Family Resources

Assisted living communities typically provide services that allow residents to maintain a degree of independence while offering a helping hand with the activities of daily living such as bathing, grooming, dressing and taking medications.

Communities often charge a one-time entrance fee. It’s an up-front sum to help cover community operating expenses to prepay some of the fees that come with offering access to continuing care for life. The entrance fee at Kingswood ensures priority access to the Courtyards Assisted Living and Memory Support and the Health and the Health & Rehabilitation Centers Long-Term Care neighborhoods.

In an independent living community, residents are capable of living in a residence with or without assistance.

Life Care is a term often used to distinguish communities that offer lifestyles and care – for life. These types of communities are referenced by contract types and offer all levels of care including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Support, Long-Term Care. Type A Life Care contracts require a larger upfront entrance fee and monthly fee, but fees are predictable for the higher levels of care since you pay for health care up front, whether you use it or not. By contrast, Type B contracts or Modified contracts and Fee-for-Service contracts, offer a lower entrance fee and monthly fees with a possible discount on health care services, when and if you need them.

Also known as Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Life Plan Communities are senior living communities that provide multiple lifestyle options and choices, generally including independent living, assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing.

Long-term care insurance is a type of insurance developed specifically to cover the cost of long-term skilled nursing, assisted living, home health care and other long-term care services. These services are usually not covered by traditional health insurance or Medicare.

The federal health insurance program called Medicare is designed for people who are 65 and older, certain younger people with disabilities, and people with end-stage renal disease. Medicare Parts A, B, C and D cover specific services and care.

MedicareAdvantagePlans.org’s mission is to help current and future subscribers develop their understanding of Medicare so that they can navigate this complex system with confidence.

Financed by state and federal governments, Medicaid is the program of medical assistance designed for those unable to afford regular medical service. It is a program designed to fund care in a Long-Term Care setting.

A specialized type of elder care, Memory Support is tailored specifically for the needs of individuals with Alzheimer’s, dementia or other cognitive disorders.

These services are designed to help an individual recover from an injury, operation, stroke or illness. These may include physical, occupational and speech therapies as well as Memory Support. In most cases, services are planned to help the patient return as closely as possible to pre-challenge levels. The services may be residential (inpatient) or outpatient, and may be short- or long-term, depending on the needs of the patient.

Skilled nursing care facilities, often referred to as nursing homes or health care centers, are licensed health care communities that are inspected and regulated by a state’s Department of Health Services. They offer long- and short-term care for individuals who need rehabilitation services or who suffer from serious or persistent health issues that are often too complicated to be tended to at home.