How Do I Pay for an Assisted Living Community?

By CarePatrol of Chandler-Gilbert

The number one obstacle for someone joining an assisted living community is cost. These types of communities can help give quality of life back to individuals, but the common fear is that they will not be able to afford the services. I will be discussing in the next few blogs the different ways to fund the present and future costs of Assisted Living.

In Arizona (the state that I am located in) people who medically and financially qualify can pay for assisted living with Medicaid. The first step in obtaining this coverage is first applying with ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System) which is a program through ACCCHS. Those who qualify typically have an income of less than $2000 per month, and less then $2000 in spendable assets. When applying, you are typically required to provide bank statements to prove income and assets and to prove that you have not given assets away in the last five years that could have been used to pay for the service.

Once the individual has applied, they’re in an interview process to qualify the applicant. The state who is providing the funds for care, will make sure that person cannot perform two of the six activities of daily living (or ADL’s). These are the things we normally do… such as feeding ourselves, bathing, dressing, grooming, work, homemaking, and leisure. Once this has been completed and the applicant has been approved, the state will allot funds for individual. Not every facility is a state facility, and rooms in the facilities that are covered by ALTCS, are always shared with another individual.

There are ways to plan for this type of coverage as an option for assisted living, and I recommend talking with an Eldercare attorney to help you plan for this in the most efficient manner. If you or your loved ones have qualified with ALTCS or need help applying, I am always a resource for you to help in the process and help you find the right community to fit your needs while on ALTCS.