Assisted Living near Kankakee, IL

Assisted Living in Kankakee, Illinois

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living is a type of senior care and housing that provides residents support for activities of daily living (ADLs). Residents typically receive support for bathing, dressing, medication supervision, and meals. Not the same as a skilled nursing community where residents receive around-the-clock nursing care, assisted living communities give residents access to care while as well as offering a wide variety of activities and services in a community setting. Some assisted living communities provide support for seniors with specific medical requirements such as for example cognitive loss due to Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, diabetes, or incontinence health care.

For anyone who is unsure about what sort of care your loved one needs, speak with a medical expert who can help you decide on the best kind of care. Additionally, our Senior Living Advisors are standing by to answer any of your concerns and help you locate a senior care community that meets your needs.

What Is Senior Living Like in Kankakee, IL?

Boasting four distinct seasons and beautiful Midwest landscapes, Illinois is a lovely destination to retire. Home to one of the world’s largest airports, retiring in Illinois provides your family and friends a convenient destination to visit, while likewise providing you easy access to world travel.

With regards to selecting senior living, there are plenty of points to consider, from the level of attention and support to way of living, location and more. Kankakee, IL offers many possible choices so that you can make a confident and informed decision for your loved ones.

• 55+ Apartments/Senior Apartments: Also referred to as adult communities, age-restricted apartments, and senior condos. Senior apartments are just like apartments for folks of all ages, but have an age restriction; typically residents are required to be more than 55 or 62. Older adults often feel better in senior apartments and prefer living around persons from their own generation.
• Independent Living: Independent living is a type of senior housing for seniors who now live independently but want to live in a community setting with additional seniors. This sort of senior housing typically has community events, entertainment, outings, and in some cases has transitional programs for seniors who gradually need assisted living.
• Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs): Continuing care retirement communities are retirement communities with accommodations for independent living, assisted living and nursing home care, offering seniors a continuum of health care. A person can spend the rest of his life in a CCRC or life plan community, moving between levels of care as needed. This type of arrangement is also called “aging in place,” although it does require leaving one’s original home.
• Adult Day Care: Adult day care can provide respite care for caregivers who are still working while also looking after a loved one. This is a great choice for caregivers and seniors looking for ways to remain active and involved while living in the home and getting home care solutions.
• Residential Care Home/Board and Care: Care homes are ordinary homes in residential neighborhoods which may have been adapted to care for a small number of residents. Offering solutions similar to assisted living facilities, care homes specialize in providing personalized care in a home-like setting.
• Assisted Living: Assisted living gives residents assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) like washing, personal grooming, medication administration, and more. Amenities and services can range greatly but typically there is staff on hand around the clock to assist residents with necessities as they arise. Residents likewise typically have a care plan that is regularly monitored and adapted as needs change as time passes.
• Memory Care: This kind of health care is for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other varieties of dementia. These communities are usually specifically designed so that residents don't get lost or wander. They offer dementia-friendly meal plans and life enhancing activities that promote engagement and interpersonal interaction.
• Nursing Homes/Skilled Nursing Facilities: Nursing homes, also called skilled nursing facilities, are for seniors who need the highest degree of 24- hour care, including those people who are bedridden. Nursing homes are also used by seniors for rehabilitation after a hospital stay.
• Respite Care/Short-Term Stay Respite: This care typically refers to a short-term stay at a long-term care community. Respite care may also make reference to in-home caregiving services used for only a brief period. Family caregivers use respite services when they need a break or have other obligations.
• Hospice Care: Hospice care benefits the terminally ill and their families make the most of the last days of their lives. Originated in the word “hospitality,” hospice is not a place, but a philosophy of care and attention that embraces loss of life as a natural part of life, and seeks to assist patients meet this end with dignity and grace. This means comforting the individual psychologically and physically while aiding their loved ones as they navigate any end of life decisions.

What Services Are Available?

The options and services provided in senior living can vary greatly from facility to community. However, most facilities offer studio, one-room or two-bedroom apartments, activities, meal plans, transportation, and other services.

Other features often found in assisted living include:

• Access to medical services
• Access to therapies on-site and off-site
• Exercise and nutrition programs
• Housekeeping services
• Medication administration

How Do I Tour Assisted Living Facilities?

Kankakee has 50 facilities in the local area so it is important to tour several assisted living communities before choosing the best one for your senior loved one. That way you will discover what options are available and will have an easier time narrowing down your alternatives. Call or email A Place for Mom and we will help you arrange a tour at your most wanted facility.

