Vermont Assisted Living for Couples

Assisted living in Vermont for couples

Assisted living facilities are communities in which retired seniors can spend their golden years, with access to housing and high-quality healthcare. Welcoming those over the age of 62, or 55 in some cases, senior living facilities also provide a wide range of services and amenities. Aside from the age requirement, retirees must be able to pay the associated monthly fees and meet the other admittance criteria (level of independence, health status, etc.). One of the positive things about ALFs is that they allow married couples to live together.

How many ALFs are there in VT? In the state of Vermont, there are over 60 assisted living facilities. These retirement communities can be found in the following locations: South Burlington, Shelburne, St. Albans Town, Essex Junction, Bennington, Montpelier, Killington, Vernon, Chelsea, and Richmond. All of these ALFs are regulated by the Department of Aging and Disabilities. Upon being admitted, residents receive an individualized care plan, which will include details about the resident's needs and requirements. Plans are updated every couple of months or after major health events.

As a general rule, Vermont-based ALFs do not accept residents who suffer from acute conditions, as well as those who depend on ventilators to breathe or have limited mobility, requiring a high level of assistance for transfers and/or walking. If the resident's health takes a turn for the worse during his/her stay in the respective facility, he/she will not have to leave the community, provided the ALF can handle the necessary care.

Financing and costs of assisted living in Vermont

The average monthly cost of assisted living in Vermont is $4,500. This is higher than the national median of $4,000. Compared to certain neighboring states, such as Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and Connecticut, Vermont has more affordable rates. On the other hand, both New York and Rhode Island are less expensive.

Within the state of Vermont, the differences between various ALFs are not that noticeable. Assisted living is considerably cheaper than nursing home care, which has an average monthly cost of $9,400. It is also less expensive than in-home care and memory care, but it costs more than independent living. However, it is worth mentioning that the latter does not include assistance with daily living activities.

Assisted living costs in Vermont

Assisted living facilities are among the best long-term care communities for seniors, having numerous benefits to offer. Residents can move into adapted housing units, with access to high-quality care and assistance with ADLs. The only exception is represented by skilled nursing care, which is either not available or offered just for three months. In the state of Vermont, there are different types of assisted living centers seniors can choose from. Each offers its own care packages, with corresponding costs and benefits. To discover more information on the costs of assisted living in Vermont, just keep on reading.

Average costs of assisted living & memory care in Vermont

How much does assisted living cost in VT? The average cost of assisted living in Vermont is $5,250 per month or $63,000 per year. This is considerably higher than the national median of $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year. Within the state, Burlington has the most expensive assisted living communities, with an average cost of $6,300 per month or $75,000 per year. There is no data on the most affordable facilities of this kind in Vermont.

How much does memory care cost in VT? When it comes to memory care, the average cost in Vermont is $6,500 per month or $78,000 per year. This is significantly higher than the national median of $5,600 per month or $67,000 per year. Within the state, Burlington has the most expensive memory care facilities, averaging at $7,900 per month or $94,000 per year. There is no data on the most affordable communities of this kind in the state.

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, assisted living, home care, and home health care. It is only surpassed by nursing home care, which has an average cost of $11,000 per month or $132,000 per year.

What goes into assisted living costs?

Deposit fees must be covered by seniors who plan on moving into an assisted living community. These are usually returned when the residential stay begins. Aside from the monthly fees, there are no other costs to be worried about. For instance, such facilities do not require entrance fees. The overall costs are calculated in accordance with several factors, such as the available amenities and services, the resident's marital status, living unit type and size. Residents have access to utilities and general services, such as general maintenance, meal plans, laundry and linen service, housekeeping. Additional services are almost always available at extra cost.

Care fees are calculated in accordance with the number of daily living activities seniors receive assistance with. As for the care packages, these include several benefits, including daily planned activities, medication management, scheduled transportation, emergency response systems, physical and occupational therapy. A secondary occupancy fee must be covered by spouses who want to live together. Certain utilities, such as the Internet and cable access, might be available at extra cost as well. Healthcare is normally offered by third-party providers, with the costs being covered by the residents benefitting from it.

What goes into memory care costs?

