Pennsylvania Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living in Pennsylvania for couples

How many assisted living facilities are there in PA? In the state of Pennsylvania, there are over 150 assisted living facilities. These senior living communities in PA can be found in the following locations: Allentown, Altoona, Bloomsburg, Chambersburg, East Stroudsburg, Erie, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Johnstown, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Scranton. All residents undergo a medical evaluation prior to admittance. Based on this assessment, an individual support plan is developed. Plans are updated every couple of months or after major health events.

Assisted living facilities in PA reserve the right to refuse senior adults who suffer from infectious conditions, require 24/7 skilled nursing care or might pose a danger to themselves and others. Additional reasons for refusal might include: ventilator dependence, advanced bedsores and vascular ulcers, IV fluid requirements, NG tube present, physical restraint necessary. As a general rule, these seniors are directed towards other long-term care solutions.

Assisted living facilities are communities that welcome senior adults, providing them with housing and access to healthcare. Applicants must be over the age of 62 or 55, depending on the regulations of each facility, and able to cover the required monthly fees. Spouses can live together and many ALFs now accept pets as companions. Residents benefit from a varied array of amenities, having the freedom to decide their schedule and the activities it might include.

Financing and costs of assisted living in Pennsylvania

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania is around $3,750, which is a bit lower than the national median of $4,000. Compared to other neighboring states – Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio – Pennsylvania has more affordable rates. The biggest difference is with New Jersey, which has an average monthly cost of $6,000. On the other hand, West Virginia is less expensive, with a median of $3,600.

Within the state of Pennsylvania, the cost of assisted living varies considerably. The most expensive ALFs are found in Philadelphia, with an average cost of $5,300. On the other hand, Scranton has the lowest rates in the state, reaching a median value of $2,400. Assisted living is significantly cheaper than nursing home care, which has an average cost of $9,600. Both in-home care and memory care are more expensive than assisted living, but the difference is not that noticeable. Independent living is the only long-term care solution that is more affordable.

Assisted living costs in Pennsylvania

Assisted living communities are designed to meet the needs of aging seniors, not only in terms of housing, but also when it comes to healthcare and the assistance with ADLs. Seniors benefit from specialized care and have access to a multitude of services and amenities. Most facilities offer skilled nursing care only for a limited period of time, maximum three months, or forego this service altogether. In the state of Pennsylvania, there are different types of assisted living communities one can choose from. They have various care packages available, with corresponding costs. If you are interested in discovering more information on these costs, just keep on reading.

Average costs of assisted living and memory care in Pennsylvania

How much does assisted living cost in PA? The average cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania is $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year. This is slightly lower than the national median of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state of Pennsylvania, the most expensive assisted living facilities are located in Philadelphia, with an average cost of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. On the other hand, Scranton has the most affordable communities of this kind, averaging at $2,800 per month or $33,000 per year.

How much does memory care cost in PA? When it comes to memory care, the average cost of assisted living in Pennsylvania is $5,100 per month or $61,000 per year. This is a bit lower than the national median of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Within the state of Pennsylvania, the most expensive memory care communities are found in Philadelphia, averaging at $7,100 per month or $85,000 per year. Scranton has the most affordable facilities of this kind, with an average cost of $3,500 per month or $42,000 per year.

Assisted living costs more than 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, and it has similar rates with home care and home health care. It is surpassed only by nursing home care, which averages at $11,000 per month or $132,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

Deposit fees are usually covered by prospective residents, as a way of confirming their spot into the desired long-term care community. Seniors are expected to cover the monthly fees, without any other costs to be worried about. For instance, many assisted living facilities do not have entrance fees. Aside from the resident's marital status, the overall costs are calculated according to the living unit type and size, as well as the available amenities and services. Residents have access to various utilities and general services, including meal plans, general maintenance, housekeeping, laundry and linen service, etc. For other services, an additional fee might be required.

Most seniors receive assistance with daily living activities, such as bathing, eating, or dressing, for which care fees are required. The available care packages have different benefits to offer, including daily planned activities, emergency response systems, physical and occupational therapy, scheduled transportation, and medication management. Second occupancy fees must be covered by spouses who desired to live together in the same unit. As for certain utilities, such as the cable and Internet access, additional payment might be necessary. Third-party providers usually offer healthcare, with the costs being handled by the residents themselves.

