Assisted Living near Paris, IL

Assisted Living in Paris, Illinois

What Is Assisted Living?

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

Should you be unsure about what kind 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 all of your concerns and help you discover a senior care facility that meets your needs.

What Is Senior Living Like in Paris, IL?

Boasting four distinct seasons and gorgeous Midwest scenery, Illinois is a lovely spot to retire. Home to one of the world’s largest airports, retiring in Illinois gives your family and friends a convenient location to visit, while likewise giving you easy access to world travel.

In terms of deciding on senior living, there are many points to consider, from the level of care and support to way of living, location and more. Paris, IL has many choices in order to 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 simply like apartments for folks of all ages, but they have an age restriction; typically residents are required to be older than 55 or 62. Older adults sometimes feel more secure in senior apartments and prefer living in close proximity to 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 various other seniors. This type of senior housing typically has community events, entertainment, outings, and oftentimes has transitional programs for seniors who eventually 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, giving residents a continuum of care. A person can spend the rest of his life in a CCRC or life plan community, moving between degrees of care as needed. This type of arrangement is also called “aging in place,” though it does require leaving one’s original home.
• Adult Day Care: Adult day care provides respite care for caregivers who remain working while also caring for a loved one. That is a great choice for caregivers and seniors looking for ways to remain active and engaged while living at home and getting home care solutions.
• Residential Care Home/Board and Care: Care homes are normal homes in residential neighborhoods which have been adapted to look after a small group of residents. Offering solutions similar to assisted living facilities, care homes specialize in providing individualized good care in a home-like setting.
• Assisted Living: Assisted living gives residents assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) like bathing, personal grooming, medication management, and more. Amenities and services can differ greatly but commonly there is staff available around the clock to assist residents with requirements as they arise. Residents likewise routinely have a care plan that is frequently monitored and adapted as necessities change as time passes.
• Memory Care: This kind of health care can be for seniors with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. These facilities are generally especially designed so that residents don't get lost or wander. They provide dementia-friendly meal plans and life enhancing activities that enhance engagement and social 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 following a hospital stay.
• Respite Care/Short-Term Stay Respite: This care typically means a short-term stay at a long-term care community. Respite care may also make reference to in-home caregiving services used for simply a short period. Family caregivers use respite services if they need a break or have other obligations.
• Hospice Care: Hospice care can help the terminally ill and their loved ones make the most of the last days of their lives. Originated in the term “hospitality,” hospice is not a location, but a philosophy of attention that embraces death as a natural part of life, and seeks to support individuals meet this end with dignity and grace. This implies comforting the patient on an emotional level and physically while assisting their loved ones as they navigate any end of life decisions.

What Solutions Are Available?

The amenities and services provided in senior living can vary substantially from community to community. However, most facilities offer studio, one-room or two-bedroom apartments, entertainment, meal plans, transportation, and other features.

Other services often found in assisted living include:

• Access to medical support
• Access to therapies on-site and off-site
• Fitness and nutrition programs
• Housekeeping assistance
• Medication supervision

How Do I Tour Assisted Living Facilities?

Paris has 50 communities in the local area so it is essential to tour several assisted living facilities before choosing the best one for your senior family member. That way you will discover what options can be found and will have a less complicated time narrowing down the options. Call or contact A Place for Mom and we'll help you put together a visit at your most wanted community.

Here are a few of the best questions you should be prepared to ask throughout your walk through:

• Are there any outdoor spaces that residents can enjoy? If so, are they kept neat and tidy?
• Can your staff give medication?
• Do you have a nurse on-site 24/7?
• Do you include your services in the monthly fee? If not, just how much are extra services?
• Does your policy require an initial evaluation before move in?
• Will there be a waitlist? If so, how many persons are currently on it?
• What accommodation types can be found and what are their costs?
• What are the existing residents like?
• What exactly are your billing and payment policies and methods?
• What is the staff-to-resident ratio? Are the personnel interested? Friendly?
• What's your discharge plan?
• What sort of knowledge do your personnel have?
• You should also pay close attention to any residents you meet or move while you’re there. Do they seem content and are they treated 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. This means 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 want short-term skilled care for an illness or injury and you meet certain 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 regularly, and information regarding assisted living licensing and violations.

In the state of Illinois, assisted living communities are required for legal reasons 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 that includes a doctor’s assessment and evaluation
• Provide personal and health services 24 hours a day with personnel assisting with personal needs such as dressing, eating, and personal hygiene

How Do I Choose the Right Assisted Living Community?

Finding the right facility for your senior loved one is certainly one of an important decisions you may make. Throughout your tour, consider the standard of care that your family member may receive. Your choice of “if, when and where to move” resides solely with you as well as your family, so think about what criteria are ultimately important to you and your family member.

