How Much Does Senior Living on Long Island Cost?
Mike McClernonJan 25th, 2022
Choosing to place mom or dad in a Senior Living Community can be difficult for some families. In most cases, though, transitioning their loved ones into one of these communities turns out to be a positive experience for everyone involved. When seniors need Assisted Living or Memory Care, it causes stress to all parts of the family. After the transition happens and seniors are settled in their new home, everyone has more time to enjoy their lives and less worry about their loved ones.
In my experience as an advisor with Assisted Living Locators of Long Island (Mike McClernon, 516-254-9481), one of the primary concerns of families is how much senior care costs. They also ask about available funding options to help cover the fees.
I've always believed in being upfront about everything and want to do so here especially: senior living on Long Island isn't cheap. However, it's important to note that there are costs associated with every type of residence. Apartments and homes come with their own costs, and these can be significant. Consider too that shopping, food preparation, and activities for seniors living on their own all cost money.
In Assisted Living and Memory Care, these services (and more) are all included with your monthly fee.
Senior living care costs on Long Island
To compare the different costs of Senior Care Communities, we're going to look at three different levels of care:
Independent Living
On Long Island, you can expect to pay between $4,000 - $8,000 per month to reside in an Independent Living community.
This fee includes rent and (in most cases) two or three delicious, restaurant style meals in the community's formal dining room, a full slate of activities each day, great company, and professional staff to provide overall supervision of seniors.
Most other services, such as housekeeping and laundry services are supplied, generally, as part of the rental cost.
Assisted Living
The costs for Assisted Living are broken up into two main parts:
Rent: Rent covers the apartment cost, all meals and snacks, housekeeping, laundry, and a full slate of activities. There is often an allowance within the Rent cost for very basic care - perhaps 3-5 hours per week.
Care: As a resident needs more assistance with the Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), a separate Care charge will be incurred. This cost is for help with dressing, bathing, ambulation, and other things we all must do every day. Communities typically charge for these activities at a “care level”, not a la carte.
So a resident might have a Rent charge of $6,500 and a Care charge of $1,000 each month. Fees also include three nutritious meals per day cooked by professional chefs, socialization opportunities, games, activities, and other amenities.
Memory Care
People with Alzheimer's disease or dementia require a higher level of care than is required for residents in Assisted Living. On Long Island, care for people living in specialized Dementia units ranges from $6,600 to over $10,000 per month. The average is around $9,000.
In Memory care units, it's not uncommon for residents to share a room or a small suite. Some people living in Memory Care find the company pleasant and comforting - and the cost under this kind of living arrangement is less.
Memory Care fees include everything that comes with Assisted Living, along with specialized brain-stimulating services that help preserve some memory and cognition, but mostly focus on bringing comfort and peace to people with dementia. Communities also feature security measures that ensure a safe environment.
In many cases, people in the early stages of dementia won't require Memory Care's specialized services and security measures. They can save money by opting to stay in Assisted Living for as long as possible before upgrading to Memory Care.
Assisted Living Locators of Long Island can help you look at all the best options based on your loved one's needs and budget so you can make the best choice possible.
How people pay for Assisted Living and Memory Care
Most families pay for Senior Living Communities privately, using such financial resources as Social Security benefits, retirement savings, life insurance annuities, life settlements, Long-term Care insurance policies, Aid and Attendance benefits for certain veterans, and others.
Another way to fund senior living is to use the proceeds from the sale of the older adult's home. This is often a viable choice, especially if the older person lives alone and has been shutting themselves inside. Getting them out of the house into a supportive environment among new friends does wonders for their mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Medicaid, long-term care insurance, and other financial aid programs generally won't cover Independent Living costs because these communities don't offer medical services. To help make independent senior living more affordable, many people turn to affordable senior apartments priced on a sliding scale based on income for those who qualify.
Homeowners may be able to get help to cover monthly costs in Assisted Living or Memory Care by applying for short-term bridge loans when their only asset is their home, which is being prepared for sale. Elderlife specializes in short-term loans for those moving into senior communities to help cover some of the costs associated with Senior Living Communities.
Medicaid and Veterans Assistance Programs
Medicaid is an insurance program co-managed by the U.S. Government and each state government that is in part designed to help low-income, elderly, or disabled Americans receive care and custodial services within many nursing homes.
The New York Medicaid Assisted Living Program helps seniors in New York State pay for certain services in Assisted Living at participating Assisted Living Communities, such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL's), personal care, medication assistance, and housekeeping. However, the program does not cover the room and board portion of Senior Living Community fees.
Applying for the program and understanding the eligibility requirements is very complex. Talk to Assisted Living Locators of Long Island for assistance and information.
For veterans, theVeterans Administration Aid & Attendance can provide a significant source of funds for Assisted Living. The Aid and Attendance program is designed to help certain veterans pay for costs associated with personal care. There are income, asset, service, and care needs requirements for this program. If a vet or spouse qualifies for it though, the benefit can be substantial. Patriot Angels is a national resource available to veterans that can help with eligibility and the application process. I strongly recommend getting help from Patriot Angels when applying for the VAAA program.
Help with understanding funding options for Senior Living on Long Island
Searching for the right Senior Living Community can be a daunting process. The good news is that you don't have to navigate the complex world of senior care alone.
Assisted Living Locators of Long Island specializes in connecting your elderly loved ones with the most appropriate senior living community for their unique circumstances.
We can also help navigate the different funding options available to you to get the best elder care services for your budget.
Whether you're looking for Independent Living, Assisted Living, or Memory Care, our team will make sure you take advantage of every funding assistance opportunity available to you.
Contact Mike McClernon at Assisted Living Locators of Long Island at 516-254-9481 or mikem@assistedlivinglocators.com to connect with the best senior living services for your elderly loved one today.
