Assisted Living near Shreveport, LA

Assisted Living in Shreveport, LA

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living facilities are long-term housing options for seniors who need support with daily living. They offer a range of care levels but do not provide the 24-hour medical care found in nursing homes. Some assisted living facilities are better suited to seniors who are still active while others provide memory care and hospice care. Others may provide a spectrum of services, allowing seniors to remain in the same location as their needs progress.

Living accommodations vary greatly from one assisted living facility to another. Many offer apartment living with studio, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom units available. Some offer a suburban or country-like environment while others feel more like urban high rises. Properties may feature modern or traditional architecture. Offerings depend largely on the geographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the area.

What Is Senior Living Like in Shreveport, LA?

Shreveport is a bustling small city of almost 200,000 people in northwest Louisiana, near the Texas border. Summers are hot, but the mild temperatures the rest of the year allow a lot of outdoor excursions. Some popular destinations include:

• Shreveport Aquarium
• Walter B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park
• Louisiana State Exhibit Museum
• The Strand Theater
• Red River District

Shreveport has destinations and attractions for all ages, making it a great place for seniors and visiting family. Whether your loved one enjoys golf, theater, or fine dining, Shreveport has something to offer.

In addition to attractions and recreational opportunities, Shreveport has a number of hospitals and medical centers that provide high-quality care, and fitness centers to support active lifestyles.

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings in Louisiana

Each state decides how much information to make public when it comes to assisted living inspections, violations, and ratings. A Place for Mom rates each state based on its level of transparency. Louisiana received a rating of Basic, placing it in the lowest quartile for state transparency ratings. The state does not make information about violations, inspections and compliance available online. It provides access to basic information like facility capacity and contact names. Facilities are inspected once every 12 months and Louisiana may fine facilities for code violations.

What Are ADLs and IADLs?

When deciding whether a senior would benefit from assisted living, healthcare professionals may evaluate independence with Activities of Daily Living, or ADLs. There are six basic ADLs that are used to measure a person’s independence and level of functioning. They include functional mobility, self-feeding, continence, bathing, toileting, and dressing. Functional mobility refers to basic day-to-day movements, such as getting in and out of bed. Continence refers to bladder and bowel control, while toileting is the ability to care for these needs independently. A person may have continence problems but still be able to handle the basics of toileting without assistance. Self-feeding refers to cutting food, using utensils, chewing and swallowing. It does not include meal prep.

IADLs, or instrumental activities of daily living, are also used to measure a person’s independent functioning. A decline in these self-care skills may be the first sign of dementia or other age-related conditions.

IADLs require better cognitive and physical functioning than basic ADLs and include:

• Shopping and meal preparation
• Basic financial planning and management
• Basic home maintenance
• Medication management
• Housekeeping
• Accessing transportation
• Ability to use a computer or telephone for communication

Assisted living facilities offer support for some or all of these activities. A Place for Mom can help you find the right level of care and support for your loved one.

What Services Are Available?

Assisted living facilities offer a range of amenities and services. Services vary by location but may include:

• Complimentary transportation services
• Visits from medical specialists
• Laundry service
• Support for medication administration
• Pet-friendly housing
• Restaurant-style dining and meal service
• Recreational activities
• On-site beauticians and barbers

Many assisted living facilities offer indoor and outdoor common areas for residents to enjoy, as well. Check with individual facilities to see if they offer the right services for your loved one’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health.

What to Look For When Touring Assisted Living Facilities

Choosing an assisted living facility for your family member is a big decision and you want to be sure you’ve found a safe and nurturing place. Call or contact A Place for Mom for help touring these facilities. You can get a lot of valuable information about a place by touring and speaking to current residents and their families. Looking at the following areas can help you decide with confidence.