• Activities: It’s smart 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 events well attended? Does the team members seem to be to be making the most of the entertainment as well? Take a look at the community calendar of occasions. Do they match your loved one’s pursuits? Do the activities and events vary in size and type? Do they feature outings and trips from the facility? If it is important to yourself, don’t forget to ask about religious offerings.
• Cleanliness: Does the facility feel clean and fresh? Be sure to look past the furniture and into baseboards, corners, and windows. Ask how often housekeeping services are provided in the individual living area. Be sure to get full details on the types of repair provided and the approximated response times. Don’t forget to enquire about laundry procedures. Ask for details on what is available and at what expense.
• Friendliness: The demeanor and friendliness of the staff are of the utmost importance. Make sure that you watch many workers interacting with current residents. Do they pay attention and make eye contact? Be sure to get a good understanding of the staffing pattern. How many people are truly involved with residents’ care? Be sure to get an introduction to the management team. This will help you understand the goals of the facility. It's important that you trust the community’s staff.
• Meals: As with the majority of us, the dining area experience is essential to seniors. When touring communities, it is beneficial to discuss entree choices and learn about dining hours, options, and procedures. Make sure you and your loved one enjoy a meal at community. Not only is it a great way to try out the meals, but it’s an excellent possibility to meet other residents. Make sure you go over what happens if a resident cannot make it to the dining area for a meal.
• Reputation: Ask people and family members, past and present, for his or her honest thoughts about the community. Many facilities have a resident council that will be pleased to answer all of your questions. Go to our website to read over some of the 436 reviews from families who have shared their thoughts of individual communities.
• Security and safety: Safety and security features are extremely important and provide reassurance for the caregiver. Be sure that restrooms are accessible and have grab bars in convenient locations. Ask how residents call the staff if indeed they have an emergency in their living area. Find out about other safety features available in living quarters and throughout the community. Be sure to find out about staffing schedules to determine who is on-site at all times to help residents. Are there registered nurses on-site? How do staffing patterns differ during the night? How does the community assist or manage residents’ medication requirements?
• Trust your gut: As you are visiting, be sure you consider yourself or your loved one actually living at the community. Can you imagine your loved one feeling relaxed? Do you feel at ease? Are the personnel and residents available, inviting and friendly?

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Paris, Illinois?

The A Place for Mom Senior Living Cost Index shows that the average cost of assisted living in the Paris location ranged from $1500 to $12000 per month. Charges for assisted living facilities can vary widely depending on features, neighborhood, and services, so looking into close by suburbs and towns could offer you more flexibility.

How to Pay for Assisted Living

Many families finance a move to assisted living through the sale of a house or personal savings, but for some people, this may not be an option. Listed below are three other strategies that will assist you finance assisted living:

1. Life Insurance Policies: If the parent or senior loved one you are assisting transfer to assisted living has a life insurance policy, you could be in a position to cash out the insurance policy and receive the funds now. Different policies and restrictions apply based on the kind of insurance policy you have, so call a monetary advisor or eldercare legal professional to learn more about your options and to assess what’s most useful for your needs.
2. Reverse Mortgages: For senior couples who may have different health care needs, a reverse mortgage could be a good way for one person to go into assisted living while another resides at home while their partner transitions to senior living. A reverse mortgage allows home owners aged 62 or older to borrow on their home equity. For more information, call 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, specifically, Aid & Attendance, has helped countless 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 1 day during what the Veterans Administration considers active wartime periods. Qualifying widows and widowers of veterans may also be able to receive benefits. With the current average age of U.S. veterans at 64 years old, it’s worthwhile to find out if your family member may qualify for benefits. To find out more about benefits for veterans, see our “Guide to VA Benefits and Long-Term Care,” contact the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs or visit www.va.gov.

For even more ideas regarding how to finance your move to senior living, contact A Place for Mom to talk to a Senior Living Advisor today.

5 Questions to Ask an Assisted Living Community

Choosing the best assisted living community is a significant decision, both for a senior and for their relatives.

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

1. How many staff are on hand to assist at 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 one you like isn't available, inquire about the waitlist and what the facility’s plan is for administering 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 seriously pay off - plan ahead!
3. Will there be an outdoor space? For many residents making the transition from a private residence to assisted living means leaving behind a beloved backyard or outdoor area, so gaining access to a gardening area, a patio or a courtyard is normally beneficial. Many larger assisted living facilities offer a range of outdoor space, with features such as for example BBQ areas, gardens, and going for walks paths for facility events.
4. What's the staff-to-resident ratio? Will this community offer your loved one with the help and support they need? Based on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 25% of assisted living communities have a ratio of 1 personal care assistants for each and every 23 residents. Staffing may differ widely depending on the size of the facility, so make certain to enquire about the features you are searching for.
5. What services are included in the monthly rate? Before signing the agreement, it’s smart to understand what is included in the basic fee structure and what might incur an additional fee. Some facilities employ a fee-for-service model, or a la carte pricing, this means they ask for a monthly charge for rent and meals but supplemental charges for things such as medication management. Others could use a tiered pricing model where different levels of care are billed distinct service fees.

What Else Should I Consider When Choosing a Community?

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

Here are a few things to bear in mind during your search:

• Make sure you look for your family member, not you. Today’s assisted living facilities offer everything from homey environments to upscale resort-style high end living. It can be easy to end up being tempted by the features and creature comforts you might choose for yourself, but eventually it comes down to what will work best for your family member.
• Focus on the present, not the past. Will your family member need support washing and getting dressed? Do they have special requirements like limited eye sight or special meal plans? Would they enjoy the perks of a larger facility or be more relaxed in a smaller, more personal setting? Take into account the here and now, not what may have been their choice ten or 15 years ago.
• Arrange to tour at least 3 to 5 communities, if you can. Start with scheduled visits and consider having a meal with the residents. If none of the places seem like a good fit, ask your Senior Living Advisor for more alternatives. And don’t hesitate to ask questions and take down notes while you’re there.

The process of selecting the best assisted living facility can be overpowering, but there are resources that will help. Call A Place for Mom today - we can help save you time and money and help you make a good choice.