Are there any hidden costs?
There are no hidden costs. Ash Street Place rates and fees are listed here on the Admissions & Rates page. There are no “buy-in” or “buy-out” fees. We require a one-time non-refundable community fee upon resident move-in. A 30-day notice is requested for planned discharge from our facility. Room and board fees are a month-to-month commitment, with pro-rated adjustment applied for mid-month move-in or when move-out has been completed.
Can I bring my pet?
Ash Street Place is a pet-friendly community. Pets in residence are subject to the consent of management. A one-time non-refundable pet fee is required upon admission of the pet.
Does Medicare pay for assisted living?
No. Medicare does not pay for assisted living residency. Ash Street Place residents privately pay for all room, board, and fees. For residents who satisfy the eligibility requirements of their long-term care insurance, Ash Street Place can assist with activating a resident’s insurance reimbursements and filing monthly claims to the insurance agency.
How can veteran benefits help with my assisted living expenses?
The Department of Veterans Affairs Aid and Attendance pension benefit may be available to wartime veterans and surviving spouses who have in-home care or who live in nursing homes or assisted living facilities. The Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for the Aid and Attendance benefit. You can contact your local VA representative or the Department of Veterans Affairs www.va.gov to apply for this benefit.
How will assisted living help my loved one?
Upon moving to an assisted living community, every resident will benefit a little differently. Residents will be safer and have people around, activities to keep them busy, and assistance with managing their healthcare needs and daily life. The real benefits will become more apparent to residents and their families after they have lived in the community for a period of time, developing a sense of belonging and contentment with their new home and lifestyle. If you are considering the possibility of a move, it is likely that a move may be past due, as the majority of people tend to wait longer than they should to make a move.
General Safety: For some, the greatest benefit is general oversight for safety. If the older adult is frail, visually impaired or unsteady on their feet, living with others can serve as a safety net. There will be caregivers around to provide oversight and help them with their daily routine. There is an emergency call system in each apartment, and the resident is given a pendant to wear to call for help.
Healthcare: All assisted living facilities have a licensed or registered nurse on staff. This nurse oversees the healthcare needs of the residents. A partnership between the nurse, the resident and the resident’s physician will be a great benefit to the resident and family members. The nurse can supervise medication, coordinate doctor visits, follow up on treatment, care and outpatient services for the residents. The nurse will also assess the resident’s needs due to changes in health or abilities and can put in place supportive care (such as bathing, grooming or dressing assistance), as well as arrange healthcare services through provider agencies as appropriate.
Friends: As we begin to reach our later years our friends may begin to pass away. If we are unable to drive, it may be harder to visit friends. If we have lost a spouse, we may have lost our best friend. Isolation can be devastating for a senior with depression, health issues or memory loss. Assisted living provides a constant source of friendship. Even those who claim to be loners will benefit from the mere presence of other people. Conversation, social activity and the opportunity to enjoy festive occasions all bring quality of life to residents.
Nutrition: As we age it may become harder to shop for groceries and prepare nutritious meals. If we live alone, the idea of cooking for one can be challenging. Ash Street Place offers three meals daily with flexible all-day dining service and restaurant-style menu choices. Being well nourished and hydrated will improve health. Social activity at meals aids digestion and well-being. Mealtimes often become the most important event of the day.
Housekeeping: Seniors living at home alone may find housekeeping tasks, maintenance and yard work too difficult to do well. The actual maintenance of their home may cease due to their disability, lack of energy, failing eyesight or poor health. Safety becomes an increasing issue in a home that is cluttered or unsanitary. In an assisted living facility, these tasks will be performed by trained staff, which leads to an easier and safer life for residents.
Transportation: Driving can present a danger to some older adults and to other people on the road. At an assisted living community there will be transportation available to doctor appointments, shopping, recreation and personal outings. If a person can no longer drive, arranged transportation will alleviate feelings of being trapped or isolated in the home. Easy access to transportation services also frees up family members who have been driving their parents everywhere for essential needs. Many residents find they are ready to give up their car and the expense of owning it. They may even be able to get out more often and not fear traffic, the possibility of increasing insurance costs, the price of gas, or driving at night.
Family Roles Restored: A very powerful, yet real benefit of assisted living is the restoration of family roles. For example, a spouse who has been serving as a caregiver or nurse to her husband, can get back to being a wife. A daughter who has perhaps abandoned the needs of her own children to care for her failing parents will be able to resume the role of mother and her role as daughter once again. Many families are divided with stressful scheduling and shifting of plans in order to provide care for their aging parents. A priceless value of an assisted living community is that it allows us to advocate for our parents while letting the trained staff do the professional work it takes to improve their lives.
What are the warning signs that it may be time to move to a senior community?
If you’re thinking about moving your loved one to a senior community, chances are the move is already past due. Many families tend to overlook the need for arranging care support until such time as an emergency arises. Making a move after a crisis arises can add undue stress on an older adult and on the entire family. There are specific signs to look for to determine if a move to a senior community may be necessary now or in the near future:
- Have they brought up the subject of the possibility of moving?
