Continuum of Care

The Continuum of Senior Care

Improvements in medical treatments, medical procedures, newly available medications and medical technology are allowing people to live well into their 80’s, 90’s and some into their 100’s.

Prior to 1950, any frail or forgetful senior was either taken in by their family, or they sadly were ignored and allowed to be isolated in their own homes without important social interaction or helpful care.  A highly confused person may have been moved into nursing home or mental institution.

As the face of aging has changed, so have our attitudes towards long-term care.  In the late 1960’s providers began developing retirement communities.   Many senior communities in our area were started by non-profit or church-affiliated organizations.   As people aged within retirement communities, a need for assisted living was recognized.  Pioneers in senior living began offering supportive care services and a new era of senior living began.

The transition to dual-income families impacted where seniors live.  The role of the caregiver to an aging parent became overwhelmingly stressful to a working woman, and so assisted living became a logical alternative.

At first, assisted living was called “Boarding Home Care” in the state of Washington.  Older adults were provided with meals, housekeeping services and social activities.

Over the past thirty-years, senior living and care morphed and branched into various types of services.  As consumer demand changed and businesses began offering new types of care, the senior housing and care industry became a growing continuum of care.

We are fortunate in the greater Puget Sound area to have many types of care services available for our valued seniors.  Below are three important types of housing and care services:

Assisted Living

This type is characterized by apartment-style living with community spaces for meals, social interaction and activities.  Care may be extended to all residents, or only to a percentage of the residents who require assistive services.  This way those residents needing assistance may live alongside residents who are living independently.

The levels of service available within a community vary based on the preferences of the provider.  Some communities offer lighter care to people who have physical frailties.  Other assisted living providers opt to compete directly with skilled nursing facilities and offer layers of health and wellness services.  Many assisted living communities offer nursing care or nurse oversight.

People living in assisted living often require 1 to 4 hours of personal care a day.  Caregivers are assigned to follow a care plan, to check in on residents and to pay specific visits if paged by the resident.

Assisted living is ideal for individuals who have care needs which are known and specific.  For instance, a resident needing help getting dressed, help with medications and encouragement to attend meals and activities is an excellent candidate for assisted living.  A person who has unpredictable or random care needs may be better served in a different type of setting.

All assisted living communities offer three meals a day and snacks.  Other typical amenities of assisted living are housekeeping and laundry services.  Assisted living in our area can range in cost from $2,500 to $10,000 a month.

Residential Assisted Living

In Washington State, this type of care community is known as an “Adult Family Home.”  There over 2,000 such homes sprinkled throughout residential neighborhoods located as far south as Vancouver, as far north as Bellingham, west to Ocean Shores and east to Spokane.  Although a few of the homes specialize in caring for younger adults with disabilities, the majority of homes are constructed for or remodeled to care for older adults.

Adult family homes offer personalized assistance.  Caregivers get to know residents intimately and can often anticipate their needs.  Adult family home costs can range from $3,000 to $8,500, with many homes offering options in the $5,000 to $6,000 range.

Memory Care

Loss of short-term and long-term memory can be a normal part of aging.  It can also be related to strokes, illnesses or other types of diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.

The Greater Seattle area offers memory-specific assisted living communities.  These communities typically range in size from six to seventy-five residents.  Some residents enjoy living in a more social setting with planned activities whereas others might prefer a quieter and more predictable environment.

Memory care tends to range between $4500 and $9000 a month.

The best way to select a home is to share your specific needs and interests with a Senior Advisor.  These advisors work closely with the providers and can help narrow your search to those specific options that can meet your needs.  Call CHOICE at 800-361-0138 for free assistance.