Assisted Living near Rockledge, FL

Assisted Living in Rockledge, Florida

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living communities provide lodging and services to seniors who need some assistance with daily tasks like taking medicines, preparing meals and keeping up with housework. Assisted living facilities come in all sizes and shapes, so touring them may be the most effective way to figure out which one is best for you or your family member.

What Services Are Offered in Assisted Living?

No assisted living community is similar to another. At the very least, assisted living provides independently minded seniors meals and snack foods, help with things like washing and getting dressed, and an array of activities such as wellness programs, social occasions, outings and much more, all in a safe and secure environment among people their age.

What Are ADLs?

If you are considering assisted living, you’ve probably come across the acronym ADLs, which stands for the Activities of Daily Living. These consist of:

• Bathing and showering
• Toileting
• Getting dressed
• Feeding (but not meal planning)
• Continence
• Functional mobility, which include getting back in and out of a bed or chair

Developed in the 1950s, ADLs assess an individual’s overall health and function. In general, elderly adults who can take care of ADLs on their own but who are thinking about a switch to senior living may be better candidates for independent living. If you have questions in what care type is the best suit for your family member, get in touch with A Place for Mom. Our Senior Living Advisors can answer any questions you may have about assisted living, independent living, memory care, life plan communities and more.

Assisted Living Vs. Nursing Homes

The word “assisted living” was initially used in the 1980s to spell it out a new sort of residential living for old adults that was obviously different from more traditional nursing home designs. Assisted living is made for people who need a certain amount of help with day to day activities but who still expect degree of independence and who would like to reside in an apartment-like environment such as a studio or a one-bedroom apartment. Many assisted living communities provide a complete schedule of activities and events and offer multiple meal options to provide for many different tastes and preferences, including special diet plans and restaurant-style options. Small pets are often permitted.

In contrast, the sign of nursing homes is that they offer skilled nursing care. They are designed to meet the requirements of seniors and others who have medical conditions that require 24x7 medical assistance. Meals are generally served in a central dining hall and residents live in individual or shared bedrooms. Some nursing homes also give short-term therapeutic care. Nursing homes today are also known as convalescent care centers, nursing centers, skilled nursing communities and long-term care facilities. Due to the fact that they provide more support, nursing homes are more expensive than assisted living communities.

Both skilled nursing and assisted living communities may provide memory care, which is specialized support for people managing cognitive impairment. In fact, 40% of the individuals who reside in the state of Florida are living with some type of dementia, based on the National Center for Assisted Living. In general, people living with the beginning levels of Alzheimer’s or dementia are effectively supported by assisted living communities while people living with later stages of Alzheimer's require the medical care of a nursing home.

What Is Assisted Living Like?

While every community is usually unique, here are a few features that a majority of assisted living communities share:

• They provide different degrees of care, sometimes at varied costs.
• They provide different living options, from studios to one-bedroom flats.
• Many permit residents to bring their private small pets, including birds, cats and in some instances smaller sized dogs.
• They focus on different backgrounds, traditions and hobbies and interests. Some facilities, for instance, are faith-based, while others are multilingual, with activities and dining options to match. Still more are designed for retired armed service or college alumni and are even located on or near university campuses.
• They may offer accommodations for married couples as well as individuals.
• They range in size. Some facilities have as few as 20 residents, while others many have significantly more than 200.

With so many options to choose from, finding the right community can feel overpowering. Our Senior Living Advisors can help. They live in the communities they work in. When you talk with a Senior Living Advisor, she or he will ask a few pre-determined questions to better determine what you are looking for, what your budget is and what unique desires your loved one may have. Best of all their assistance is free!

When Is It Time to Consider Assisted Living?

For anyone who is asking this question, chances are good that it’s time you learn more about senior living. Here are a few other hints that assisted living might be right for both your loved one and your family:

• You are worried for your loved one’s basic safety.
• You are worried they aren’t eating properly.
• You get worried about them leaving the house by themselves.
• You notice they are spending less time with friends and family.
• You receive a telephone call or email from a neighbor who is concerned about them.
• You observe that your family member may have trouble recalling people’s names or working with a familiar technology like their cellular phone or television remote.

If these or additional symptoms are bothering you, take action. Get in touch with A Place for Mom and speak to a Senior Living Advisor today. They can answer your questions and assist you to figure out next steps. Best of all, their knowledge is free of charge!

