Assisted Living Facilities In Massachusetts

If you have an elderly parent or loved one who could benefit from help with activities of daily living (ADL), it may be time to consider assisted living communities in your area.

While we know there are a lot of factors to consider when making this kind of decision, we’re here to shed some light on how to go about finding the best Massachusetts assisted living (AL) facility for your loved one.

We’ve put together details on costs, services, and more, to help give you a better idea of what residential assisted living looks like in your area. Keep reading to learn more and find the best home for your aging loved one.

What Should I Know about Senior Assisted Living?

It’s important to note first and foremost that AL facilities are not nursing homes. Instead of focusing primarily on medical care (which is the main service of nursing homes), assisted living services focus more on helping patients with primary ADL functions.

Assisted living communities may provide some types of medical treatment as associated with daily living (i.e., oxygen assistance, prescription management, etc.), but patients with more strict clinical requirements would likely be referred to a nursing home instead.

Therefore, if your loved one is still mobile to an extent, but is in need of closer care and assistance with day-to-day activities, then assisted living homes are likely the best bet.

What Can My Loved One Expect from Assisted Senior Living?

The main goal of residential assisted living is to provide care and assistance with ADL to patients. As previously stated, the goal of AL is to assist patients in living more comfortably and easily in their daily activities.

ADL services may include:

  • Personal care: hygiene/grooming
  • Mobility: walking, getting in and out of wheelchairs, and sitting down
  • Meal preparation: providing three meals daily
  • Medication assistance: making sure your loved one takes medications on time
  • Transportation services: escorting your loved one to and from doctor’s appointments

Each assisted living facility in Massachusetts will provide an array of different services. To learn more about what those services are, reach out to the facilities directly and schedule a tour.

Government Resources for Assisted Living in Massachusetts

Assisted living homes offer housing, meals, and personal care services to aging adults. In order to get more information on a specific service or care option you’d like to discuss regarding your loved one, your best option would be to contact your local Massachusetts Supportive Housing Coordinator.

Supportive housing coordinators provide help regarding assisted living services, such as:

  • working with local residential assisted living facilities
  • assisting residents (or those seeking supportive housing) with community resources
  • planning social activities for residents
  • preparing and arranging meals for residents

To be eligible for Supportive Housing in the state of Massachusetts, your loved one must meet one of the following requirements:

  • aged either 60 and above or 62 and above (depending on the facility being considered)
  • have a diagnosed disability with documentation

Assisted Living Costs in Massachusetts

Approximately 90% of assisted living residents pay privately for care in the state of Massachusetts. This can seem daunting, as monthly fees can range from $2,000 to $8,000 depending on the facility and level of care that your loved one requires.

Research conducted over 256 facilities shows that the average monthly assisted living cost is $5,495 in Massachusetts. Depending on what city you are in, these prices may vary. Below are the monthly assisted living costs for some major MA cities:

  • Boston: $5,850
  • Pittsfield: $4,200
  • Barnstable Town: $5,490
  • Worcester: $5,735
  • Springfield: $4,950

How Can I Cover Assisted Living Costs?

Finding a way to pay for assisted living costs can be difficult and intimidating. Fortunately, you do have some options for finding ways to cut back a bit on cost. The mind typically goes to Medicare and Medicaid first, so let’s cover those:

In Massachusetts, like most states, Medicare covers little to no assisted living costs. This is because AL does not typically occur in a primarily medical-focused facility. Even though Medicare likely won’t cover the in-house costs associated with senior assisted living, it may cover some costs outside of AL, such as prescriptions and outside medical care or equipment.

Medicaid, on the other hand, is more likely to cover some of the services provided within the realm of assisted living facilities. There are some Medicaid and Massachusetts health programs that can help you effectively transition your loved one from independent to assisted living without breaking the bank. These include:

When Is the Right Time for My Loved One to Transition Into Assisted Living?

It’s completely normal to require some assistance as we age, but transitioning from independent to assisted senior living is never a simple decision to make. There are several signs you may be on the lookout for if you’re not sure.

If you have an aging parent who is showing hindrances when going about day-to-day tasks, ADL assistance may very well be warranted. For example, if your loved one is struggling with any of the following, it might be time for assisted living:

  • going to the bathroom alone
  • getting to doctor’s appointments
  • being alone and unable to socialize
  • making meals
  • going grocery shopping
  • frequent falls or accidents

Taking the Next Step with Assisted Living

If you believe your loved one is ready to move into a residential assisted living community, we hope the resources we’ve provided are useful in finding the best one for his/her unique needs.

Browse our Massachusetts assisted living homes directory for more information on specific services and costs. We are here to help your loved one age with comfort and grace.

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Written by: Aging with Care Editorial Staff

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