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Senior Resources » How Do I Help My Aging Parents Choose the Right Senior Housing?

How Do I Help My Aging Parents Choose the Right Senior Housing?

How do I help my aging parents choose the right senior housing? couple on the porch

There’s a wide array of housing options available to seniors, but what’s appropriate for your aging parents will depend on their needs and financial situation. Here’s a rundown of the different levels of senior housing and some resources to help you choose one.

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Independent Living

lady independent home

If your parents are in relatively good health and self-sufficient, independent living communities are a top option that can offer a sense of community. Typically available to people over age 55, this type of senior housing is usually apartments or townhomes that are fully functional. In addition, many communities also offer amenities such as meals served in a common dining area, housekeeping, transportation, and a variety of social activities. 

To locate this type of housing, contact your Area Agency on Aging (call 800-677-1116 to get your local number), or use an online search tool like Senior Resource. Most of these communities are private pay only and can vary greatly in cost ranging anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 per month.  

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Assisted Living

assisted living

If your parents need some help with daily living chores, they’ll probably need an assisted living facility. These facilities provide help with the activities of daily living – like bathing, dressing, eating, and going to the bathroom – as needed, as well as meals, housekeeping, transportation, social activities, and medication management. Many facilities also offer special memory care units for residents with dementia

Costs for assisted living usually run between $3,000 and $6,000 per month depending on location and services needed. Most residents pay for assisted living from personal funds, while some have long-term care insurance policies. And many state Medicaid programs today also cover some assisted living costs for financially eligible residents. 

Another similar, but less expensive option to look into is “board and care homes.” These offer many of the same services as assisted living facilities but in a much smaller home setting.  

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Your Area Aging Agency is again a good resource for finding assisted living facilities and board care homes, as is Senior Resource

Nursing Homes

nursing home

If your parents need ongoing medical and personal care or have very limited mobility, a nursing home, which provides 24-hour skilled nursing care is the next option. To find a good one, use Medicare’s nursing home compare tool at Medicare.gov/care-compare. This tool will not only help you locate nursing homes in your area, but it also provides a 5-star rating system on recent health inspections, staffing, quality of care, and overall rating. 

But be aware that nursing home care is very expensive, costing anywhere between $4,500 and $13,000 per month for a semi-private room depending on where you live. Most residents pay from either personal funds, a long-term care insurance policy, or through Medicaid after their savings are depleted. 

Continuing-Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs)

senior and adult child walking outside

If your parents have the financial resources, a CCRC is another option that provides all levels of housing (independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing home care) in one convenient location. But these communities typically require a hefty entrance fee that can range from $20,000 to $500,000 or more, plus ongoing monthly service fees that vary from around $2,000 to over $4,000. To search for CCRCs visit Caring.com.

Need Help? 

If you’re not sure what your parents need, then consider hiring an aging life care expert (AgingLifeCare.org) who can assess your parents and find appropriate housing for a fee – usually between $300 and $800. Or you can use an aging-in-place specialist.

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Send your senior questions to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org.

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Find nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities here.

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Originally published March 07, 2024

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