North Dakota Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living in North Dakota for couples

How many assisted living communities are there in North Dakota? In the state of North Dakota, there are over 50 assisted living facilities. These senior living communities can be found in the following locations: Bismarck, Fargo, and Grand Forks. According to current regulations, each ALF must have a minimum of five living units, with the ability to house at least five adults. Support services are offered, but the staff encourages residents to maintain their independence for as long as it is possible.

Upon moving into an assisted living facility, an assessment is undertaken for each resident, so as his/her needs are properly identified. Aside from the health status, the staff will also examine the following: level of independence, nutritional status, interests, and personal care needs. Based on the results of this examination, a care plan is developed. ALFs reserve the right to establish their admission requirements, but as a general rule, they do not accept senior adults who require 24/7 skilled nursing care.

Assisted living facilities are communities that welcome senior adults who are looking to benefit from a multitude of services and amenities, as well as housing and healthcare. The minimum age requirement varies between 55 and 62, with additional acceptance criteria regarding one's income and assets. Married couples are allowed to live together, with no major changes to their lives.

Financing and costs of assisted living in North Dakota

The average monthly cost of assisted living in North Dakota is around $3,300. This rate is lower than the national median, which is of $4,000. In comparison to neighboring states, such as South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana, North Dakota has more affordable fees.

Within the state of North Dakota, the cost of assisted living varies, with the biggest differences being between rural and urban areas. The highest fees are found in Bismarck and Fargo, with an average of $3,500, while Grand Forks has more affordable rates, reaching a value of $3,000 per month.

Assisted living is considerably cheaper than nursing home care, which costs around $11,000 per month. Both in-home care and memory care are more expensive, with averages over $5,000, while independent living is the only long-term care solution that is less expensive. The average value per month is around $3,100.

Assisted living costs in North Dakota

Assisted living communities are especially designed to meet the needs of seniors, not only in terms of housing, but also when it comes to the assistance with daily living activities. Such facilities provide specialized healthcare, as well as access to various services and amenities. In the state of North Dakota, there are different types of assisted living centers seniors can choose from, each with its own care packages and corresponding costs. Please remember that skilled nursing care is often limited to three months or might not be available at all. In the paragraphs below, you can discover detailed information on the assisted living costs in North Dakota.

Average costs of assisted living and memory care in North Dakota

How much does assisted living cost in ND? In the state of North Dakota, the average cost of assisted living is $3,300 per month or $39,000 per year. This is significantly lower than the national median of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive assisted living communities are located in Fargo, averaging at $3,800 per month or $45,000 per year. Grand Forks has the most affordable facilities of this kind, averaging at $2,200 per month or $26,000 per year.

How much does memory care cost in ND? When it comes to memory care, the average cost in North Dakota is $4,200 per month or $50,000 per year. This is considerably lower than the national median of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Within the state, the most expensive memory care facilities are found in Fargo, with an average cost of $4,800 per month or $57,000 per year. Grand Forks has the most affordable communities of this kind, with an average cost of $2,750 per month or $33,000 per year.

Assisted living has a similar cost to the one of adult day health care, but it is more affordable than 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 $12,000 per month or $144,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

Deposit fees are paid by prospective residents to reserve their spots into the desired assisted living community. Such facilities do not have entrance fees or hidden costs, there are only monthly fees to be covered. The overall costs are influenced by several factors, including: available services and amenities, resident's marital status, living unit type and size. Residents have access to utilities and general services, including housekeeping, general maintenance, meal plans, laundry and linen service, etc. Additional services are offered in some centers, with the costs being handled by the residents themselves.

Care fees are included in the overall fees, in accordance with the number of daily living activities residents receive assistance with. Aside from physical and occupational therapy, care packages include emergency response systems, medication management, daily planned activities, scheduled transportation, etc. Spouses who express the desire to live together must be able to cover a second occupancy fee. Some communities provide certain utilities at extra cost, such as the Internet and cable access. Third-party providers offer healthcare at extra cost as well.

