Find Assisted Living Facilities near Winston-Salem, NC

Searching for Assisted Living facilities in Winston-Salem, NC?

Expert Senior Living Advisors from A Place for Mom can help direct you to Assisted Living communities. Together, we will find the perfect fit for your loved one, and we will provide direction and support as needed. We partner with 689 Assisted Living facilities in Winston-Salem and the surrounding area, so there are many options to choose from. A Place for Mom is the largest senior living referral service in North America, and we can help you make a good choice at no cost to you.

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Assisted Living in Winston-Salem

What Is Assisted Living?

Assisted living housing is intended to provide long-term basic living care for seniors. Services may include transportation, medication management, daily meals and assistance with dressing and bathing. Services offered by assisted living centers do not usually include medical care.

Many assisted living communities offer recreational and social activities that encourage community members to interact with family and fellow tenants. Participation in recreational activities is encouraged and welcomed, but not enforced. Exercise programs, restaurant-style dining, special hobby-related classes and regular outings are an important part of most senior living communities. Many retirees enjoy a good quality of life and plenty of options for mental stimulation in assisted living housing.

What Services Are Available?

Services offered by senior living communities differ by location. However, most offer some or all of the following:

• Daily meals
• Private rooms
• Common areas (both indoor and outdoor)
• Daily or weekly housekeeping services
• Complimentary transportation
• Basic daily living/personal care assistance
• Activities both onsite and offsite
• Visiting specialists
• Offsite devotional services

Some communities may also offer medication management and other healthcare services. It s essential to talk with management at each location to find out what amenities and services your parent will receive while there. Once you learn this information, it will be easier to choose a destination that most closely aligns with your parent s preferences and needs.

What Is Senior Living Like in Winston-Salem, NC?

Winston-Salem is located within Forsyth County in North Carolina. It s a good place to retire because the temperatures stay relatively mild year-round. The humid, subtropical climate is marked by rather mild winters and summers that Don’t typically reach temperatures above 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The city was listed one of the best places to retire in the United States in 2012 by CBS MoneyWatch. It s also conveniently located within 40 miles of the major cities Greensboro and High Point. Winston-Salem is known and respected for its healthy dedication to theater, technology research and fine arts. The city s history is richly preserved in its historical sites and museums, including New Winston Museum, Reynolda House Museum of American Art and Bethabara Historic District.

There are plenty of public transportation options in Winston-Salem that make it easy to get around, including Greyhound bus lines, Amtrak services in nearby High Point and Winston-Salem Transit Authority bus routes.

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Winston-Salem?

The average monthly assisted living cost in Winston-Salem is $3,700. This is slightly lower than the state s overall average monthly rate of $3,842. Individual communities may charge less or more than this, depending on the type and level of services offered and individual pricing policies. You should also know some senior living communities charge a one-time fee or additional charges that are separate from the regular monthly charge.

Assisted Living Inspections and Ratings in Winston-Salem

Before deciding which assisted living community will be the best fit for your parent, you should plan to do some research and learn as much as you can about the reputation and legal compliance of various locations. Some states make it easier than others to find this information. Fortunately, North Carolina has earned a high score for maintaining a database that allows people to search for regulation and licensing information for assisted living communities in the state. Keep in mind that the site may have little to no information about previous regulatory actions the communities have faced or inspection results.

How To Access Records

You can access the inspections, rating and penalties records for North Carolina by visiting the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website, then doing the following:

1. Click on ‘‚¬Community Inspections, Ratings and Penalties.
2. Choose ‘‚¬City’ in the ‘‚¬Search for a community’ box, then type ‘‚¬Winston-Salem’ into the pop-up window that appears.
3. Click on the name of the assisted living center you want to learn more about.
4. Review the information, including inspection type, statements of deficiency and star ratings.

This site can give you helpful information about various senior communities you re interested in learning more about.

What Are the Signs It s Time for Assisted Living?

