The task of selecting a care home for an elderly loved one can be daunting. Many who embark on this journey are unfamiliar with what to expect and feel lost in the process. For most, the need to place a family member comes suddenly and, in many cases, is the result of an unplanned hospital visit due to a fall, stroke, or another event that results in the need for medical attention. A family member who was perfectly healthy and still driving two weeks ago can be deemed unsafe to return home or to live independently if they do have some sort of an accident or medical emergency. So what should one expect when embarking on this journey? This article will discuss what to expect when it comes to pricing of placement in eldercare.
Pricing: Monthly Expenses
The first thing that can come as a surprise to most is that licensed board & care homes and assisted living communities, which will from here on out be referred to as RCFEs (Residential Care Facilities for the Elderly), are not covered under any medical insurance. Therefore Medi-cal, Medicare and other health coverage providers will not partially or fully cover the expense of such places. Furthermore, while individual RCFEs may be more or less expensive than their competitors, they do not operate on a sliding scale basis based on income. Therefore, a client with a budget of under $3000.00 per month will not be able to move into a property that usually charges at least $5000.00 per month.
Some RCFEs offer all-inclusive rates meaning that the quoted rate includes all care services. Usually all-inclusive rates exclude incontinence costs. Incontinence fees are typically charged separate and cover the cost of supplies as well as the cost of the care involved.
Board & Care Homes and Assisted Living Communities handle non-inclusive care fees in separate ways. For Board & Care Homes, pricing is usually based upon an overall evaluation. For example, a home that charges a base rate of $3000.00 for a private room may increase the rate by a few hundred dollars for a client that is incontinent or who requires a great deal of one-on-one assistance and care.
When an Assisted Living charges separate fees for care, they do so in one of two ways: a tier system or a point system. In a tier system, a prospective resident will fit into a certain level or tier based on their individual needs and is charged according to that tier. A point system is more a la cart, wherein a prospective resident will be assigned a point value for each item they need care for. The points are then added up, and a final care total is calculated.
Pricing: Extra Costs
What about extra fees? More often than not, Assisted Living Communities, which are the larger resort style properties, will charge a fee to move in. Sometimes this fee is called an Admission Fee, an Entrance Fee, a Community Fee, or a Nonrefundable Deposit. The amount of this fee will vary from place to place. Some charge a flat rate while others charge a rate based on the monthly rent amount that will be paid. More and more Board & Care Homes also charge this type of fee. This fee is used to cover the cost of building maintenance and to cover the expenses incurred during the pre-admission and admission process. These fees are one time only and are typically non-refundable.
Aside from entrance fees, room rates, and care rates, other fees that may apply are special charges for pets, transportation, and incontinence care & supplies. Rates are subject to change, and persons should expect annual rate increases or a rate increase if a resident comes to require more care.
For more information on fees and average pricing for eldercare placement in your area, contact Care Placement. We will provide you information on pricing and on RCFEs that fit what it is you are looking for.