Below are a few of the best questions you need to be ready to ask during your walk through:

• Are there any outdoor spaces that people can enjoy? If so, are they kept orderly and tidy?
• Can your staff give prescription medication?
• Do you have a nurse on-site 24/7?
• Do you include your services in the monthly rate? If not, just how much are additional services?
• Does your policy require an initial assessment before move in?
• Will there be a waitlist? If so, how many people are currently on it?
• What accommodation types can be found and what exactly are their price ranges?
• What are the current residents like?
• What exactly are your invoicing and payment policies and procedures?
• What's the staff-to-resident ratio? Are the staff members engaged? Friendly?
• What's your discharge plan?
• What kind of education do your employees have?
• It's also advisable to pay close attention to any people you meet or move while you’re there. Do they seem content and are they taken care of well?

Will Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?

According to Medicare.gov, “Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, certain younger people with disabilities and people with End-Stage Renal Disease.”

Medicare covers only short-term, non-custodial care. As a consequence you cannot use Medicare to cover long-term nursing home stays or assisted living. Medicare covers medically necessary skilled care at a nursing home if you need short-term skilled care for an illness or injury and you meet specific conditions.

How Can I View Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings in Illinois?

The state of Illinois offers great usage of its assisted living facility data through its Department of Social Services website. Data available to review includes licensed assisted living communities that are updated frequently, and information about assisted living licensing and violations.

In the state of Illinois, assisted living facilities are required by law to:

• Have a license if housing 17 or even more unrelated individuals
• Have over 80% of residents be 55 years old or older
• Provide each resident with a written service plan which includes a doctor’s analysis and evaluation
• Provide personal and health services 24 hours per day with personnel assisting with personal requirements such as dressing, eating, and hygiene

How Do I Choose the best Assisted Living Facility?

Finding the right facility for your senior family member can be one of the most important decisions you can make. During your tour, consider the caliber of care that your family member may receive. The decision of “if, when and where to move” resides specifically with you and your loved one, so consider what criteria are actually beneficial to you and your loved one.

• Activities: It’s a good idea to try and schedule your tour in conjunction with facility get-togethers. Ask the manager if you can watch the activities and even get involved. Are the activities and occasions well attended? Does the team members appear to be enjoying the entertainment as well? Have a look at the facility calendar of events. Do they match your loved one’s hobbies and interests? Do the activities and events vary in size and type? Do they provide excursions and trips from the community? If it is essential to you and your family, don’t forget to ask about spiritual offerings.
• Cleanliness: Does the facility feel clean and fresh? Be sure to look past the fixtures and into baseboards, corners, and windows. Ask how often housekeeping services are provided in the private living area. Make sure you get full information on the types of repair provided and the approximated response times. Don’t forget to enquire about laundry procedures. Ask for details on what's available and at what expense.
• Friendliness: The demeanor and friendliness of the staff are of the utmost importance. Make sure you witness multiple workers mingling with current residents. Do they listen and make eye contact? Make sure to get a good understanding of the staffing routine. How many people are in fact involved with residents’ care? Be sure you get an introduction to the management team. This can help you understand the goals of the facility. It's important that you have confidence in the community’s team members.
• Meals: As with most of us, the dining area experience is important to seniors. When touring facilities, it is important to discuss entree choices and find out about dining hours, choices, and procedures. Be sure to and your loved one enjoy a meal at facility. It's not only a great way to try the cooking, but it’s a great possibility to meet other folks. Make sure to discuss what goes on if a resident is not able to make it to the dining area for meals.
• Reputation: Ask residents and family members, past and present, for his or her honest opinions about the facility. Many facilities have a resident council which will be happy to help answer all of your questions. Check out our website to read some of the 1021 reviews from families who have shared their impressions of specific facilities.
• Security and safety: Security and safety features are incredibly important and provide peace of mind for the caregiver. Make sure that bathrooms are accessible and also have grab bars in convenient locations. Ask how residents call the staff if indeed they have an an urgent situation within their living area. Find out about other security features in living quarters and throughout the facility. Make sure you find out about staffing routines to determine who's on-site consistently to aid residents. Are there registered nurses on-site? How do staffing schedules differ at night? How does the facility assist or manage residents’ medication requirements?
• Trust your gut: When you are touring, be sure to consider yourself or your loved one essentially living at the facility. Can you imagine your family member feeling secure? Do you really feel at ease? Are the personnel and residents open, welcoming and cheerful?

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Kankakee, Illinois?