Choosing to take your parent to a senior living community is nothing you should be ashamed about. In fact, there are times when choosing this course of action is better for both you and your loved one. Here are a few indications it may be time to seriously consider placement:

• Your parent is showing aggression: When someone has dementia, Alzheimer s or other similar diseases, he or she may become aggressive. If your parent shows signs of aggression, it may be the right time to consider an assisted living community.
• Sundowning: ‘‚¬Sundowners syndrome is a term that refers to increased agitation later in the day. It is common among people with Alzheimer s and can make it challenging for you as the caretaker to make it through each day. Fortunately, senior living communities can help relieve the stress on family members who struggle to handle their parent s sundowning symptoms.
• Safety concerns: When a senior parent develops physical and/or mental health problems, safety often becomes a concern. If your home has stairs or other aspects that make it unsafe for your parent, it s important to move him or her to a more secure place.
• Wandering: If your parent starts to wander due to dementia, it s more than just an inconvenience. Wandering can be very dangerous, especially if your loved one gets lost or ends up in an area that is unsafe. It isn t realistic to try to keep tabs on your parent every second of every day, so if you are unable to prevent wandering occurrences, it s probably a good time to choose an assisted living community.
• Too much stress: Excessive stress isn t good for anyone and can cause you to feel resentment towards your parent. Don’t feel guilty or bad if you simply Don’t have the energy to take responsibility for someone else at this time in your life. If the burden of being someone else s caretaker is too much for you, placement in an assistant living community may be the next natural step.

Many senior living centers are committed to helping residents maintain a high quality of life through regular socialization, optional onsite or offsite activities, and assistance with daily care needs.

How Do I Tour Assisted Living communities?

Before deciding what assisted living community you want your parent to live in, it s wise to schedule tours of a few of them. Call or contact A Place for Mom for help setting up a tour. That way you can see how the environments, staff, accommodations and residents all stack up against each other. After your tour is scheduled, you ll want to write down a few questions to ask while you re there:

• Does the community perform an assessment before admitting new residents?
• Is there a wait list, and if so, how long will it be before they accept your parent?
• What are the billing and payment policies?
• Is there a nurse on site at all times?
• Is the staff qualified to administer medication?
• What kind of experience and training is required of staff members?
• What is the discharge policy?
• What types of apartments are available and how much do they cost?
• Do the residents have common areas both indoors and outdoors they can enjoy?

During your tour, you ll want to check for basic things like clean accommodations, happy tenants who look well and friendly staff members. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. You want to make sure you feel very comfortable with the final decision you make regarding your parent s new living arrangements.

Does Medicare Pay for Assisted Living?

Many people wonder if Medicare will help with the costs of assisted living. Unfortunately, the federal health insurance program only covers short-term care. Examples of services covered by Medicare include short nursing home stays for rehabilitation purposes and temporary in-home therapy. The following types of long-term senior care are not covered by Medicare:

• Assisted living communities
• Long-term nursing home care
• Residential care homes
• Any other type of long-term care

You may want to visit the Medicare website for more information about the services covered by this type of government insurance.

How Do I Make the Right Choice?

Ultimately, as long as a senior care community offers good care to residents, is clean and healthy, and provides opportunities for recreational activities and socialization, it s probably a good choice for your parent. For best results, here are a few mistakes you should avoid when selecting a senior living community:

• Making the decision on your own: You should never feel pressured into choosing a senior living community for your parent all by yourself. If you have siblings, rely on them to help you tour various locations and narrow your options. If you are an only child, you still have resources available to you, including Senior Living Advisors at A Place for Mom. We can help you find a variety of senior living communities near you for free.
• Choosing a destination based on your preferences: It s important to think like your parent would think when selecting a senior care community. For example, you might prefer large rooms while your parent may care more about large common areas than the size of his or her room. Remember that you preferences and likes aren t as important in this situation as your parent s.
• Failing to read the fine print: Signing a contract before reading it could end up costing you. Most assisted living contracts are transparent, but some may attempt to hide extra charges and fees. Give yourself plenty of time to read the contract in detail and consult with your attorney if you can t understand all the legal terms.
• Overlooking important services your parent needs: If your parent requires help with medication on a daily basis or has fragile health, you Don’t want to overlook the assisted living center s ability to provide the right level of care. Make sure it offers the services your parent requires to stay safe and comfortable.

If you need help finding out more about the many different senior living communities in Winston-Salem, A Place for Mom can help. Contact one of our experienced Senior Living Advisors to receive your free consultation.