moving your loved one into a nursing home

Reduce The Costs Of Assisted Living By Choosing Only The Necessary Services

6 April 2016

Alisa Mantyla

The cost of moving to an assisted living facility can be expensive, but it can also vary depending on the facility you choose, the area, and the services. If your parent is on a limited budget and is ready to move into a senior living facility, there are ways you could help him or her save money. One way to do this is to skip the inclusive option offered by the center and choose ala carte instead.  

What does this mean?

Many senior living facilities offer various levels of services. The level that will cost the most is typically the one that offers everything to your parent. This could include meals, beauty services, physical therapy, fun activities, and rides. While this may be a great option for some people, it might not be necessary for your parent.

Choosing ala carte means you will choose the exact services your parent wants and needs, and you will only pay for those things. This is a great option for a senior that is able to do a lot of things for him or herself, or for a person that has relatives nearby that can help him or her on a daily or weekly basis.

What options could you skip?

If the assisted living facility you are looking at offers the option to pick and choose the services, you will be able to pick and choose any of the services your parent wants, and the others will not be offered to him or her. The fees per month will then be based only on room and board and the services your parent receives. Here are some services you might want to skip as a way to save money:  

• Meals – If your parent is still capable of cooking and if he or she enjoys cooking, you could save money by skipping the meal services. Instead, you could make sure your parent has the ingredients and supplies he or she needs to make meals. In addition, you could also invite your parent over for meals or take him or her out to a restaurant on occasion.
• Hygiene services – There is no point in paying someone to help your parent bathe, use the bathroom, or get dressed each morning if he or she can do this alone.
• Basic products for living – Another option is to supply your parent with the products he or she needs instead of letting the facility do this. For example, you may want to deliver toilet paper, tissues, dish soap, and things of that nature to your parent instead of having the facility pick these things up for him or her.
• Rides – You could always offer to take your parent to and from appointments, the store, or other places instead of letting the facility handle these trips.

Assisted living facilities are great for seniors that need companionship and help with minor things. If you are interested in learning more about the costs and services available, contact a senior living facility in your area today.

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