What is Senior Housing?
Read on to find out what you can expect from care homes. Here are the approximate costs and services here in San Fransisco Bay Area.

Independent and Assisted Living
Independent and Assisted Living Communities offer a variety of combinations but usually include individual apartments with their own kitchens or kitchenettes. Included in the monthly rents ($4000-10,000) are meals, activities, weekly housekeeping and laundry, transportation, security systems, emergency response systems and entertainment. Seniors can move in as independent but, if needed, communities usually offer levels of personalized supportive services such as medication monitoring, and help with Activities of Daily Living (ADL’s) such as bathing, dressing or grooming. Independent and Assisted Living may require a moderate one-time entry fee of $3000-9000.

Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC)
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (and the similar Life Care Communities) offer a “continuum of care”. Usually on the same campus they will provide Independent Living, Assisted Living and also Skilled Nursing services so that residents may remain with their friends and familiar surroundings even if they need additional care. CCRC’s and Life Care involve a contract and try to promise a lifelong residence. Most require residents to pass health and financial requirements and include substantial entry fees or “purchase” ($200,000-$2M) in addition to the monthly fees ($5,000-9,000). Some involve both a minimum age (usually 62) and maximum (usually no later than 83) at entry.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care
These homes can be stand-alone or a special wing or floor of a larger, mixed, community. Usually they have secured (alarmed) exits to prevent wandering. Caregivers are specially trained and they offer special programs designed for the special needs of Alzheimer’s and other related memory disorders. These homes request payment monthly in the range of $5000-$15,000.

Residential Care or Board & Care
Usually a single-family home, in a quiet neighborhood with probably no more than six residents. Caregivers are on site 24 hrs to provide a close, supportive environment that approximates family style living but includes personal assistance. These homes can accept dementia and Alzheimer residents if they have the training and this may be a less expensive option that the larger, specialized homes. Costs for a shared room may be as low as $5000 with private rooms starting at about $6000+.