The A Place for Mom Senior Living Cost Index shows that the typical cost of assisted living in the Kankakee region ranged from $1500 to $9300 per month. Costs for assisted living facilities can vary widely depending on amenities, location, and services, as a result looking into close by suburbs and towns may give you further flexibility.

How to Pay for Assisted Living

Many people finance a move to assisted living through the sale of a home or personal savings, but for some people, this might not be an choice. Listed below are three additional solutions that may help you pay for assisted living:

1. Life Insurance Policies: If the parent or senior family member you are helping move into assisted living has a life insurance policy, you could be able to cash out the policy and get the funds today. Different policies and restrictions apply based on the type of insurance plan you have, so call a financial advisor or eldercare legal professional to discover more about your alternatives and to determine what’s best for your needs.
2. Reverse Mortgages: For senior couples who may have different health care needs, a reverse mortgage could be a good method for just one person to go into assisted living while another resides at home while their partner transitions to senior living. A reverse mortgage allows homeowners aged 62 or older to borrow against their home equity. To learn more, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to locate a reverse mortgage counseling agency in your area or contact the Illinois Housing Development Authority.
3. Veterans Benefits: Many seniors may be eligible for veterans benefits that they don’t recognize. One benefit, in particular, Aid & Attendance, has helped many families afford assisted living. To qualify, veterans must be at least 65 years old and have served at least 90 days of active duty, with at least one day during what the Veterans Administration considers active wartime periods. Qualifying widows and widowers of veterans can also be able to receive benefits. With the existing average age of U.S. veterans at 64 years old, it’s worth it to determine if your loved one may be eligible for benefits. To find out about benefits for veterans, see our “Guide to VA Benefits and Long-Term Care,” contact the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs or check out www.va.gov.

For more ideas about the best way to pay for your move to senior living, get in touch with A Place for Mom to talk to a Senior Living Advisor today.

5 Questions to Ask an Assisted Living Community

Finding the right assisted living facility is an important decision, both for a senior and for his or her family members.

Here are five things to consider when thinking about making the move to assisted living:

1. How many staff are on hand to assist during the night? Some assisted living communities provide 24x7 nursing staff, while some may have more generalized help on hand after hours.
2. Will there be a waitlist? Popular facilities can fill up fast. If the main one you like is not available, inquire about the waitlist and what the community’s plan is for managing it. Many communities will require a deposit plus some communities have internal lists for special care needs. Here is where doing all your homework can genuinely pay back - plan ahead!
3. Is there an outdoor space? For many residents making the transition from a private residence to assisted living means leaving behind a beloved yard or outdoor area, so having access to a gardening area, a patio or a courtyard is certainly important. Many larger assisted living facilities offer a range of outdoor space, with features such as for example BBQ spaces, gardens, and going for walks paths for facility events.
4. What is the staff-to-resident ratio? Will this facility offer your loved one with the support they need? According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 25% of assisted living communities have a ratio of one personal care associates for each 23 residents. Staffing can vary widely depending on the size of the community, so be certain to ask about the services you are looking for.
5. What services are within the monthly cost? Before signing the contract, it’s a good idea to understand what is included in the basic charge structure and what might incur an additional cost. Some facilities employ a fee-for-service model, or a la carte pricing, this means they charge a monthly cost for rent and meals but extra costs for things like medication management. Others might use a tiered pricing model where different levels of service are charged distinct charges.

What Else Should I Consider When Choosing a Facility?

With so many choices to choose from, choosing the best assisted living community can seem like a daunting task. That’s where our Senior Living Advisors can help - they are specialists in helping match seniors to the communities that will be the best fit for their care requirements, personality, and budget.

Here are a few things to take into account during your search:

• Make sure you look for your family member, not you. Today’s assisted living communities offer everything from homey environments to upscale resort-style five star living. It could be easy to come to be tempted by the features and services you might choose for yourself, but in the end it comes down to what will work best for your family member.
• Focus on the present, not the past. Does your family member need help washing and getting dressed? Do they have special requirements like limited eye sight or special diet programs? Would they enjoy the perks of a larger community or be more happy in a smaller, more intimate environment? Take into account the here and now, not what might have been their choice ten or 15 years back.
• Plan to see at least three to five facilities, if you can. Start with planned visits and consider having meals with the residents. If none of the places seem like a good fit, ask your Senior Living Advisor for more choices. And don’t hesitate to ask questions and take notes while you’re there.

The process of selecting the most appropriate assisted living facility is often overwhelming, but there are resources that will help. Call A Place for Mom today - we are able to help save you time and money and help you make the right choice.