Assisted Living in Salt Lake City, Utah

Despite what many people think, “nursing homes” and “assisted living facilities” are not the same thing. While both are senior living arrangements, they differ in the levels of care they provide to their residents.

What are Assisted Living Facilities?

Assisted living communities are for older adults who want to live in a safe, welcoming community. As the name implies, staff members at assisted living facilities assist their residents with some activities of daily living (ADLs). Assisted living residents still have a greater degree of autonomy than residents of nursing homes—also called skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and retirement homes—usually do.

In short, an assisted living community is for someone who needs some medical attention and assistance with day-to-day activities. These locations may or may not include a dementia care unit designed to house patients with Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia. While there are some overlaps between an assisted living community and a nursing home, residents of assisted living communities are usually far more independent.

Why Choose Assisted Living?

While everyone wants their loved one to stay home for as long as possible, sometimes family members-turned-caregivers can no longer ensure their loved one‘s well-being the way a specialized facility can.

Assisted living apartments are for seniors who need some assistance with day-to-day activities, such as medication management, but can otherwise manage daily tasks. Sometimes families decide that it is in the best interest of all involved to move their loved one to such a community, as the staff there are highly trained professionals who can better provide the level of care needed. 

Factors to Consider

Your family member deserves high-quality treatment from caregivers that respect their residents’ dignity. Keep the following factors in mind when choosing an eldercare location.

Comprehensive Services

Part of an elevated assisted living experience comes from a comprehensive list of senior care services, which may include:

• Housekeeping and laundering
• Nursing care services
• Medication management
• Restaurant-style dining services
• A variety of floor plans to meet your loved one‘s needs and preferences
• Wellness activities
• Restaurant or bistro-style dining rooms
• A fitness center
• A full service barber shop or beauty salon
• Weekly social activities, such as bingo night
• Easy access to a hair salon or barber shop
• Pet-friendly rooms or units
• Full staffing (i.e., not understaffed)

Pricing

It’s no secret that senior housing can be expensive. The average cost of assisted living and memory care communities is rising. In fact, the national average for a one-month stay in an assisted living care center is $4,300, according to Genworth’s 2020 “Cost of Care Survey.”

How Much Does Assisted Living Cost in Salt Lake City, UT?

According to Genworth’s 2020 “Cost of Care Survey,” the average cost of an assisted living facility in Salt Lake City is $3,700/month. That’s $600 less a month than the national average of $4,300.

Private Insurance and Long-term Care Plans

Medicare, Medicaid, and many other federal and state-sponsored programs do not guarantee coverage of costs associated with extended stays in assisted living or skilled nursing facilities. Private insurance is therefore the go-to option for covering long-term senior living expenses.

If you expect that your loved one will require long-term care some day, investing in private insurance plans is absolutely something to look into.

Medicare

Medicare is government-sponsored health insurance for older adults. It does not cover long-term stays in skilled nursing facilities or medical centers (i.e., stays longer than 100 days).

Utah Medicaid 

Medicaid is a healthcare option for low-income, disabled Americans. Depending on the needs of the insured and the state they live in, Medicaid can cover a significant portion of the costs associated with skilled nursing care services.

The State of Utah offers plenty of waivers for Medicaid coverage, including for long-term care.

Recreational Activities

One of people’s primary concerns when moving into an assisted living facility is that it will be boring. As such, it’s important to select a senior living community that prioritizes life enrichment opportunities, such as offering recreational activities, planning outings to the surrounding area, and making socialization easy.

Floor Plans

How your loved one‘s room is set up is a major consideration when selecting a senior care community.

Room Layouts

Is your loved one solitary? If so, a one-bedroom suite could be a budget-friendly option for them. If they are moving in with a spouse or if your budget does not allow for a private room living arrangement, two-bedroom apartments (also called companion suites) may be the best fit.

Kitchenettes

If your loved one is the family chef, it may be worth it to secure them a room with a kitchenette (if it doesn’t compromise their safety). While kitchenettes are not common in assisted living facilities, it may be worth it to do a little extra searching for a community that includes kitchenettes so that your loved one can still do what they love once they move into their new home.

Location

Location is a bigger factor to keep in mind when choosing an assisted living senior apartments. After all, residents of these locations have greater freedom than residents of memory care facilities do. As such, they may want to be within walking distance of fun local outings, and there are bountiful opportunities for that in Salt Lake City. For example, the city itself sits next to the breathtaking Mt. Olympus. So, your loved one may want to live at a place that allows them full mountain views or a view of the sunrise.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Brushing teeth, toileting, and getting dressed may seem like mundane tasks to many people. However, sometimes people require extra help completing these sorts of tasks, known as activities of daily living, or ADLs. ADLs are so named because they are tasks that people need to complete on a daily basis to have a decent quality of life.

When someone can’t complete these tasks on their own, finding a memory care facility or other sort of retirement community is necessary. At these locations, people can receive personalized care services adjusted to the levels of care they require.

Continuing Care Communities

In some cases, a continuing care retirement community is the right choice for you or your loved one. Also known as CCRCs or life plan communities, these senior residences are great for older adults who want to stay in a single location in their golden years. 

These locations offer a variety of personal care options for older adults, meaning they’re flexible enough to meet the needs of many kinds of seniors. In other words, a CCRC is a singular community that offers a variety of senior living options—including independent living, assisted living, and memory care programs—all without requiring the resident to move to a new facility or new city to receive the care they need.

Caregiver Resources

For family members wondering if they should continue being the sole caregiver for their loved ones—or if they should reconsider their elderly loved ones’ living options—the following resources may help.

• Alzheimers.gov 
  • The official government website on Alzheimer’s disease.
• Lotsa Helping Hands
  • This site is perfect for helping those dealing with caregiver burnout find the respite care and help they need.
• MedlinePlus
  • Another government database that’s filled with plenty of useful information for caregivers.
• National Institutes on Aging
  • From COVID-19 planning to finding long-term care, this government database has plenty of information for family members with questions on how to care for aging loved ones.

Assisted Living Communities in and around Salt Lake City, Utah

Your loved one deserves a facility that does more than simply offer services and amenities; they deserve to be welcomed into a senior living community. There are plenty of assisted living facilities in and around the City of Salt Lake City who are dedicated to enriching the lives of their team, residents, and community partners.

If you’re in Utah, discover assisted living communities in and around the Salt Lake City area today!