Dementia seniors are often advised to move into memory care communities, where they benefit from healthcare, adapted housing, and around-the-clock monitoring. Specialists provide the necessary support, with residents having access to various services and amenities. Additional services might be offered as well, depending on each facility. The available care packages are developed with consideration to the type of dementia and the illness stage. Safety features are provided, with the purpose of helping residents feel less confused and also to reduce the risk of self-harm and/or wandering. The assistance with ADLs is part of the basic care package.

Therapists help seniors work on their memory, cognitive, and speech skills. The daily therapy sessions are meant to help them delay the progression of dementia. General services include: general maintenance, meal planning and preparation, housekeeping, scheduled transportation, laundry and linen service. Care-related services might be available as well, with common options such as mobility assistance, wound care, diabetes care, and incontinence care.

Senior living in Vermont - cost comparison with other states

The average cost of assisted living in Vermont is well above the national median. Vermont is more expensive than New York, but has more affordable rates than New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The overall costs are as follows: New York - $4,500 per month or $54,000 per year; New Hampshire - $6,000 per month or $72,000 per year; Massachusetts - $6,500 per month or $78,000 per year.

As for memory care, the average cost in Vermont is also well above the national median. Vermont is more expensive than New York, but more affordable than New Hampshire and Massachusetts. The overall costs are as follows: New York - $5,700 per month or $68,000 per year; New Hampshire - $7,500 per month or $90,000 per year; Massachusetts - $8,100 per month or $97,000 per year.

Finding the right senior living facility in Vermont for your needs

Whether you are interested in assisted living or memory care, remember that the overall costs will vary from one facility to the other, in accordance with the services and care offered.

You can always come to us, as we are more than pleased to guide you through the decision-making process. Just give us a call and we will offer detailed information on the costs of each senior living facility. It is our absolute pleasure to match seniors with the best communities for their needs, with careful consideration to the available budget. We are also glad to discuss some of the factors influencing the overall costs, such as the senior's health status, healthcare needs, and co-existing medical issues. You can then contact the respective communities and inquire more information on their acceptancy policy.

Services provided to married couples by assisted living facilities in Vermont

Vermont-based assisted living facilities provide residents with a general range of services, meant to guarantee a comfortable standard of living. These services might include but are not limited to: 24/7 security, general maintenance, Internet and telephone access, emergency response system, housekeeping, laundry and linen service, errand running and shopping, scheduled transportation, meal planning and preparation. Each facility might provide additional services, so it is for the best to check before committing to any contract.

ALF residents receive minimal assistance with activities of daily living, as all ALFs encourage an independent lifestyle. The staff may help seniors with ADLs, such as eating, dressing, toileting, grooming, and bathing. They might also offer assistance with oral hygiene. Specialized care is available in some facilities, including wound care, ulcer care, diabetes care, and tracheostomy services.

Medication management can be handled in two ways: either the staff monitors residents while taking their treatment or they will handle the task themselves. It is worth mentioning that some ALFs might provide intermittent skilled nursing care. For dementia residents, added assistance is often available, with the staff monitoring these seniors on a regular basis (prevention of accidents and self-harm). Note: only ALFs with integrated memory care units accept such residents.

Amenities for couples moving to an assisted living in Vermont

Residents have the freedom to choose how they want to live, alone or with someone else. Apartment-style units are available for couples, so they can maintain a private lifestyle. Units cannot be shared by more than two residents, and they all must have a minimum square footage, with adequate storage space. Additional features offered include: bathroom with accessibility features, fully-functional kitchen, temperature control, emergency response system. Many facilities now accept pets as well, recognizing the benefits of having a furry friend around.

In terms of amenities, seniors have access to a wide range of socialization and recreational activities. Among the most popular amenities, there are: painting studio, yoga classes, woodworking shop, weekly religious service with chaplain, swimming pool, learning center, fitness center/gym, walking trails, off-site trips, social club, fine dining restaurant and café. Dementia residents can work on their skills at the learning center, try various hobbies such as painting, or take a guided walk in the memory garden. They might also benefit from various therapies meant to help them preserve their cognitive abilities and memory.