What is the Skinny on "Assisted Living" Facilities?

Assisted living facilities are not nursing homes.

Assisted living facilities.

Perhaps you have heard the term.

Maybe you are confused as to what it means.

According to the recent The San Diego Union-Tribune article titled “The key thing to know about assisted living,” many people are unsure of the differences between assisted living facilities or nursing homes.

What are assisted living facilities?

They are residential homes ranging from fewer than ten beds to more than one hundred beds.

These facilities tend to be less expensive than skilled nursing facilities.

Why?

They provide more basic care for patients than those providing skilled care.

Most assisted living expenses are "private pay" rather than through insurance.

Instead of being regulated by the Departments of Public Health and Health Care Service, assisted living facilities are regulated by the Department of Social Services and Community Care Licensing Division.

This means their record keeping and regulations are not as stringent as those of skilled nursing facilities.

Although there are many great assisted living facilities, they are not all capable of fully caring for the needs of those with complex health issues.

If your loved one has a chronic medical condition, you may be better off looking into a skilled nursing facility.

No matter what you choose, be sure to research any facility before entrusting your loved one to its care.

Remember: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” When making your financial, tax and estate plans, do not go it alone. Be sure to engage competent professional counsel.

For more information about estate planning in Overland Park, KS (and throughout the rest of Kansas and Missouri), visit our estate planning website and be sure to subscribe to our complimentary estate planning e-newsletter while you are there.

Reference: San Diego Union-Tribune (May 9, 2018) “The key thing to know about assisted living”