Senior Living Options
Office: (480) 788-8680
Senior Living in the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area
Retirement or Independent Living Communities
Retirement Living is designed for seniors who are generally in good health and do not need professional assistance or supervision of their daily activities. Retirement Living is also known as Independent Living. Seniors who choose the option of Retirement Living are typically at least 55 years old, in good health and do not require constant medical monitoring. Retirement Living communities usually come in single units; each containing a handicap accessible kitchenette, living room, bedroom and bathroom. This allows the resident to live independently. Most facilities will also have a common area where residents can socialize with each other. There are usually no services included in the price of rent, however; services such as cleaning, laundry, meal preparation, and personal assistants can be added a la carte. Residents are free to enter and leave the community as often they wish; however, many choose to take advantage of the amenities, activities and sense of community offered by their like-minded neighbors.
Retirement Living communities may have the following amenities:
Housekeeping * Gardening * Laundry * Small kitchenettes to full kitchens * Group activities & field trips * Exercise & well-being activities
Assisted Living Communities
In the continuum of care, assisted living bridges the gap between home care and nursing homes. In Arizona, they are referred to as Assisted Living Centers and are typically operated by corporations licensed by the Department of Health Services for 11 or more residents. These are large community settings and serve as an Alternative for those who are not able to live independently, but do not require the medical care provided by a nursing home. Most residents live in single or shared units where staff members are available 24 hours a day to help with bathing, dressing and any other resident’s needs.
Assisted living communities may have the following services:
Care management and monitoring * 3 meals provided per day * Assistance with daily living (ADLs) * Housekeeping and laundry * Medication management * Recreational activities * Transportation to doctor’s appointments
Alzheimer’s or Memory Care Facilities
Some assisted living communities specialize in memory care for residents with moderate to advanced cognitive impairment issues. These are licensed facilities or special care units within a larger communities that provide intermediate nursing care, medical, nursing and rehabilitation care for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease or other dementia in a safe and controlled environment.
Residential Care Homes
Residential Care Homes typically provide care for seniors in a home-like setting. The term Residential Care Homes varies from state to state. In some states they are called Adult Groups Homes, Personal Care Homes or Board & Care Homes. In Arizona, these homes are referred to as Group Homes or Assisted Living-Home. These homes are operated by Owners and licensed by the Department of Health Services for up to ten residents and some are approved to accept Arizona Long Term Care Systems (ALTCS) contracts. The Setting is perfect for seniors that do not wish to reside in a bigger community complex such as Assisted Living Centers, but still the require a level of assistance that Assisted Living Centers or Nursing Homes provide. Typically a Residential Care Home can provide assistance with daily living such as bathing and grooming, medication management, incontinence care and special diets. Some homes may have 24hour/7 days a week staff for residents that need more monitoring.
Services provided at Residential Care Homes typically include:
Three meals a day plus snacks * Laundry * Medication Management * Incontinence Care * Bathing & Grooming * Transportation to doctor’s appointments * 2-3 Caregivers on Staff
Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNF) or Nursing Home
A nursing home, also known as a Skilled Nursing Facility, provides residents who require a high level of medical care with 24 hour nurses. Typically, nursing homes are the next step after Assisted Living or Residential Care Homes. The staff at the Nursing Home provides long-term care to residents with complex, chronic conditions and short-term care for those recovering after hospitalization. Residents in long-term care facilities generally require assistance with multiple activities of daily living (ADLs) including bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring in and out of bed, incontinence care, and/or cognitive limitations due to Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Admission to a nursing home could be for short-term rehabilitation services; however, for many Americans, the move to a nursing home is a permanent one. The nursing home resident may have a chronic condition, a need for assistance with multiple ADLs, or a cognitive impairment requiring a level of care that prevents him or her from living independently or at lower levels of care. Nursing homes provide a secure environment and an array of services to meet the physical, medical, and social needs of their residents.
Services provided at nursing homes typically include:
24 hour staff * Medication Management * Occupational Therapy * Rehabilitation Services * Wound Care * Physical Therapy * Personal care (assistance with ADLs) * Social and Recreational Activities
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC’s)
CCRCs are retirement communities that offer more than one kind of housing and different levels of care. In the same community, there may be individual homes or apartments for residents who still live on their own, an assisted living facility for people who need some help with daily care, and a nursing home for those who require more care.
Residents move from one level to another based on their needs, but usually stay within the CCRC. If you are considering a CCRC, be sure to check the nursing home at the CCRC. The nursing home’s quality information is on Nursing Home Compare and the nursing home’s inspection report should be posted in the nursing home.
Your CCRC contract usually requires you to use the CCRC’s nursing home if you need nursing home care. Some CCRC’s will only admit people into their nursing home if they have previously lived in another section of the retirement community, such as their assisted living or an independent area.
Many CCRCs generally require a large payment before you move in (called an entry or "buy-in" fee) and also charge monthly service fees.
About Senior Living Advisory Group
The Group provides exceptional senior living & care advisory, referral and placement services to families and seniors looking to understand their best options for independent living, assisted living, Alzheimer's memory care, nursing homes, residential care or in-home care options in the Scottsdale, Phoenix and across the Valley.
Please contact us to learn more about the Senior Living options in your area
CALL YOUR SENIOR ADVISOR NOW
(480) 788-8680