• Safety and Security: Ask the staff about emergency plans and look for evacuation routes. Check that bathrooms and staircases have safety rails and that walking surfaces are free of tripping hazards. If you do not see a safety feature your loved one needs, ask the staff if it is available.
• Housekeeping: Cleanliness is very important in a senior care facility. Floors, carpets, and surfaces should be clean and uncluttered. You should not notice any odors indicating a cleanliness issue. Ask the staff about housekeeping services and schedules for the residential units, dining areas, and common areas.
• Staff Conduct: The staff should be courteous and professional in all your interactions. They should be dressed appropriately, and it should be easy to identify them as staff. Observe their treatment of other families and residents and note any concerns you have about staff-resident interactions, staff ratios, or management. Management should be open and honest when answering your questions and addressing your concerns.
• Resident Satisfaction: If possible, speak to current residents and their families during the tour. Ask about their experiences and if they have any likes or dislikes. Observe residents’ moods as you walk through the facility. While a person’s emotional state may not always reflect accurately on a facility, most people you see should seem content and engaged. You may get some valuable information by reading online reviews for a facility, too.
• Personal Care: Ask about the personal care services offered at each location. If your loved one needs help with activities like laundry, dressing, and toileting, be sure the facility offers such services to its residents. Also, pay attention to the residents as you walk around. Do they look clean and well-groomed? Are their needs being met? Lack of hygiene among multiple residents may be cause for concern. Ask the office staff whether all personal care services are included or if they are offered a la carte.
• Dining Services: See if the facility offers in-home meal services, restaurant-style dining, or a choice of dining venues. Eat a meal there, if possible, and see if the quality meets your standards. Dining at the facility is also a great way to meet staff members and current residents. Ask if provisions are made for residents who cannot make it to the dining room.
• Resident Activities: It’s a good idea to visit an assisted living facility during a scheduled activity. This gives you and your loved one the opportunity to see the grounds, the types of recreational activities offered, and resident engagement.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Shreveport, LA?

A Place for Mom has gathered information from thousands of families to create a free Cost of Living Index for people seeking senior care. Assisted living costs in Shreveport, LA range from $1,500 to $6,075 per month with an average of $3,462. The surrounding metro area has an average cost of $3,482 per month and the state average is $3,560 per month. Actual costs can vary by up to $1,000 in an area at any given time.

How Can I Understand Assisted Living Costs?

Assisted living costs vary widely and depend on several factors. Things that influence assisted living costs include:

• Geographic location
• Home size
• Nature and number of services offered
• Amenities

You will most likely have to pay deposits and entrance fees to secure a home for your loved one. Many facilities charge a flat rate that covers housing, meals, and basic services. Others provide a la carte services, meaning you pay separately for each service you need. Be sure to ask the management about fees and charges well in advance. Contact A Place for Mom if you need assistance in arranging a tour.

Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?

Medicare will not pay for assisted living but may cover some medical treatments and prescriptions your loved one needs while staying at the residence. Medicare also covers short-term nursing home stays, meaning you may be covered if your loved one needs intensive rehabilitation following an injury or illness.

How Can I Pay for Assisted Living?

A lot of families use their own savings and income to cover assisted living costs. If these resources are not enough, you may have other options. Look into VA benefits if your loved one is a veteran. You can also check with your own employer to see if they have assistance plans for long-term care of aging relatives. See if your loved one carries a long-term care insurance policy that will offset some of the costs. Some life insurance companies offer a “life settlement” option that can be used to cover some expenses. If you own a home, you may be able to use home equity to pay for assisted living. Lastly, it may help to check with local nonprofit organizations to see if they offer housing assistance for the elderly.

How Do I Make the Right Choice?

There is a lot to consider when choosing an assisted living facility for your loved one. You want to make the best choice to ensure their health and happiness, and you can gain a tremendous amount of knowledge through facility tours and online searches. It’s great to have so much information at your fingertips, but you may need help to sort through it.

A Place for Mom has Senior Living Advisors that can guide you as you make this important decision. This service is meant to support you as you tour and select facilities and is completely free of charge. Reach out to A Place for Mom today and get the support you need for your loved one’s transition to assisted living. With professional guidance and the right information, you can make a decision that will give you and your loved one peace of mind.