses can handle the treatment administration, including various types of shots.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in Missouri

Missouri-based ALFs and RCFs offer residents the opportunity to live in apartment-style units. Some facilities might have bedroom-style units, which cannot accommodate more than four residents. As mentioned, couples can live together, enjoying the "home-like environment". All living units must have a minimum square footage, with bathrooms that have accessibility features. Most senior living facilities in MO accept pets, but it is a good idea to inquire about the pet-friendly policy before committing to any facility.

When it comes to spending one's time, these facilities have things covered. Residents can attend fitness classes or take a dip in the swimming pool. They can use the library, computer room, or take part in various social clubs. Weekly religious services are organized, as well as a number of social and recreational activities. Senior adults are encouraged to pursue various hobbies and passions, including woodworking, gardening or painting. Dementia residents can benefit from various therapies, try painting, or go on guided walks.