What goes into memory care costs?

Memory care communities accept seniors who have been diagnosed with dementia, regardless of the form or illness stage. These facilities have adapted housing units, with residents benefitting from 24/7 monitoring, healthcare, and assistance with ADLs. The access to various services and amenities is also included. Care packages are designed with careful consideration to the type of dementia and how advanced it might be. Safety features are destined to help residents feel less confused, reducing the risk of self-harm and/or wandering.

Residents benefit from daily therapy sessions, being able to delay the progression of dementia. With the help of experienced therapists, they work on their cognitive, speech, and memory skills. As for the general services, these include: housekeeping, meal planning, general maintenance, scheduled transportation, laundry and linen service. Care-related services are available as well, including mobility assistance, wound care, diabetes care, and incontinence care.

Senior living in North Dakota - cost comparison with other states

The cost of assisted living in North Dakota is well below the national average. North Dakota has equal costs with South Dakota, but it is more affordable than Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming. The overall costs are as follows: South Dakota - $3,300 per month or $39,000 per year; Minnesota - $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; Montana - $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; Wyoming - $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year.

As for memory care, the cost in North Dakota is well below the national average. North Dakota has similar costs with South Dakota, but it is more affordable than Montana and Minnesota. The overall costs are as follows: South Dakota - $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year; Montana - $5,500 per month or $66,000 per year; Minnesota - $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year.

Finding the best senior living facility for your needs in North Dakota

Careful research can help you find the best long-term care community for you or your loved one. Whether you are interested in assisted living or memory care, the one thing to remember is that the overall costs will vary from one center to the other. These are directly dependent on the available care packages.

We can make the whole experience bearable, providing you with the necessary assistance. Just give us a call and we will offer detailed information on the costs of each senior living facility. In case you need additional details about the factors influencing the respective costs, we will gladly discuss these as well. It is our absolute pleasure to guide you through the entire process.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in North Dakota

Assisted living facilities provide a general range of services to their residents (married or single), including 24/7 security, general maintenance, and housekeeping. They might also provide other services, such as: meal planning and preparation (with consideration to dietary requirements), laundry and linen service, errand running and shopping, Internet and telephone access, emergency response system, scheduled transportation.

As part of their service range, ALFs offer assistance with the activities of daily living, such as eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, and grooming. Nonetheless, the assistance offered is always minimal, as residents are encouraged to maintain their independence. Medication management is provided as well, with two possibilities: either the staff monitors the resident while taking his/her medication or they will handle the task themselves. In addition, they might provide reminders, open blisters or bottles, and make sure the correct dosage has been taken.

Dementia residents are accepted in assisted living facilities that have integrated care units. They benefit from a similar range of services, with the exception of the fact that they might receive more assistance and are constantly monitored by the staff.

Note: as opposed to other states, in North Dakota, senior adults can choose exactly the exact services they want to use. So, they can maintain an independent lifestyle for as long as it is possible, resorting to the services offered within the ALF only when necessary.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in North Dakota

The living units available in assisted living facilities can be occupied by a maximum of two residents. Seniors can choose between single and double-occupancy rooms, with couples clearly opting for the latter. All living units must have a bathroom with accessibility features. Even though apartment-style units are not mandatory, many ALFs provide such options nowadays. These have a bathroom and bedroom, with keyed entries. Pets may be allowed but each facility reserves the right to decide on that aspect.

Senior adults who live in North Dakota assisted living facilities can occupy their time with a multitude of social and recreational activities. Among the most commonly-encountered amenities, there are: swimming pool and gym, learning center, painting studio, woodworking shop, weekly religious service with chaplain, social club, library, Internet room, fine-dining restaurant, café, etc. Dementia residents have access to specific amenities, including memory gardens, guided walks, and therapies meant to help them preserve their skills.