Pennsylvania Senior Living and Elder Care Options

How to Choose a Pennsylvania Senior Living Facility

Your loved one deserves the best independent living community or senior living center. However, finding one can be difficult, especially with so many choices available.

Here’s what you should look for when reviewing Pennsylvania senior care facilities:

• Pennsylvania senior care licensing: In Pennsylvania, the Office of Long-Term Living’s (OLTL) Bureau of Human Services Licensing (BHSL) is responsible for licensing personal care homes (PCH) and assisted living residences (ALR). This license ensures facilities meet state standards for support plans, resident rights, and more.
• Senior care administrator certification: Pennsylvania law requires PCH and ALR administrators to complete a training course, pass a competency test, and attend an orientation.
• Senior care accreditation: Accreditation for senior homes shows that the centers have high standards for staff training, patient care, and facility safety. Organizations offering accreditation in Pennsylvania include the Home Care Association of America.
• Amenities and features: Your family member will be spending the rest of their life in the elder care facility you choose. Pick one that offers a wide range of exciting activities and amenities, such as healthy dining experiences, nature walks, bingo nights, and pools.
• High ratings from Pennsylvania residents: Facilities with high ratings from Pennsylvania residents are more likely to provide excellent service and facilities.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance: The best facility for your loved one should comply with the ADA and provide accommodations for all seniors in their care.

Cost Considerations for Senior Care in Pennsylvania

Cost is the main factor keeping people from choosing the best facility for their parent or family member.

Here’s what you should know about average costs and pricing when looking for a high-quality senior living option in Pennsylvania:

Payment Options for Elder Care in Pennsylvania

Because Pennsylvania living and elder care options can be expensive, funding your loved one’s care can be challenging.

Fortunately, there are several ways to pay for senior care in Pennsylvania.

Here are the top payment options for elder care in Pennsylvania:

• Domiciliary Care (Dom Care): This program lets people who need care live in homes. Residents will receive support, supervision, and care in a family-like setting for only $1,313.36 per month. This option can significantly reduce senior care costs.
• Life insurance: Depending on your life insurance plan, your life insurance death benefits could pay for elder care costs. You can do this by selling your life policy, combining long-term care insurance with life insurance, or using the accelerated death benefits option.
• Veterans (VA) benefits: If your loved one is a veteran or veteran’s spouse, they may be eligible for VA benefits. An example is the VA Aid and Attendance or Housebound benefits, which provides a monthly pension for qualified veterans and survivors.
• Savings and assets: Seniors may have stocks, life savings, home equity, and other investments for covering their care. Talk to your loved one, their family member’s accountant, and their legal or financial representative to see how much they can spend on care.
• Elder care lenders: Several trusted financial lenders provide loans specifically for covering Pennsylvania senior care providers. These include local credit unions, major banks, and well-known lenders like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.

Senior Living Resources in Pennsylvania

If you’re having difficulties locating and funding senior living facilities in Pennsylvania, there are many support resources in the state.

Top senior living resources in Pennsylvania include:

• Pennsylvania Link to Aging and Disability Resources (PA LINK) helps people with disabilities and older adults locate information. It also connects them to services and support in their community.
• Senior Community Centers provide social activities, nutritious meals, creative arts, community services, informative programs, and other events. You don’t have to pay to attend the center and activities funded through the Area Agency on Aging.
• Adult Day Centers are safe and supervised places for people with conditions like Parkinson’s Disease and dementia. They provide nursing, personal care, and more.
• LIFE (Living Independence for the Elderly) allows older Pennsylvania residents to live independently while receiving support and services that meet their needs. Nationally, this program is called Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE).

Pennsylvania Senior Living FAQs