- Are they starting to lose friends? Are friends moving away, passing on or no longer interacting with them? Are they showing reluctance to socialize?
- Has there been a loss of a spouse?
- Have they voiced their concerns about feeling lonely?
- Have they brought up the subject of the possibility of moving?
- Is driving becoming worrisome? Are they talking about the fact that giving up driving would likely be a smart idea?
- Do they become overly anxious about maintaining the home? Do they seem overly stressed when making decisions about home repairs?
- Is there an accumulation of unopened mail? Lack of food in the home or spoiled food?
- Have they been having medication errors? Have they been skipping medications?
- Are they beginning to experience memory loss? Lose mobility, eyesight, or hearing?
- Are they having difficulty walking or unsteady on their feet?
- Have they had a change of appetite or weight loss?
- Are they having extreme personality changes?
- Has there been a change in grooming or hygiene habits?
Relinquishing any part of independence will not be an easy process for a person considering a move away from their own home. Keeping your loved ones as involved as they can be in the decisions that need to be made will go a long way in helping them accept and adjust to their changing world. It’s important to reassure your loved one that they will not be solely responsible for the entire moving process. There are also agencies available to seniors to help with the entire process.
How do I talk to my parents about moving?
- Have the discussion over a longer period of time. The sooner you open the discussion, the easier it will be when the time comes to move.
- Have an open and honest conversation about what your parents want. Ask open-ended questions such as
If you weren’t able to do your own laundry any longer, what would you want to see happen?
If you weren’t able to prepare a meal any longer, what would you like me to do?
If you weren’t safe being alone, what would you like me to do?
- Share your own concerns and your own willingness or lack of willingness to help.
- Reassure them that they will not be solely responsible for the entire process.
- Communicate your concerns for their safety and well-being.
- Explain that they are affecting other people other than just themselves.
- Constantly confirm that you understand that this is a difficult transition.
- Always remember that your parents are in charge of their own decisions and they may choose to live in a different way than you would like them to live.
What are some common misconceptions about assisted living?
I will lose my independence: Many of the residents who live in assisted living actually find that they are more independent than they were in their homes. They are free from housework, utility bills and cooking. If they were unable to drive and were at the mercy of family and friends for transportation, they now are able to go where and when they want using the transport services of the assisted living facility. They are no longer housebound. No one will restrict their activity in any way. If they were caring for a spouse at home, that care is now relinquished to the professional staff. This will enable them to get back to the activities they enjoy.
I will have no privacy: Residents are free to live undisturbed in their own private apartment. Mail is delivered to your own mailbox. Help is there only when you need it. For your safety, the staff will have access to your apartment, but they must have permission to enter it. Your medical information is secure in a clinical file and may only be shared with your written permission.
It will be too expensive: Assisted living is available in many price ranges depending on how much care you need. It costs thousands to equip and maintain a private home, even one that is fully paid. The property taxes, the maintenance, the groceries and the utilities may, in fact, cost more per month than an assisted living community.
I can’t possibly live in a small apartment: As we age it can become harder to maneuver stairs or large homes. We may find that we occupy a multiple room house with a big yard, but we are actually only living in one or two rooms; usually the bedroom and the kitchen. Our formal dining rooms, guest bedrooms, and basements become storage rooms and clutter may begin to make life difficult. In assisted living, a well-designed simple space with a private bathroom can simplify life and be a great relief, especially for those who are visually or mobility impaired. There are several large community spaces throughout the community, with some right outside the resident’s apartment, for use whenever residents want to use it.
I don’t want to go to all those activities: It is possible to live in an assisted living community and never go to one activity. Most people find that even if they don’t want to participate in the activity programs, they enjoy the presence of other residents. You can be alone and not be lonely. The activity programs are all voluntary. You will not be forced to do anything. Many residents find, however, that they make friends and after a while, do choose to join in.
I will be separated from my lifelong friends: As we age, many of us find that it becomes difficult to entertain others in our home. We may not want to cook or clean. We may be unable to drive to visit friends. In this new homelike setting, you may invite your friends for dinner, activities and events, a birthday party or a group outing. In fact, most activities at an assisted living community are open to friends and family. In this way, you have many opportunities to engage with friends in your new home.
I won’t like the food: Most people come to assisted living to give up cooking. Life without cooking can bring great freedom. The food is fresh, well prepared and snacks are available throughout the day. With flexible all-day dining, and restaurant-style menu choices, there’s lots to like about assisted living meal service. To ensure satisfaction, make your culinary desires known to management. The food will become less important than the social interaction that brings great fun to mealtime.
All the residents are old and sick: Though many people come to assisted living because they are feeling unsafe about living alone at home, most residents are not ill. They may suffer from impairments or chronic conditions but they are not bedridden or infirm. The age range at each assisted living community is different but most residents are between their 80’s and 90’s. And as people are living longer, we see people into their 100’s in assisted living communities. Many residents can be quite youthful regardless of their age.
When facing the decision to move to assisted living, try to keep an open mind. You may come to enjoy it in ways you could have never imagined.