MANUFACTURED HOMES • March 21, 2021

Cost of Senior Living Communities

Cost of Senior Living Communities Image

Senior living communities have been helping seniors with amenities, daily assistance, memory care, and medical support. When moving into the next stage of life, many seniors and their families begin to ask questions, like what level of care do they need, what is the average cost of senior living communities, or how will daily living change within an independent living community. The answers to these questions can help your family determine what type of senior living community is best for you. From 24-hour supervised care to an autonomous living community, there are many independent or assisted living options available for any price point. 

Independent Living Communities 

The most affordable type of community for seniors is an independent living community or retirement community. These independent living options are best suited for seniors who are comfortable performing daily activities, personal care, and housekeeping on their own, but are looking to potentially downsize into a more manageable house, are looking to lean less on family members for care, or are in search of a rich community life with new friends.

These retirement housing communities typically come with a variety of amenities for residents to enjoy, like community centers with social activities, fitness centers, common green spaces, and transportation options. To give residents an elevated quality of life and enjoyment of their senior community, many housing options have 24-hour maintenance teams and friendly, on-site management staff. 

Cost

Independent living communities aim to provide a high quality of life for seniors while allowing them to maintain their daily independence. Since these types of housing typically do not provide assisted living type of care or medical services, they are the most affordable in terms of cost of retirement. The majority of the price tag on independent living options comes with the purchase or rental of a home. These ideal communities for those age 55 and over allow residents to choose between purchasing an affordable, senior-designed home or rent that home for the duration of their stay in the community. This gives seniors the flexibility to determine what is the best option for their income and savings. 

Beyond the home price, any extra costs will come in the form of HOA type fees. These fees, collected as a monthly expense, will be used to maintain and provide amenities and services like lawn care and snow removal that the community provides its residents. 

UMH Properties, Inc.’s independent living 55 and older communities are created to improve the quality of life for those seniors who don’t yet require daily assisted living. Given that these housing options aren’t medically necessary and don’t provide medical services, Medicare and Medicaid are unlikely to help with any living expenses for this type of housing

Assisted Living Facilities 

In contrast to an independent living community, an assisted living facility will come with personal care assistance, dining plans, medical services, and a variety of options for specialized care. Depending on the depth of health issues or daily assistance needed, these care facilities can provide more hands-on senior care for those who have more need. These are ideal communities for those who are dependent on family or a caretaker and would like to gain some autonomy or take the burden of care off others.

Assisted living facilities will provide anything from occasional help with daily activities to skilled nursing and memory care. Within these communities, amenities could include daily meal plans, health care with medication, group activities, or fitness options.  

Cost

These additional services come with some extra costs. From the get-go, many assisted living facilities have entrance fees that go towards the start-up of your care, future care you may need, and facility usage. Depending on the differences in what each facility provides, this expense can vary. 

As proximity is ideal for medical services and daily personal assistance, most assisted living housing options are in an apartment or attached condo-type setting as opposed to a house. These rooms can be purchased on occasion, but are more commonly rented. Within this monthly rent, fees for medical care, assistance care, and additional amenities, like meal plans, are added in as an extra cost.

With additional services and medical care comes insurance options. While it may not cover all costs, Medicare and Medicaid will typically pitch in for some costs associated with an assisted living facility. Since many choose these housing options for medical needs, memory care, or dementia care, insurance can step in to help provide for some expenses. 

UMH Senior Living Communities

UMH Properties Inc. provides a range of options for retirement and senior community life. Our independent living communities provide active seniors a community of new friends, senior accessible housing, and enriching amenities and activities, from community events to fitness centers. With affordable options for any budget, we can create the perfect senior community life for any resident age 55 and over.