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings

Florida provides families with exceptional usage of its assisted living inspection and ratings records. Based on our state-by-state review of state records, Florida’s assisted living regulation and inspection program is one of the most transparent in the country. To find the information of an assisted living facility in the greater Rockledge area, go to the FloridaHealthFinder.gov site and search by service type to get inspection reports, licensure data, penalties and actions assessed against the facility, availability of nursing staff, an emergency power plan overview and more.

The state of Florida requires that all new assisted living residents have a medical exam within 30 days of move-in to evaluate an personalized care strategy. The state also requires a minimum number of weekly staff member hours based on the number of people who reside in a facility to make sure care plans can be accommodated.

10 Things to Look For When Touring an Assisted Living Facility

The best way to figure out if an assisted living community is best for your loved one is to check out one -- or even better, four or five of them! Here are a few factors to pay attention to when you visit:

1. Does the staff connect to the residents?
2. Is the residence clean, odor-free and well looked after?
3. Is there a procedure in place for determining the needs of a new resident?
4. Can residents request transportation if they require it?
5. Are the staff professional and courteous?
6. Are there particular visiting times or are guests welcome at any time?
7. Does each resident possess a care plan set up?
8. What happens if a resident’s requirements change?
9. Is there a crisis program in place in the event of a natural or manmade disaster?
10. Do the individuals who live there remind you of your loved one?

For more tips on what precisely to look for while visiting an assisted living facility, see our Planning and Advice pages.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Rockledge, Florida?

According to the A Place for Mom Senior Living Cost Index, assisted living in the city of Rockledge, Florida ranges from $1750 to $6150 per month. The Senior Living Cost Index is based on what A Place for Mom clients paid after they moved into senior living. It's the only price data source of its kind. By giving this information, families can understand how much they could save in different parts of a particular metro area or perhaps a bordering state.

Ready to learn more? Go to our Senior Living Cost Index web page to discover what costs are in your town.

How to Pay for Senior Living In Rockledge, Florida

How to have the funds for assisted living is one of the most common questions families have if they meet with one of our Senior Living Advisors. Here are some of the most typical financing resources for senior living:

• Personal income or savings. If a senior does not have ample funds saved to cover long-term care, it’s common for households to combine funds to make up the difference.
• Home equity. Many times, seniors sell their places of residence to pay for senior living. In some instances, a bridge loan could be available to help cover the cost of moving while the home is readied for sale.
• Long-term care insurance. This special kind of insurance is made to pay for senior care expenditures. Some policies could cover various other expenditures that can be incurred during the transition to assisted living, such as for example employing a case manager or care coordinator.
• Veterans benefits. Many seniors have served in the military and may qualify for help and support. Because benefits are untouched, it’s worth it to check to see if your family member or his / her spouse may be eligible. To find out more, go to va.gov or see our Guide to VA Benefits and Long-Term Care for additional information.
• Sale of a life insurance policy. There are many ways to use life insurance to invest in senior living depending on the type of policy you hold. Consult with a life insurance or financial consultant to learn about if this option might work for your situation.

Many families expect that Medicare can help purchase assisted living, but it can only cover short-term care. For more information, head to Medicare's site.

Understanding Assisted Living Costs

Assisted living costs vary widely from facility to facility, so that it pays off to perform your research. Below are a few items that may have an effect on just how much you spend:

• Type of residence
• Size of house (studio, one- or two-bedroom house)
• Types of solutions needed
• Geographical area
• Location of the community
• Level of opulence

Assisted living communities frequently charge a set fee that covers many basic solutions, with additional charges added on for particular services. Additional communities will charge a rate for each individual service, known as a la carte payment, so that residents only pay for the support they make use of. In general, the monthly base rate covers only lease and meals, with care billed separately. Entrance charges and deposits are also often required. Fees and prices differ by community, therefore it’s important to ask communities you are checking out about their costs and services.

For more details about assisted living costs and fee structures, contact a Senior Living Advisor at A Place for Mom.

About Senior Living in Rockledge, Florida

With its low tax rates and warm weather, the state of Florida is among one of the most popular locations in the United States for seniors. The Area Agency on Aging for Florida offers an abundance of information for seniors and their families. Get in touch with A Place for Mom to discover more about the more than 32 assisted living facilities in Rockledge, Florida.