Costs & Questions
All About Assisted Living: Your guide to navigating costs, payment options, benefits, and determining whether assisted living is the right fit for your needs.
Understanding Assisted Living
Costs & Considerations
As you consider senior living options, it’s natural to have questions about care, lifestyle, and finances. AT The Bristal, we’re here to help you understand your choices and feel supported every step of the way.
Here, you’ll find thoughtful answers to common questions about assisted living, what it provides and how costs are structured, so you can decide what feels right for your family.
What are the Benefits of Assisted Living?
Assisted living offers profound benefits for residents and their families, creating a lifestyle rich in comfort, connection, and security.
With team members available around-the-clock, 24/7 security, and emergency response systems in place, no one is ever alone in an emergency. This constant support system provides reassurance that help is available at a moment’s notice.
Our compassionate team members are dedicated to providing personalized assistance with daily tasks like medication management, bathing, and dressing. This support empowers residents to live with dignity and confidence, focusing on their passions rather than their challenges.
The Bristal communities offer full calendars of social events, cultural programming, and gourmet dining experiences. Residents are free to be as active and engaged as they wish, making new friends and pursuing interests at their leisure.
What does Assisted Living Cost?
Navigating the costs associated with assisted living is a crucial step in the decision-making process. While the exact price varies by location, apartment size, and care level, we are committed to providing clarity and helping you understand the complexities of assisted living and the value offered at The Bristal communities.
Our monthly rent includes a comprehensive suite of luxury services and amenities, such as gourmet dining, housekeeping, maintenance, laundry services, and a vibrant daily calendar of social and educational events. For residents who would benefit from personal care, we create an Individualized Service Plan, ensuring you only pay for the specific support you need.
To receive personalized pricing information, we invite you to contact the community of your choice.
How does Cost of Assisted Living Compare to the Cost of Aging in Place?
The question of whether to age in place or move to assisted living has both financial and emotional considerations. Many people naturally assume that aging in place (staying in their current home) is the most cost-effective option. After all, if the mortgage is paid off, isn’t it free to live there?
The reality is often more complex. When the mounting expense of maintaining a home, the high cost of bringing care services in, and the emotional strain placed on family caretakers are calculated, assisted living often emerges as a more financially secure investment.
Aging in place involves more than just property taxes. To live safely and comfortably at home as needs change, families often face a growing list of expenses that can quickly exceed the cost of an inclusive, luxury community. Consider the financial and logistical realities of living at home, as well as the hidden costs that impact quality of life.
The True Costs of Aging in Place
- Home modifications: Homes are rarely built with aging in mind. Wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, accessible bathrooms are all significant modifications.
- Home maintenance: There are always unexpected repairs, landscaping, snow removal, cleaning, seasonal preparations, and general upkeep costs to consider.
- Home care expenses: As needs change, some level of in-home care may become necessary, which adds to the overall cost of remaining at home.
- Project management: At home, you also function as the appointment maker and coordinator, managing the landscaper, plumber, housekeeper, care agency, transportation, and more.
- Isolation: Living alone can lead to social isolation which has serious health implications.
- Safety concerns: A fall at home when alone at home can be very detrimental and the peace of mind that help is always nearby may be worth the price of assisted living.
Assisted Living Cost Comparison Guide
Download your free guide on the cost of assisted living and how it compares to the cost of staying at home.
How to Pay for Assisted Living
Funding assisted living is more accessible than many realize. There are several common ways to cover the cost of assisted living, and our team members can help you explore the options that work best for you.
- Private Funds: Many residents use personal resources, such as savings, pension plans, investment portfolios, or the proceeds from selling a home.
- Long-term Care Insurance: A long-term care insurance policy may cover expenses for assisted living. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly to understand your benefits.
- Veterans Benefits: The Aid and Attendance (A&A) pension from the Veterans Administration provides benefits for veterans and their spouses who need regular assistance, which includes assisted living costs.
- Medicaid: Medicaid covers assisted living costs, though the coverage, financial aid, and eligibility of a person differ from state to state. Additionally, not all communities accept Medicaid. Note: By contrast, Medicare does not usually cover the cost of assisted living.
Is Assisted Living the Right Choice for Me?
