When your loved one is ready to move to an assisted living community near you in San Mateo, they can expect to undergo two evaluations: One by their personal physician, and one by the assisted living facility itself.
At the first evaluation, your loved one's doctor will evaluate their physical and mental condition thoroughly. Among the medical issues reviewed are your loved one's current medications, all treatments and therapies they're currently undergoing, and any special diet needs they have.
The second evaluation is conducted by the staff at the assisted living community you're considering. Here, they evaluate how much help your loved one may need with the ADLs. They want to make sure their facility can provide all the services your loved one needs, while also assessing whether the facility is a good fit. If it's not the right community for your relative, the assisted living staff should be able to make recommendations for appropriate facilities within the San Mateo area.
As your loved one makes a final decision regarding an assisted living community, they'll then have to prepare for the move. This may involve extensive decluttering to accommodate moving into a much smaller space. If they own their own home, they may want to put it on the market, and if they're no longer driving, they may want to sell their car as well.
The average monthly cost of assisted living in San Mateo is $5,750 according to the Genworth Cost of Care survey 2017.
Assisted living communities are available in San Mateo at a wide range of costs. While the average cost for private accommodations is around $5,750 per month, you can find assisted living facilities across a wide range of costs from a low of about $2,500 per month to as high as $7,500.
Keep in mind that these costs cover far more than just monthly rent. The fees also include utilities, all meals, and general maintenance, as well as housekeeping and laundry services. In addition, they cover all the non-medical care provided, such as assistance with the ADLs, plus most of the amenities available. These may include landscaped gardens and other outdoor areas, exercise facilities, gathering spaces such as theaters and game rooms, and a wide array of social activities provided by the facility. When you add up the cost for all these services, assisted living communities often prove to be financially quite reasonable.
The higher the fees for an assisted living community, the more it's likely to provide in the way of amenities. If your loved one wants a quiet life and is unlikely to take advantage of lots of activities, a basic assisted living community may be the right answer. Residents can save even more money if they choose to share rooms. Even when you opt for a lower price point like this, you can expect all the basic non-medical services as well as three healthy meals a day.
At the high end of the spectrum, luxury assisted living communities could easily be confused with resort-style hotels. Here, your loved one is likely to live in a large, private apartment and have lavish amenities available, including swimming pools, theaters, and elaborate exercise facilities. Residents at these facilities typically get visits from health care professionals, including physical therapists, podiatrists, and doctors, and nurses may be on-site 24/7. In addition, seniors at these communities typically have many choices when it comes to meals, with a variety of cuisines served and custom meal plans offered.
In the middle of the assisted living spectrum are the smaller boutique communities that provide private rooms or apartments and excellent meal options, while offering fewer of the high-end amenities. These communities still typically feature exercise programs and have well-trained staff on hand around the clock.
Our local Seniorly Partner Agents often have the ability to negotiate monthly rent and fees on your behalf at many of the communities you might be interested in. This is a free service to you. To connect to a Seniorly Partner Agent email us now at ask@seniorly.com or call (855) 866-4515.
Assisted living differs from other types of senior care since it sits in the middle of a spectrum with independent living on one end and skilled nursing facilities, sometimes called nursing homes, on the other end.