What goes into memory care costs?

Dementia seniors might consider moving into a memory care community, where they have access to adapted housing, healthcare, and around-the-clock monitoring. Residents also benefit from targeted services and amenities, as well as assistance with daily living activities. The support offered depends on the level of independence, the type of dementia, and the illness stage. The same goes for the available care packages, which are designed with careful consideration to all of these factors. Safety features are also chosen with care, with the purpose of protecting against unfortunate accidents and wandering.

Memory care facilities have amazing therapists to provide daily therapy sessions. These help seniors delay the progression of dementia, with emphasis on speech, cognitive, and memory skills. Naturally, residents also have access to general services, such as meal planning, general maintenance, laundry and linen service, scheduled transportation, and housekeeping. As for the care-related services, these might include mobility assistance, incontinence care, wound care, and diabetes care.

Senior living in Pennsylvania - cost comparison with other states

In the state of Pennsylvania, the cost of assisted living is below the national median. Pennsylvania has the same rates to offer as West Virginia, but it is more affordable than New York, Maryland, and Ohio. The overall costs are as follows: West Virginia - $4,100 per month or $49,000 per year; New York - $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; Maryland – $4,900 per month or $58,000 per year; Ohio - $4,600 per month or $55,000 per year.

As for memory care, the average cost in the state is also below the national median. Pennsylvania is more affordable than all of its neighboring states. The overall costs are as follows: Ohio - $5,800 per month or $69,000 per year; Maryland - $6,100 per month or $73,000 per year; New York - $5,700 per month or $68,000 per year; West Virginia - $5,200 per month or $62,000 per year.

Finding the best senior living facility for your needs in Pennsylvania

The state of Pennsylvania has different assisted living communities seniors can choose from, with care packages that have a lot of advantages to offer.

Allow us the pleasure of guiding you through the decision-making process. You just give us a call and we will happily offer detailed information on the costs of each senior living facility. Just remember that the overall costs will vary from one facility to the other. In our line of work, we strive to match seniors with the right communities for them, with careful consideration to their current needs and available budget. Moreover, we gladly provide additional information on long-term care options, such as assisted living or memory care.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania

Each assisted living facility offers its residents access to a general range of services, meant to ensure a comfortable standard of living. These services might include but are not limited to: emergency response system, housekeeping, laundry and linen service, Internet and telephone access, general maintenance, 24/7 security, errand running and shopping, meal planning and preparation, scheduled transportation.

Even though residents are encouraged to live as independently as possible, assistance will be offered when it comes to activities of daily living (eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, etc.). Healthcare services are offered in some facilities, including limited skilled nursing, diabetes care, wound care, and tracheostomy services.

Medication management is available for all residents, with the staff providing assistance during self-administration or handling the administration themselves. Additional services offered might include: basic cognitive support, supervision, occupational and physical therapy, behavioral health services.

If the respective ALF has an integrated memory care unit, this means it will accept dementia residents. They might benefit from the general range of services but also from basic cognitive support, supervision, monitoring, emergency response, and behavioral health services. The level of assistance depends on how advanced their condition is, with advanced stages requiring higher support.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in Pennsylvania

All Pennsylvania-based ALFs must provide adequate living conditions to their residents, whether they are married or single. Living units must meet the required standards for both physical accommodations and safety equipment, especially when it comes to senior adults who are mentally impaired or have other disabilities. Private accommodations should be made available, with the exception of the situation in which the resident desires to share the living space with another person. Additional features must include: accessible doors, keyed entries, emergency response systems, accessibility features in bathrooms.

To fill their time, residents have access to an interesting diversity of amenities. They can stay active by practicing their favorite sport, visiting the gym or the swimming pool. Mental fitness can be maintained at the learning center or by trying a new hobby, such as painting, woodworking, or gardening. Other amenities offered: weekly religious service with chaplain, social club, library, computer room, fine dining restaurant and café. For dementia residents, potential amenities include guided walks, memory gardens, and various therapies.