Mary hasn’t been trying to lose weight, but it’s been happening nonetheless. During visits, her son has also noticed small changes around the house. There are dishes left in the sink and clutter lingering longer than usual. When he checks in with her over the phone, Mary increasingly admits that she’s forgotten to take her medication.
Is Mary a good fit?
Yes, assisted living can be a supportive option when daily routines begin to feel harder to manage alone. At The Bristal, Mary could receive help with medication management, enjoy delicious meals planned by a nutritionist, and have housekeeping support, easing the physical demands that have quietly become more challenging. Most importantly, she would still maintain her independence and have help available when she needs it.
A few months ago, Richard experienced a fall that led to a brief hospitalization. While he’s since recovered, he has noticed some lingering changes. He’s less steady on his feet and it takes him much longer to get dressed. Though to friends and family he says he’s doing fine, he’s been gradually withdrawing from the activities and friendships he once enjoyed and is spending more time at home alone.
Is Richard a good fit?
Yes. When mobility and safety become a concern, assisted living can offer reassuring support without sacrificing autonomy. Spacious suites are thoughtfully designed with older adults in mind and trained team members are available to assist around the clock, whether Richard needs help getting dressed or moving safely through his space. With a full calendar of programs and other opportunities to connect, assisted living can help Richard discover the social atmosphere he’s been missing.
Dottie is tired of keeping house and her priorities are shifting. Dottie rarely cooks anymore, opting instead for meals out or heating up frozen entrees. Household chores seem less important to her these days and when her daughter asks about it, Dottie says she doesn’t feel like dealing with it anymore.
Is Dottie a good fit?
Maybe, but not necessarily. Dottie may be better suited for independent senior living. This option is ideal for older adults who are fully self-sufficient but ready to let go of the responsibilities of homeownership. At The Bristal communities, we offer an independent lifestyle, replete with the convenience of chef-prepared dining, services that simplify daily life, and engaging programming, all within a community setting. When and if needs change, assisted living support can be added in the future, ensuring Dottie can age in place with confidence.
The choice to move to assisted living is deeply personal. To help you navigate your decision with confidence and care, it can be helpful to think about the experiences of others and ask yourself how your needs align with theirs.
How do the stories of Mary, Richard, and Dottie compare to your experience?
We invite you to schedule a visit to one of our communities to learn more about how assisted living could be a good fit for you.
Does My Parent Need Assisted Living?
Determining if a parent or loved one needs extra support is often one of the most challenging questions for an adult child. While the previous section, “Is Assisted Living the Right Choice for Me?” helps outline the general benefits for seniors, you may be looking for specific signs that the person you care for is struggling to manage on their own.
Many adult children hesitate to start the conversation because they worry about their parent’s reaction to losing independence. However, at The Bristal communities, we believe that moving to a community actually restores independence by removing the physical burdens of home maintenance and self-care that may become overwhelming.
Observe your parent or loved one’s daily routine and environment and ask yourself these questions:
- Is their home environment changing? Are you noticing piles of unopened mail, unwashed laundry, an empty refrigerator, or a change in other aspects of home maintenance?
- Has their personal appearance changed? If someone who was once meticulous about grooming now appears disheveled, has unexplained weight loss, or repeatedly wears the same clothing, they may need assistance with bathing, dressing, or meal preparation.
- Are they becoming socially withdrawn? Have they stopped attending clubs, gatherings, or religious services they once enjoyed?
- Are there safety concerns? Have there been falls, forgotten medications, lost items, unlocked doors, or burners left on?
Recognizing the Pattern
If these questions resonate with your experience, it may be time to start the conversation with your parent. We’re here to help you navigate these sensitive discussions. Contact us for information on how to get started.
Researching assisted living?
We have resources that can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most common questions we receive. For a more comprehensive list, please visit our FAQ page.
Learn More About Assisted Living at The Bristal
At The Bristal, we understand that residents want to continue leading their individual, independent lives. We’re there to help make that happen by offering assistance when they need it and plenty of convenient services and luxury amenities to help them live happier, healthier lives.
You can learn more about The Bristal by reading our blog, signing up for our monthly bulletin or contacting us for more information.
